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The Air Force, in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration, is screening new fire fighting foam concentrates to determine their effectiveness at extinguishing and resisting burnback for hydrocarbon fuel fires. This report documents the evaluation performed on the fire extinguishing agents FireAde 2000 AFFF LP, FlameOut II and Hawk ALLFORE in accordance with the parameters set forth in Military Specification ( MIL SPEC) MIL-F-0024385F, Section 4.7.13 for the twenty-eight-square-foot fire test using three percent of Type 3 foam (normal concentration). Under the MIL SPEC test protocol, agents were required to meet a maximum extinguishment time of 30 seconds and a minimum burnback time of 360 seconds for normal concentrations. None of the three agents tested at the normal concentration met these minimum requirements. Although not part of the Air Force Research Lab protocol, additional tests were performed on FireAde at the lean concentration (1-1/2 percent). FireAde successfully passed this portion of the fire test. Lean concentration testing was not performed on the FlameOut II or Hawk ALLFORE foams.

The Air Force, in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration, is screening new fire fighting foam concentrates to determine their effectiveness at extinguishing and resisting burnback for hydrocarbon fuel fires. This report documents the evaluation performed on the fire extinguishing agents FLAMEOUT, FlameOut Foam and Hawk SUPER B in accordance with the parameters set forth in Military Specification (MIL SPEC) MIL-F-0024385F, Section 4.7.13 for the twenty eight square foot fire test using three percent of Type 3 foam (normal concentration). Under the MIL SPEC test protocol, agents were required to meet a maximum extinguishment time of 30 seconds and a minimum burnback time of 360 seconds for normal concentrations. None of the three agents tested at the normal concentration met these minimum requirements.

On behalf of AAC/WMO, the Air Force Research Laboratory evaluated the Expeditionary Fire Suppression System (EFSS). The EFSS is a modified-commercial, combined-agent system that can be mounted on an Air Force P-20 truck or heavy duty, general purpose truck. The preliminary tests and evaluations of the EFSS 5120-7 to determine its effectiveness included foam and dry chemical flow rates; foam throw distance and foam expansion ratio. The overall performance of the EFSS was good. Expansion ratio, throw distance and flow rates were all within acceptable ranges. The majority of the problems experienced with the EFSS 5120-7 were a result of the regulators, which could easily be resolved with filter to remove debris from the compressed air. The foam system needs to be evaluated to determine why that part of the system is activated when the dry chemical system is being discharged. The dry chemical system is performing less than optimal, with approximately 50% of the total dry chemical volume not being discharged with the given volume of compressed air., The original document contains color images. All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white.

On behalf of AAC/WMO, the Air Force Research Laboratory evaluated the Expeditionary Fire Suppression System (EFSS). The EFSS is a modified-commercial, combined agent system that can be mounted on an Air Force P-20 truck or heavy duty, general purpose truck. The system uses AFFF-based compressed air foam and PKP dry chemical. Phase I evaluated the effectiveness of the modified-commercially available EFSS on live fires on static pool and running fuel fires. The EFSS performed well in the live fire evaluations conducted at Tyndall AFB, FL. The system consistently showed the capability to extinguish both pool and running fuel fires. Several minor problems were encountered with the system but were quickly resolved by the manufacturer and the equipment was put back into service. Issues with the filters, switch covers and the additional capacity on the high pressure air will need to be addressed by the manufacturer in subsequent units., The original document contains color images. All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white.

This report contains the results and preliminary conclusions provided by completion of the first half of the Fire Extinguishing Effectiveness Test program. Key results include the development of a process for evaluating alternative application methods and comparing them with existing technologies. Application of this approach has demonstrated the exceptional effectiveness of the Ultra High Pressure System (UHPS) on pool fires. This technology reduces the amount of agent required by more than 70%. Additional results on fires on gravel have shown that the Combined Agent Fire Fighting System (CAFFS) technology provides superior performance on fires where the film forming ability of AFFF is reduced and hot surface reignition dominates. The report recommends development of an advanced demonstrator which combines UHPS and GAFFS technologies to prove the effectiveness of this system for future development of a light, lean and lethal deployable fire fighting vehicle.

Due to the size and weight of the vehicle only one P-19 can be transported on a C-130 translating to limited crash fire protection for the first aircraft flying in and out of the location. The Combined Agent Fire Fighting System (CAFFS) employs innovations in nozzle design, lightweight composites and combination agents to design a system with extinguishment capabilities of much larger ARFF vehicles. Evaluations were conducted to characterize overall CAFFS performance so that a comprehensive specification can be written for potential commercialization of the system. Based on flow rate throw distance and expansion ratio the air injection setting for the handline and turret foam discharge was optimal at 50%- full open. For both the handline and turret operations. the dry chemical flow rate remained linear up to 700 lbs of discharge. The data showed that the pressure on the dry chemical tank could be reduced to 80 psi without affecting the flow rate. which significantly reduced the reaction force the firefighter experienced at the nozzle. Overall. The CAFFS operated very closely to the design parameters for flow rates, expansion ratios and throw distances., The original document contains color images.