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AFE Who we are and what we do

Angus Fire Engineering provides the services to integrate well known and
trusted brand names into systems to protect a wide variety of risks.
The unique strength of AFE lies in its ability to work alongside its clients
to provide tailor-made systems to specification, on time and within budget

AFE - Total Capability in Fire Protection

AFE - Specialists in Protecting High Risk

Industries

Aviation

Oil & Petrochemicals

Offshore

Power Generation

Marine

Storage Tank Protection Systems

Rimseal Pourer
Floatafoam

Foam Chamber

Base Injection
Bund
Pourer

Specialist LNG Tank Protection Systems

High
Expansion
Foam Systems

Foam Skid Systems

Waterspray, Deluge and Foam Sprinkler

Systems
Waterspray
System

Foam Sprinkler
System
Deluge Valves

Deluge Valve
skid

Detection & Alarm Systems

Point Detection

Triple IR Flame
Detection

Alarmline
Linear Heat
Detection

HART

Graviner

High Sensitivity
Smoke Detection

IR Gas Detection
System

Oil Mist Detection

Vega
Control Panels

Hydrants & Fittings

Pillar Hydrants

Cabinets - GRP

Breechings

Adaptors

Cabinets - Steel

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Safety Equipment Packages for

Onshore/Offshore

Breathing
Apparatus

Escape Masks

Liferafts

Stretchers

Gas Monitors

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AFE Capabilities
Surveys & Consultancy
Project Management
Project Teams dedicated to particular
markets
Design & Engineering
Documentation
Procurement & Equipment Supply
Fire testing
Supervision of Installation
Commissioning & Maintenance

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Foam Systems
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Protection Of Tanks With Foam Monitors

NFPA 11 3-2.2 Design Criteria for Foam Monitors.
3-2.2.1 Limitations. Monitor nozzles shall not be considered as the
primary means of protection for fixed-roof tanks over 60 ft (18 m) in
diameter.
3-2.2.3 Application rate 6.5 l/min/m2 for 50 to 65 minutes

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Titan Monitor

Simple Set-Up & Operation

4,500 LPM @ 10 Bar
90% Foam Delivered on to Tank 20 m High
from 30 m Distance
2 Lengths 4 Hose, 15 m Pick-Up Tube, 2
Collecting Heads

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Monitor Tank Protection

Colossus <40m dia

(15,000L/min)
MEGA Colossus
(40,000L/min)

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Tank types

Cone Roof - Top Pourer Sets/Foam chambers

- Base Injection/Sub-surface

Internal Floating Roof - Aluminium/plastic/steel

-Top Pourers

Open Top Floating Roof - Rimseal Pourers

- Floatafoam

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Base Injection Systems High Back Pressure Generators

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Foam Application rate and Discharge Time

NFPA 11Table 5.2.6.5.1 Minimum Discharge Times and Application Rates for
Subsurface Application on Fixed-Roof Storage Tanks
Hydrocarbon Type
Minimum Discharge
Minimum Application Rate
Time (min)
L/minm2
Flash point between
37.8C and 60C
30
4.1
Flash point
below 37.8C

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4.1

Crude petroleum

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4.1

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Number of Discharge outlets

NFPA 11Table 5.2.6.2.8 Minimum Number of Subsurface Foam
Discharge Outlets for Fixed-Roof Tanks Containing Hydrocarbons
Tank Diameter
Minimum Number
m
of Discharge Outlets
Flash Point
Flash Point
Below 37.8C
37.8C
or Higher
Up to 24
1
1
Over 24 to 36 2
1
Over 36 to 42 3
2
Over 42 to 48 4
2
Over 48 to 54 5
2
Over 54 to 60 6
3

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Cone roof - Top Pourer Sets

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Foam Application Rate and Discharge Time

Table NFPA 11 5.2.5.2.2 Minimum Discharge Times and Application Rate for Type I and Type II
Fixed Foam Discharge Outlets on Fixed-Roof (Cone) Storage Tanks Containing Hydrocarbons
Minimum
Minimum
Application Rate
Discharge Time
(min)
Hydrocarbon Type
L/minm2
Type II Foam Pourer
Flash point between
37.8C and 60C
4.1
30
Flash point below
37.8C (100F) 4.1

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Crude petroleum 4.1

55

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Number of Foam Pourers Required

Table NFPA 5.2.5.2.1 Number of Fixed Foam Discharge Outlets for Fixed-Roof
Tanks Containing Hydrocarbons or Flammable and Combustible Liquids Requiring
Alcohol-Resistant Foams
Tank Diameter (or equivalent area)
ft
Up to 24

Minimum Number of Discharge Outlets m

Up to 80

Over 24 to 36

Over 80 to 120

Over 36 to 42

Over 120 to 140

Over 42 to 48

Over 140 to 160

Over 48 to 54

Over 160 to 180

Over 54 to 60

Over 180 to 200

1
2
3
4
5
6

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Top Pourer Sets - Burst discs

Very little pressure in top box 1/4 - 1psi
can be 2-3psi , where higher inlet pressures
Controlled by orifice size & inlet pressure
GLASS disc breaks ~ 1psi foam side, 1-3psi tank
side
BIG Problem = VARIABILITY of glass

Graphite/stainless disc resists 2.5psi from tank side (NFPA)

Guaranteed to burst 3-4psi from either side
Insufficient pressure on Mk111 for graphite/stainless

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 Solution to add retrofit flap

valve kit > Mk IV

TPS Burst discs

Thicker glass
Loctite bonded
withstands ~ 5psi
harnesses full
solution line pressure
OK for N2 blankets
OK for internal
floaters

Mk III
Mk111

Mk IV

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TPS - New Tankmaster Mk V coming...

Very similar to TPS Mk III
New graphite disc to withstand 2.5psi tank pressure
smaller air intake generates more top box pressure to burst Ok
Special orifice disc with hat to regulate air flow
shorter deflector for gentler foam application
Quicker release top lid
Mesh fixed to lid
Better O ring disc seal to body replaces cork
More expensive... but market leading performance
AND guaranteed leak tight

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Floating roof - Rimseal Foam Pourers

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RIMSEAL FOAM SYSTEMS

NFPA 11 The design parameters for the application of fixed foam

discharge outlets on top of the seal to protect open-top floating roof

tanks shall be in accordance with Table 5.3.5.3.1.

Maximum Spacing Between

Discharge Outlets with
Application
Rate

Discharge

305-mm

Time (min)

Foam Dam

Foam Dam

12.2

24.4

L/minm2
12.2

20

610-mm

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Rimseal Detection/Protection
Systems - Floatafoam

Linear Heat Detection

for fast Rimseal activation

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Tank fires can represent huge losses

Conventional Rimseals

Minimising loss & escalation relies on:

usually manual activation

fast detection

smoke not seen when roof low

fast protection

delays into action

minimised burnback risk

NEED QUICK ATTACK

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Floatafoam

Why Foam?
Halon Gas systems need to be phased out under Montreal
protocol.
Tendency for gas to escape and concentration levels at the fire
to drop.
Gas provides no cooling.
Aspirated foam cools, smothers, vapour seals, protects longer minimises re-ignition risk.

Floatafoam design criteria:

High application rate for short period
Gentle aspirated foam application
15 mins burnback achievable with FFFP
Free of electrics -avoiding ignition source

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Floatafoam design criteria:

Capable of extinguishing all 3 fire types
High application rate for short period
Gentle aspirated foam application
15 mins burnback achievable with FFFP
Free of electrics -avoiding ignition source

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Foam Blanket

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Floatafoam Contract list

CBI

QGPC

Mecon

QGPC

Mitsui

KNPC Kuwait

SRC Singapore Refinery

Unical

Indonesia

CBI

Sincor Venezuela

LG

NODCO

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FOAM SYSTEMS FOR INTERNAL FLOATING ROOF TANKS

NFPA 3-4.1.1 Design for Full Surface Fire. Where the basis for design is a
full surface fire, the covered (internal) floating roof tank shall be considered
as equivalent to a fixed-roof (cone) tank of the same diameter for the
purpose of foam system design. For a full surface fire, the foam facilities
shall be designed in accordance with 3-2.3 and Section 3-9. For this
application, fixed foam discharge outlets shall not be fitted with a frangible
vapour seal device.
3-4.1.1.1 Subsurface and semisubsurface injection shall not be used
because of the possibility of improper distribution of foam.
3-4.1.2 Design for Seal Area Fire. Where the basis for design is a seal fire,
the covered (internal) floating roof tank shall be considered as equivalent to
an open-top floating roof tank of the same diameter for the purpose of foam
system design. For a seal fire, the foam discharge system shall be designed
in accordance with the requirements specified in Table 3-3.3.1.2 utilizing
fixed foam discharge outlets.

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Medium Expansion Foam Bund Pourer

Systems

Design Standard: BS5306 Sec 6.1

Application Rates
4 l/min/m2 - Hydrocarbon fuels
6.5 l/min/m2 - Polar solvents
Discharge Times
10 mins - <100m2
15 mins - >100m2

MEX Bund Pourers

Semi-Fixed Bund Protection
Flexible & Cost Effective
MEX Foam
3 Models (MEX 600/1200/1800 SF)
Dedicated MEX Inductors

High Expansion Foam Systems For LNG

Tank Bund Areas

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High Expansion Foam Systems

NFPA 11A 3-4.3* Application Rate.
As established by tests [see A-1-10.5(d)], the application rate shall be
such that a positive and progressive reduction in radiation is attained
within the time limitations established in the analysis. The application
rates determined by the test in A-1-10.5(d) shall be increased by the
necessary factor to account for the initial vaporisation rate and the
configuration of the hazard. After steady-state control conditions have
been reached, the application rates established in the test for
maintenance of fire control shall be used to maintain control.

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New LNG test facility at Texas A&M Fire School

Sponsored by BP
3 pits:
Small 10m
Stepped L Trench 19m
Big 65m
All 1.2m (4 ft) deep

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How Foam Works - Fire Control

Tests confirm correct
Dynamic situation
Foam insulates & reduces
radiation back to LNG
Foam allows controlled LNG
burn-off
Pit design affects efficiency
Fire Intensity decreases
Foam 300-500:1 insulates
LNG

Regular foam top-up to

maintain steady state
Frozen foam also controls fire

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FT2 Turbex LNG : Expandol 500:1

~80-90% control after 2 mins

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How Foam Works - Vapour Dispersion

Tests confirm correct

Dynamic situation
Foam 300-500:1 insulates
LNG
Allows controlled
vapourisation (rise)
Ice layer & Ice tubes form,
frozen foam can prevent
vapour escape
Regular foam top-up
Keep fluid foam at surface

Ice tubes

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Vapour Dispersion
Water curtains need to overlap
Vapour in LEL range found 120 -150m from cloud
Frozen Expandol foam can lock LNG beneath
FT2 LNG/Expandol disperses vapours after 1 min

Ice tubes

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Robust Fixed Generators

Adequately engineered
Fan driven Blower type essential
Safe enclosed water turbine motor
Careful choice components
Tested fire exposure crucial
Standard units UNACCEPTABLE

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Balanced Pressure
Proportioners

Balanced Valves

Foam Proportioning
Systems

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Semi Fixed Proportioning System

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Fixed Proportioning System

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Balanced Pressure Foam Proportioning System

Foam concentrate pump can be:
Electric driven
Diesel driven
Pelton wheel driven
Variable flow rates
Can be refilled during operation

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Bag (Bladder) tank

Difficult to refill while
operating

Balanced
Pressure
Proportioners
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Fixed Inline (FI)

Inductors
Fixed flow device

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= TROUBLE-FREE installation

Waterspray Systems

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Clack Type Deluge Valve

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Clack Type Deluge Valve

Reasonably Cheap
Cannot pressure regulate
Only available in 4, 6 & 8 sizes
Have to be manually reset at the valve

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C300 Deluge Control Valves

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Basic Principle - Valve Closed

Vent 7 is closed.
Inlet water
pressure at 5
closes sleeve on 6
through port 8.

1.Inlet Cone
2.Outer Cavity
3.Control Sleeve
4.Main Body
5.Inlet Port
6.Valve Seat
7.Vent Port
8.Cavity Port

Basic Principle - Valve Running

Port 7 is vented &
pressure reduced in
cavity at 8

inlet water
pressure
lifts sleeve 3,
from seat 6

1.Inlet Cone
2.Outer Cavity
3.Control Sleeve
4.Main Body
5.Inlet Port
6.Valve Seat
7.Vent Port
8.Cavity Port

C300 Valve Features & Benefits

Low pressure loss
Accurate pressure control
Compatibility of materials
Surge protection
3 to 12 sizes

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Tank Protection

FluoroProteins: FP70 Plus & FP70

FP70 Plus for :

FP70 for :

100% MTBE

Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons

Unleaded Gasolines
(below 7.5% MTBE)

Unleaded Gasolines
(to 18% MTBE)
Non-asp. monitors

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Tank Protection

FP70 Plus

Key Benefits:
Fuel tolerance
Heat resistance

E
V
I
T
C
E
F
F
E
T
S
O
C

Post-fire security
Foam blanket stability
Hydrocarbons, unleaded blends & MTBE
First FP to pass tough LASTFIRE test

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Petrochem & Municipal

Polar Solvents
Water Miscible
Attack Foam
Methanol
Ethers
Aldehydes
Ketones

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Petrochem & Municipal

AR Foams - How do they work?

AFFF

and FFFP
versions
Polymer raft
Used on hydrocarbons separates Foam from Fuel
and polar solvents
Films only form on
hydrocarbons
Film formation only on
cool fires
Polymer rafts only form
on polar solvent fuels
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Petrochem & Municipal

Poly`mer Technology
Biopolymer
Water Soluble
Insoluble in Polar Solvent
Raft Barrier
Resulting foams are more
viscous
Until recently

67

Petrochem & Municipal

AR-AFFF - Tridol ATF 3-6, 3-3 & 1-3

Municipal & Petrochemical

Fire Services

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Petrochem & Municipal

AR-AFFFs

For those using Synthetics...

Multi-purpose applications
We have the best!
Leading performance - LASTFIRE
Less viscous than others
Good track record - long term storage
Formulated for Solvent &
Hydrocarbon performance
Fully mixable with 3M ATC

1-3, 3-3, 3-6% available

Environmentally more gentle

Competitively priced

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Storage - AR type foams

Polymer vulnerable to separating

Freeze-thaw & high temps can trigger

Usually NOT re-mixable

Best store 10yrs +

Worst literally months!

Polymer Drop-Out

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Petrochem & Municipal

Upgrade: Multipurpose
Existing AR
foams good

BUT constantly looking to

improve on:
Thickness in handling
Winter performance
Storage stability
Induction accuracy
Simpler proportioning

Tupras, Turkey 1999

Reduced wastage
Easier vehicle usage
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AR-FFFP Niagara
High fluidity
Polymer-free
Flows like water!
No shear thinning
Accurate proportioning
Easy handling
-18C lowest use temperature

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Tank Protection

LASTFIRE : Storage tank fire test

16 Leading Oil Industry Cos. are satisfied :
Developed comprehensive test
spec.
Foam fire test exclusively for tanks

Representative & realistic:

Critical application rates
Realistic application methods
Realistic foam properties
Easily set-up
Adaptable to suit fire ground needs
Proven to differentiate between
foams

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Tank Protection

LASTFIRE test

Excellent
burnback
resistance

Extinction within 7 mins

0 3
25 30 mins

10 12

Torch
PreburnFoam
Applicati tests

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Burnbac
k

Rapid Knockdown but

Poor Sealing Capability

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Tank Protection
15

5
Fire Control

Maximum points
available for

Burnback
Resistance

7.5

7.5

each stage of the

Vapour
Suppression
(torch test 2)

LASTFIRE TEST
Extinguishment

Vapour
Suppression
(torch test 1)

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End user relative importance of LASTFIRE Test fire performance criteria

(Developed from poll of end users)

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ANGUS FOAMS: LASTFIRE TESTED

Reduced fire
performance

Acceptable fire
performance

Semi-Aspirated Nozzle
FP70 32.5%

Tridol ATF3-3 95%

Angus FP70 Plus 72%

Tridol ATF3-6 77%

Tridol ATF 1-3 90%

FP 70 72%

FP 70Plus 100%
Tridol ATF3-3 100%
Tridol ATF1-3 95%
Tridol ATF 3-6
92.5%

Aspirated Nozzle

System Nozzle
Tridol ATF 3-3 70%

25%

Total Scores:

Good fire
performance

50%

80%

ATF1-3
FP70 Plus
ATF3-3
ATF3-6
FP70

275
272
265
264.5
202

FP 70Plus 100%
FP 70 100%
Tridol ATF 3-6 92.5%
Tridol ATF 1-3 90%

100%

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Petrochem & Municipal

Performance Characteristics
AFFF
Typical
Application

FP

Aviation Oil
Tanks

FFFP

ARAFFF

ARFFFP

MultiAviation Multipurpose purpose

Knockdown

Burnback
Resistance

Fuel
Tolerance

The more

the better!

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