Performance of Foam Agents on Pool Fires at High Altitudes

The physical and chemical properties of foams change based on atmospheric pressure, so estimating the effect of pressure on the efficiency of foamite has important implications for extinguishing fires in high-altitude regions like the plateau in Sichuan province, China. In this study, foam expansion rate, drainage time, burn-back time, and fire extinguishing efficiency of three kinds of foamite are examined through pool fires in field experiments in plateau areas and in laboratory chambers. Agents investigated are fluorine-protein foam (FP), aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), and alcohol-resistant foam (S/AR). The results show that increases in altitude led to reduced performance across all measured performance parameters for all three kinds of foam extinguishing agents, and that AFFF still performs better than both (S/AR) and (FP) in high altitude. The study helps with the selection of foamite for pool fires in high-altitude regions and improves the fire protection.