1 Scope
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1384 – Guidelines for the Testing and Approval of Fixed High-Expansion Foam Systems – (10 December 2010) - Annex – Guidelines for the Testing and Approval of Fized High-Expansion Foam Systems - Appendix 4 – Optional Small Scale Test Method for High–Expansion Foam Concentrates to be Used With Inside Air - 1 Scope

1 Scope

  1.1 This fire test method is intended for evaluating and documenting high-expansion foam properties under elevated temperatures. The data could be used for quality control of foam concentrates, as the results from the tests can be compared to results from earlier tests. Therefore, the test method can also be used during the development of new foam concentrates. The test method can also be used for evaluating the influence of using seawater compared to freshwater.

  1.2 The test method is NOT intended to serve as a system verification test. Such tests need to be conducted in large scale, using realistic fire conditions and actual foam generators, as the content of the combustion gases also might influence foam production.

  • Note 1: A high-expansion foam system for inside air consists of both the foam generators and the foam concentrate. When measuring the foam expansion ratio of the system, the actual foam generators should be used. As the actual foam generators in practice are much larger, with higher flow rates, than the foam generator used in this small-scale test method, the method is not intended for determination of the foam expansion of the system. For determination of nominal foam expansion ratio of the system the foam concentrate, using actual foam generator, should be tested according to standard EN 13565-1, annex G (or equivalent).

  • Note 2: Presently, there are no requirements related to the results given in the test method. However, such criteria could be established in order to test if the foam concentrate has acceptable resistance to heat. The minimum criteria should specify that the foam expansion ratio should be above a certain limit under some specific test conditions in relation to "cold" foam expansion. In that case the test method could be a part of an approval. However, in order to choose sufficient requirements, additional pre-normative tests need to be undertaken.

Parent topic: Appendix 4 – Optional Small Scale Test Method for High–Expansion Foam Concentrates to be Used With Inside Air
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