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Contents

• Produced Foam Test Kit • Introduction • Overview • How to use a Refractometer • How to measure the Refractive Index • How to make up standard solutions • How to draw a calibration curve • Examples of a calibration curve • Produced Foam International Standards • Useful information • Graph Paper • Disclaimer

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Contents

Produced Foam Test Kit

This kit is designed for the testing and calibration of produced fire fighting foam induction systems. The Produced Foam Test Kit contains the following components: • Measuring Cylinders – 3 x 100ml

• Beaker – 1 x 250ml

• 1ml Measuring Syringe

• Produced Foam sample bottles – 3 x 250ml

• Digital Refractometer

• Worked examples plus graph paper

• Manual

Page 1.

Introduction

Fire Fighting Foam induction systems require regular performance testing and often as a result recalibration. In testing an induction system it is often necessary to send samples to a foam test laboratory which can take time to do. This kit has been designed to enable fire safety professionals to test for themselves on-site the performance of their induction system. We have attempted to make this test manual as self explanatory as possible. Should the user require any further information or advice, please call our foam testing laboratory on +44 (0) 1561 361515 or see our website www.foamtesting.com.

It is highly recommended that when a system has been calibrated correctly, a produced foam sample be sent to a reputable foam test laboratory for independent third party evaluation.

Page 2.

Overview

This kit contains a refractometer (which is a sensitive instrument and should be kept in a clean state at all times). The refractometer is used to measure the Refractive Index (RI) of produced foam solution. The Refractive Index value increases as the percentage of foam concentrate within a produced foam sample increases. For example, the RI of 3% foam solution is a larger value (called a brix) than that of a 1% foam solution. Using samples of foam concentrate and induction water new solutions at varying percentages are made (using the syringe and glass bottles provided). The RI of these new solutions is measured using the refractometer. For example, for a foam proportioning at 3% we ask you to make new solutions at 1%, 3% and 5%. The RI values of these new solutions is plotted on graph paper to produce a calibration curve. Once the calibration curve has been drawn (it should be a “best fit” straight line) the RI of the actual produced foam is measured and plotted on the graph. Once this has been completed the user can quickly determine the solution strength of their produced foam.

Page 3.

• Switch the Refractometer on by pressing the

‘Read’ button. • Make sure the glass prism is clean (by wiping

clean with a clean lint free cloth). • Place a few drops of de-ionised water onto the

prism and cover the prism with its lid. Press the ‘Read’ button to check that the Refractometer reads 0.00% brix.

• Separately place a few drops of each solution

onto the prism cover, and then press the ‘Read’ button and record the value.

• Take care to clean the prism with a lint free dry

cloth after each reading.

How To Use A Refractometer

Page 4.

How To Measure The Refractive Index

Making sure the prism glass is clean place a few drops of foam solution on to the prism glass and read the Refractive index. Record the value in the heading at the top of the supplied graph paper. Repeat with new solutions (see overleaf) making sure after each reading that the prism glass is cleaned. Repeat this for the produced foam recording the RI reading in the box marked Finished Foam.

Note 1 We recommend that the RI tests are completed indoors at a

constant temperature. (A reputable foam test laboratory will ‘age’ your foam concentrate, induction water and produced foam sample at 200C before testing. This is done in order to achieve repeatability of values).

For first time users of this kit and particularly those without laboratory experience, we recommend making up two extra standard solutions . For example, with a 1% foam concentrate make up an additional 3% and 5% solution; with a 3% foam make up an additional 0.5% and 4% solution and for 6% foam make up a 2% and 5% solution. This is particularly recommended when testing a 1% foam concentrate because of the relatively small changes in Refractive Index between the samples. See overleaf for guidance on how to make standard solutions.

Note 2

Page 5.

How To Make Up Standard Solutions

Required: • Foam concentrate sample

• Induction water sample • Produced foam sample • 3 x 250ml sample bottles • 2ml measuring syringe • 3 x 100ml measuring cylinders

Standard solutions are made up as follows: • 1% Foam System 0.5% - 1.0% - 1.5%

• 3% Foam System 1.0% - 3.0% - 5.0% • 6% Foam System 3.0% - 6.0% - 7.0%

Method for making a standard solution In this example we are working with a 1% Foam Induction System. Prepare in each 100ml measuring cylinder a 0.5% - 1.0% - 1.5% solution. 0.5% Solution

Pour exactly 100ml of induction water into the measuring cylinder. Remove 0.5ml using the glass syringe from the cylinder and replace it with 0.5ml of 1% concentrate.

1% Solution

Pour exactly 100ml of induction water into the measuring cylinder. Remove 1ml using the glass syringe from the cylinder and replace it with 1ml of 1% concentrate.

1.5% Solution

Pour exactly 100ml of induction water into the measuring cylinder. Remove 1.5ml using the glass syringe from the cylinder and replace it with 1.5ml of 1% concentrate.

Finally, place a few drops of the induction water onto the prism, read off the Refractive Index and record on the graph paper using the box marked Induction Water. See next section How to measure the Refractive Index Page 6.

How To Draw A Callibration Curve

Required: • Graph Paper – supplied with kit

• Ruler

For the 1% concentrate, we mentioned on the previous page we “achieved” the following values: Sample

Solutions Recorded Refractive Index

(Brix) Induction

Water 4.4

0.5% 4.6 1.0% 4.8 1.5% 5.0 3.0% 5.6

5.0% 6.4

Produced Foam 4.9

The LHS of the Graph Paper is the Refractive Index and the base axis is the 1% value of the sample solutions. First plot the RI of the Induction Water this is your “axis of origin” or graph start point and should be the 0% of your graph. Then record the above RI values relating to each sample solution. Draw a best fit straight line (called calibration curve) between the 6 points (using the Induction Water RI reading as your “axis of origin”). Finally using the Produced Foam RI value draw a straight line from the RI value of the produced foam until it meets the calibration curve. At this point draw a vertical line to the base line of the calibration curve and read off the value of induction percentage of the produced foam - in this case 1.25%. Page 7.

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3.0%5.0% 6.4 Produced Foam 4.9

5.6

Nominal 1% Sample Conc. Results % Brix

4.81.5% 5.0

Induction Water Sea Water 1.0%

Sample Conc. Results % Brix

PRODUCED FOAM CURVE

Concentrate 1% AFFF-LF 0.50%Produced Foam

4.6

Induction Water 4.4

6% 8% 10%2% 5%4%3%

7.0%

6.0%

Refractive Index % Brix

2% 4%1%0%

4.9%

Select axes appropriate to the samples being tested. Fresh water samples will require a refractive index axis starting at Zero.

7.0%

6.0%

5.0%

4.0%

0%

Solution Concentration %v/v

1.25%

5.0%

4.0%

Page 8.

Produced Foam International Standards

Two International Standards are in use in the UK.

• BS5306 • NFPA11 Within the UKCS, the predominate standard is the BS5306. Within the USA and the Middle East, the predominate standard is the NFPA11. The significant difference between these standards is that the NFPA Standard has no margin for Analytical Error

Produced Foam NFPA11 BS5306 1% 1.0 – 1.3% 1.0 – 1.25% 3% 3.0 – 3.9% 3.0 – 4.0% 6% 6.0 – 7.0% 5.0 – 6.0%

With respect to our worked example, the 1% produced foam showed an induction % of foam concentrate of 1.25%. Under both NFPA11 and BS5306, this result would be acceptable.

Page 9.

Useful Information Our website www.foamtesting.com contains useful information, including the following:.

• Why foam testing is required • What sample sizes are required • How to read a Foam Test Report • How to take a concentrated foam sample • How to take a produced foam sample

• Foam Concentrate Test Methods • How to test a Produced Foam Sample • NFPA11 Standard for Low, Medium and High Expansion Foam • BS53065 Part 6 – Foam Systems • Section 6.1 – Specification for Low Expansion Foam Systems • UKOOA Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helidecks Section 12 • Civil Aviation Authority CAP437 (Chapter 5)

Page 10.

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Results % Brix

Select axes appropriate to the samples being tested. Fresh water samples will require a refractive index axis starting at zero.

3.0%

Results % BrixSample Conc.

3% 4%0% 1% 2%

Produced FoamConcentrateInduction Water

5.0%

6.0%

0.50%

Produced Foam

7.0%1.5% Induction Water

Refractive Index % Brix

PRODUCED FOAM CALIBRATION CURVE

6.0%Sample Conc.

1.0%

10%5%

2% 4% 6% 8%

7.0%

6.0%

5.0%

4.0%

0%

Solution Concentration %v/v

5.0%

4.0%

7.0%

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Results % Brix

Select axes appropriate to the samples being tested. Fresh water samples will require a refractive index axis starting at zero.

3.0%

Results % BrixSample Conc.

3% 4%0% 1% 2%

Produced FoamConcentrateInduction Water

5.0%

6.0%

0.50%

Produced Foam

7.0%1.5% Induction Water

Refractive Index % Brix

PRODUCED FOAM CALIBRATION CURVE

6.0%Sample Conc.

1.0%

10%5%

2% 4% 6% 8%

7.0%

6.0%

5.0%

4.0%

0%

Solution Concentration %v/v

5.0%

4.0%

7.0%

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Results % Brix

Select axes appropriate to the samples being tested. Fresh water samples will require a refractive index axis starting at zero.

3.0%

Results % BrixSample Conc.

3% 4%0% 1% 2%

Produced FoamConcentrateInduction Water

5.0%

6.0%

0.50%

Produced Foam

7.0%1.5% Induction Water

Refractive Index % Brix

PRODUCED FOAM CALIBRATION CURVE

6.0%Sample Conc.

1.0%

10%5%

2% 4% 6% 8%

7.0%

6.0%

5.0%

4.0%

0%

Solution Concentration %v/v

5.0%

4.0%

7.0%

Disclaimer

• All the components and instruments are non-electrical (except for the refractometer) thus allowing most of the kit to be safely used in ‘Hazardous Areas’.

• If refractometery must be carried out in a hazardous area, we can

supply a simple hand held prism or manual refractometer. Usually this is unnecessary, since samples may be collected and removed to a safe area for refractometer tests.

• Oil Technics (Fire Fighting Foam) Ltd cannot be responsible for any

incorrect use of results when using its kits or for any loss, personal injury or damage to property however caused resulting from the use of its Produced Foam Test Kit.

Our purchase guarantee is very simple – When you purchase any of our products we want you to be 100% satisfied. We will replace or refund any purchase which results in less than 100% satisfaction

Product Guarantee

Page 12.

We would like to thank you for choosing Oil Technics (Fire Fighting Products) Ltd.

Oil Technics (Fire Fighting Products) Ltd. Linton Business Park Gourdon Aberdeenshire DD1O 0NH Scotland, U.K

Tel: +44 (0) 1561 361515 Fax: +44 (0) 1561 361001 Email: info@foamtesting.com Web: www.foamtesting.com Last updated: 15/06/12