Document wqEr78ykXOzdjMxVBek5eJV5D

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY 4SSS OVERLOOK AVE SW WASHINGTON DC 20375-5320 3900 Ser 6180/0258 0 JUL 20Q4 From: Commanding Officer, Naval Research Laboratory To: Commanding Officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, Port Hueneme, CA (Code ESC421 R. Lee) Subj: TEST PLAN FOR THE FIRE FIGHTING PERFORMANCE OF A FLUOROSURFACTANT-FREE ALTERNATIVE TO AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAM (AFFF): INITIAL EVALUATION OF 3M RF3 Enel: (1) Two copies of subject report 1. Enclosure (1) is forwarded for your information and retention. 2. The Naval Research Laboratory point o f contact is Dr. Ronald Sheinson, Code 6185, (202) 404-8101 and email Sheinson@code6185.nrl.navy.mil. WARREN W. SCHULTZ By direction Copy to: NAVFACHQ (FES C. Glover, Jr) COMNAVSEASYSCOM (Code 05P4 D. McCrary, D. Barylski) OPNAV (Code N762M2 T. Harmon) Distribution Authorized to US Government Agencies and their Contractors Only; All other requests shall be forwarded to: Commanding Officer Naval Research Laboratory, Wash. DC. THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE. 6180A:RS July 1,2004 TEST PLAN FOR THE FIRE FIGHTING PERFORMANCE OF A FLUOROSllRFACTANT-FREE ALTERNATIVE TO AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAM (AFFF): INITIAL EVALUATION OF 3M RF3 Ronald S Sheinson Navy Technology Centerfo r Safety and Survivability Chemistry Division Scott Ayers Geo-Centers, Inc., Arlington, VA Enel (l)toN R L ltr 3900 Ser 6180/0258 Distribution Authorized to US Government Agencies and their Contractors Only; All other requests shall be forwarded to: Commanding Officer Naval Research Laboratory, Wash. DC. THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE. US00000828 Test Plan for the Fire Fighting Performance of a Fluorosurfactant-Free Alternative To Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF): Initial Evaluation of 3MRF3 Introduction The discontinuation of perfluoro-octanyl sulfate (PFOS) based chemistry by the 3M Company sent ripples through the fire fighting community. PFOS chemistry was found to be environmentally persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic. 3M used this technology to produce its Military Specification MIL-F-24385F (MilSpec) [1] certified aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). 3M has been a major supplier of AFFF to the Department of Defense since AFFF's joint development with NRL in the 1960s, but due to environmental concerns 3M has withdrawn their AFFF products. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency placed PFOS-based chemicals under a Significant New Use Rule and is investigating potential environmental issues for other chemistries used to produce the remaining MilSpec qualified AFFFs. Further, the European Union, United Kingdom, and Australia placed controls on fire-fighting foams, and proposed regulations are increasingly restrictive. These events have led the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center and the Navy Technology Center for Safety and Survivability of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to study new, less environmentally damaging fire-fighting foam options including fluorosurfactant-ffee foams. Fluorosurfactant-free fire fighting foam formulas do not carry the burden of extremely long-lived components and degradation products. Hence, they do not have the same persistence and bioaccumulation concerns, as the current AFFF formulations. Objective The objective of this work is to evaluate the fire suppression performance of fluorosurfactantfree foam under MilSpec protocols. This is accomplished by evaluating the time of extinguishment and bum-back protection for both the 28 f r and 50 ft2 fires as specified in MILF-24385F. The long-term goal is to find a significantly less environment-damaging, fire-fighting foam that will be able to satisfy the fire suppression performance criteria set forth in the MilSpec. The short term goal is to determine the degree to which a fluorosurfactant free fire fighting foam can approach the fire suppression performance criteria in the MilSpec for a limited specification sub-set of tests. Technical Approach The fire tests will be conducted at NRL's Chesapeake Bay Section near Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. A large open space building with an exhaust hood capable venting the products of the fire will be used for the 28 ft2 pan fire tests. The 50 ft2pan fires will be conducted outside when atmospheric conditions permit. The tests will follow the MilSpec fire performance tests [1]. I Automobile quality unleaded gasoline (87 octane) will be used as the fire fuel for most of the tests. Some tests will use JP-5 as the fire fuel to explore applicability for ground based aircraft support facilities. The 28 ft2 tests will use 10 gallons of fhel while the 50 ft2 tests will use 15 gallons. The fuel will be poured on top of a thin layer o f water approximately 'A inch thick at the shallowest point to create a level surface. A MilSpec-test experienced fire fighter will apply the fluorosurfactant-free foam at a rate of 2 gpm. A foam is successful in meeting the MilSpec performance requirements if the fire can be extinguished in the established time allotted for the test. This test series will evaluate how closely the performance of the foams approach the MilSpec standard requirements. With successful extinguishment in the 28 ft2 tests, the fire fighter continues to apply foam for a total time of 90 seconds (including suppression time) in preparation for the bum-back test. The bum-back test utilizes 1 gallon of gasoline in a 1 ft diameter pan with a 2 inch tall wall. The fuel in this pan is ignited and placed in the center of the foam within 1 minute of ending foam application. The time that the fire needs to reestablish in the larger pan and reach 25 % of the original size is recorded. If the time is 6 minutes or more in the full strength in both the 28 ft2 and 50 ft2pans, the foam successfully passes the MilSpec performance requirements. If the time is 5 minutes or more in the 28 ft2pan half strength test, the foam successfully passes the MilSpec performance requirements. These tests are conducted to determine the fire-deterrence of the foam blanket. Table 1 MilSpec Success Criteria Fire Area Foam Strength Extinguishment time 28 ft2 Full <, 30 seconds 28 ft2 Half <.45 seconds 50 ft2 Full < 50 seconds Burn-back > 6 minutes > 5 minutes > 6 minutes Test Parameters The foam solutions and the fire pan size will be the variables in the tests, as given in Table 2. Fluorosurfactant-free concentrate types of 3 % and 6 % will be tested. Foams will be mixed for selected conditions of fresh and salt water at normal and half-strength blends. 3M fire fighting foam product RF3, a concentrate intended to be used at 3 per cent concentration in water, is the primary focus of this task. Some tests will be conducted with a MilSpec certified AFFF for test control purposes. Limited testing of 3M fire fighting foam product RF6, a concentrate intended to be used at 6 per cent concentration in water, will be conduced for comparison. Limited evaluation of performance on JP-5 fuel fires will also be conducted. 2 Table 2 Test Conditions Matrix Test Water Foam Condition Salinity Strength 1 fresh full 2 fresh half 3 Salt full 4 Salt half 5 fresh full 6 Salt full Fire Area 28 ft2 28 ft2 28 ft2 28 ft2 50 ft2 50 ft2 Test Procedure The test team will consist of at least three members. The test director will record the test results and time the suppression and bum-back. This individual will be responsible for ensuring the quality of the results and be responsible for the safety of the test team, observers, and general facility. The fire fighter will apply the foam and conduct the bum-back test. Test team members will pour and ignite the gasoline, mix the foam solutions, and perform any other tasks that the test director or the fire fighter deem necessary to complete the testing. Observers, if any, will be required to follow directions from any member of the test team. The test procedure will begin with the preparation of the necessary fuel amounts. An approximate Vi inch layer of water will be poured into the test pan. The foam solution for the upcoming test will be prepared as per the instructions of the test director. The foam application nozzle will be calibrated to 2 gpm at the beginning and end of each day. The solution will be poured into the holding tank, and the tank will then be pressurized. The fire fighter will prepare for suppression testing, the fuel will be poured into the pan in less than 30 seconds and then ignited within 30 more seconds. The test director will count down the 10 second pre-bum after which the experiment will begin and the fire fighter will commence to suppress the fire. If the fire is considered successfiilly extinguished, the bum-back test will be conducted. The bum-back procedure will have a member of the test team prepare the 1 ft pan with gasoline and ignite it as the fire fighter finishes applying the additional foam to the fire test pan. The fire fighter will use a rod to pick up the smaller pan and place it in the center of the larger pan. At the moment the small burning pan is placed into the foam filled pan the test director will begin timing the bum-back. Once the bum-back evaluation has been completed, the fire fighter will apply foam until the fire is extinguished and the contents of the pan will be removed and flushed out and preparation for the next test will commence. Following each test the contents of the fire pan, foam, fuel and water, including flush water, will be pumped to the collection pit. Once the foam from accumulated test wastes of each day of testing has sufficiently diminished, the pit contents will be pumped into the holding tank for subsequent collection and environmentally acceptable disposal. 3 Testing Specifics This is an initial fire fighting performance evaluation of 3M RF3 fire fighting foam under controlled MilSpec specified test protocols. Evaluation will not include the complete fire performance evaluation matrix. Typically two or three tests each for selected variables will be conducted to obtain reproducibility of results. Bum-back tests will be conducted as judged suitable at the time of testing. The intended test sequence, subject to modification based on results from the prior tests, is given in Table 3. Testing Sequence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Foam RF3 AFFF RF3 RF6 RF3 AFFF RF3 RF3 RF3 AFFF RF3 Table 3 Specific Test Matrix Water Salinity Foam Strength Fresh Full Fresh Full Fresh Half Fresh Full Fresh Full Fresh Full Salt Full Salt Half Fresh Full Fresh Full Fresh Half Fire Area 28 ft2 28 ft2 28 ft2 28 ft2 28 ft2 28 ft2 28 ft2 28 ft2 50 ft2 50 ft2 50 ft2 Fuel Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline JP-5 JP-5 Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline Safety The test team and observers will be required to wear long sleeves and pants as well as hard soled shoes. The fire fighter will wear full turnout gear with a specialized helmet when fighting the fire. Two AJFFF fire extinguishers will be present as a secondary suppression means. Radiation shield panels will be set up prior to testing so that personnel may be protected from the thermal radiation from the fire. The building doors will be opened and the exhaust hood will be engaged to vent the space following each test. The doors will be closed and the hood disengaged during the test, so as not to cause drafts that could affect test results. Reference [1] United States Military Specification "Fire Extinguishment Agent, Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) Liquid Concentrate, for Fresh and Sea Water," MILSPEC MIL-F-24385F, 7 January 1992. 4