Concentrate Performance Evaluation – DIY
READ THE SDS, CHECK THE QPL, CHECK AHJ!!!!
There are no national performance standards for Class A Foam. Therefore, there are no standard performance tests for Class A Foam, nor are there common 3rd party tests. And, since testing is a process of comparing a product to a standard, it is technically not testing. So, technically, this is Performance Evaluation, and it is based on your expectations for what you want the bubbles to do. So, how does one know what to buy, especially when all the sales folks all have the best product?
It’s called DIY Performance Evaluation.
Trust no one other than your own eyes in determining what is the best product. Evaluate it for yourself using these simple methods.
Your department/agency is already using whatever product purchased. Evaluate it for yourself to make sure the product performs to your standard (basically your standards will be your expectations). Does it perform as expected.
When testing 2 or more products for comparison, make sure your department/agency conducts the evaluation. Do not allow the sales folks to perform the evaluation for you. And, to make sure it is a fair evaluation, when comparing these products, always make note to ensure that your parameters are the same to insure you are comparing apples to apples and not comparing oranges to watermelons. For example, when running a comparison evaluation, make sure it is exactly the same for both or all products i.e., the same % solution, the same ambient temperature, same hose set up, same nozzle, etc. And if evaluating using CAF, make sure the air flows are the same.
Prior to considering a new product for evaluation, obtain & carefully read theSDS. Check the USFS QPL – is this product listed? If not, why? Saving you money by not QPL testing is not the correct answer. Also, check with your AHJ to make sure the new product is approved for your jurisdiction. The AHJ might be at the local, regional, or state level. If the product is not AHJ approved or QPL Listed, don’t waste your time.
When comparing a new proposed Class A product to your current product, most likely, you will have to provide your own product. But do not purchase the new product for evaluating. Ask the salesperson to provide enough product for the evaluation. If the salesperson will not provide it, the eval is over – Don’t waste your time.
WARNING!! It’s also a good way to verify that your current product is approved by the AHJ and/or QPL listed in case you overlooked that when purchased. Carefully, and thoroughly compare the SDS with your product and the proposed product. WHAT? You don’t have the SDS for your current product? GET ONE. READ IT. The AHJ and SDS alone might be enough to seriously consider a product change.
WARNING!! When a salesperson provides the product, do not haphazardly run out and start flowing foam. Make sure the department/agency has approved the tests. Make sure the provided product is delivered in a sealed container to make sure the product wasn’t switched to affect your evaluation results (Bait & Switch). Be sure to save a small amount of the tested product to compare it to what is being delivered later if you choose to make a purchase. Is it the same product?
For What to Evaluate?
- Does it produce good WET FOAM
- Does it produce good FLUID FOAM
- Mid X Foam
- High X Foam
- Compare Bubble Longevity
- Does it have verticle stick (sticks to the side of of buildings)?
- Does it absorb into the wood (indicates a cabon affinity)?
- Does it show signs of corrosion?
Review Foam System Aux PU procedures to proportion the new foam concentrate.
APPLICATION SUGGESTIONS/IDEAS – METHODOLOGY
The following foam concentration methods of performance evaluation are ideas submitted to this site. Maybe you have a new idea – if so, please submit it to “ASK CAF” for consideration for inclusion here.
WARNING: Some of these ideas utilize live fire. Make sure you have the property owner’s permission. If live fire is used in any evaluation method – insure the department has approved, and insure adequate fire control measures are available throughout the evaluation.
- Cardboard Comparison
- Pallet Fence
- Christmas Trees
- Flat Ground
- Vertical Stick – Type of object -wall, container, post, etc. – Material – wood, block, brick, metal.
- Freeze test – baby food jars.
- Corrosivity.
- Others?
Cardboard Comparison – this is simple. Using calibrated cups, mix up the products in whatever % solution your want to observe (.3%, .5%, 1%, etc.). Then place a couple of drops of water and a couple of drops of the products on the cardboard. Over a period of time (10-15 min), observe the products ability to soak in (surface tension of lack thereof) and the ability to cling to the cardboard (carbon). What does this evaluation show you?
Pallet Fence – a palet fence can be set up in a couple of ways – a straight fence supported at the ends and middle by either rebar or by placing perpendictular pallets; or by building a jagged pallet fence whereby the pallets are angled to support the pallets on either side (see diagram below).
A pallet fence can be used to observe verticle stick and/or bubble longevity as well as wood absorption. The fence can aso be used to evaluate structure protection by burning brush adjacent to the fluid foam covered fence.
Christmas Trees – a good project for post Christmas. Trees can be stood up using rebar or by digging holes and planting the trunks. If live fire is to be utilized, foam can be applied to one side of the tree and fire set to the other side. does the foam protect the applied side from the fire?
Flat Ground – Ground can be either dirt, grass or pavement. This comparison evaluation can be conducted on dirt, grass or pavement – as long as both or all the concentrates are applied on the same surface. Lay down the foam to be evaluated. This idea can be useful for evaluating Wet Foam, Fluid Foam, Mid X & High X Foam, however, it will not show verticle stick or wood absorption unless this evaluation is combined with another method.
Video – Foam – Class A Blanket Comparison – 5 Brands
Verticle Stick – spray the foam on a building, wall, container, post, etc. The material can be wood, block, brick, metal. See if the foam has verticle stick.
Freeze Test – Place small amounts of the diferent concentrates in baby food jars and place the jars in the freezer for a few days. Then thaw the concentrates and apply as in the methods above – did freezng affect the foam generation?
Corrosivity – Proportioning machines, pumps, valves and plumbing have a lot of steel and brass parts – some are finished surface, some are billet and some are pot. What does the concentrate do to these parts. A simple evaluation can include obtaining samples of brass, screws, piping, etc. from a hardware store and placing small amounts in a jar with your chosen concentrate. What happens? Photograph the jar(s) on day 1. Set the jars aside and periodically check to see if there are any changes. Some less than desirable concentrates may react fairly quickly, better concentrates will not. Be patient. If changes are found, take photos over time.
Some products might perform well but might require a much higher % Sol – how does this equate to the costs ($$)? Don’t be afraid to do a little math to figure it out. %Sol/100 = # gallons of concentrate required. The $/gallon of our current product vs $$/gal of the proposed product.
SAMPLE EVALUATION FORM – Make a Test Form to keep track of your data
An evaluation form can easily be created in a SS, and should include:
- Dept Official Approval – Y/N – ID, date of approval.
- Date of Eval
- Time of Eval
- Temp of the Eval
- RH of the Eval
- Wind speed/direction of the Eval
- Description of general WX conditions of the Eval
- Product A
- QPL Listed – Y/N
- AHJ Approved – Y/N
- Product B
- QPL Listed – Y/N
- AHJ Approveed – Y/N
- AHJ ID
- Equip Used in Eval
- Describe the set up.
- Objective
- Sample – i.e. – Evaluate bubble longevity, vertical stick, visual wood absorption, etc. What are we evaluating for?
- Results – Eval #, H2O used, % Sol, Approx application time, Results.
CLOSING REMARKS – did the new concentrate out perform the current brand?
