@article{ref1,
title="Small-Scale Test Protocol for Firefighting Foams DEF(AUST)5706: Effect of Bubble Size Distribution and Expansion Ratio",
journal="Fire technology",
year="2011",
author="Laundess, Ashlea J. and Rayson, Mark S. and Dlugogorski, Bogdan Z. and Kennedy, Eric M.",
volume="47",
number="1",
pages="149-162",
abstract="The experimental program described in this paper sought to assess the suitability of the small scale DEF(AUST)5706 standard for measuring the suppression and burnback performance of Class B foams on pool fires. DEF(AUST)5706 is an Australian Defence standard mandatory for use by the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force. The test protocol required the measurement of the 3/4 control, extinguishment and 1/3 burnback times for a circular pan of aviation gasoline (AVGAS 100/130), 0.28 m2 in surface area. The test program involved compressed-air foams (CAF) and aspirated foams of two expansion ratios, and employed two AFFF formulations: a 6% telomer concentrate and, to obtain base-line measurements, 3% PFOS FC-600 concentrate which was manufactured by the 3 M company prior to the PFOS phase out. At lower expansion (7:1), the aspirated and compressed-air foams demonstrated similar fire control performance, whilst more expanded (9:1) CAF was generally more efficient at extinguishing, but less efficient in controlling the fire. CAF formed a better seal over the fuel surface and at the hot pan walls, and these foams performed noticeably better than aspirated foam against fuel re-ignition. The paper links these observations with the underlying distributions of bubble sizes, which were measured and fitted to modified Rosin/Rammler cumulative volume distribution functions. We propose that a modified version of DEF(AUST)5706 be adopted as a universal small-scale test protocol.<p />",
language="",
issn="0015-2684",
doi="10.1007/s10694-009-0136-2",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10694-009-0136-2"
}