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FAQs

FOAM CONCENTRATE TESTING
PRODUCED FOAM TESTING
IMO FOAM TESTING
PFAS TOP ASSAY TESTING
TEST KITS & EQUIPMENT

Foam Concentrate Testing FAQs:

Most manufacturers offer a 10-year life for their foam concentrates, provided the products are correctly stored, in original containers, and with the seal still intact.

How concentrates perform can however be compromised by the following:

  • Dilution
  • Contamination
  • Temperature extremes
  • System failure

Because of these factors, annual foam concentrate testing is essential and is recommended by international standards including NFPA 11:2021 and BS EN 13565-2:2019.

‘At least annually, an inspection shall be made of foam concentrates … for evidence of excessive sludging or deterioration. Samples of concentrates shall be sent to the manufacturer or qualified laboratory for quality condition testing.’

NFPA 11, 2021 Edition, 13.2.6.1 and 13.2.6.2

We evaluate whether your concentrate foam is still compliant with the specification in place at the time of manufacture. We can test all major types including:

• AR-FFF   • FP • FFFP  •  AFFF •  HI-EX  •  Class A  •  AR-AFFF  •  FFF  •  Pre-Mix

Please contact us if you’re unsure of your foam type.

With each foam concentrate test, we analyse 10 key features:

  1. Appearance — how the sample looks, checking for colour, sediment, and homogeneity
  2. Surface tension — how well the foam spreads across the surface of a fire in use. We test at 20°C and in accordance with international standards ASTM D-971:2012 and ISO 304:1985.
  3. pH — the alkalinity or acidity of the sample. Tested at 20°C and according to international standards BS EN 1568 1-4:2018 Part 7.
  4. Viscosity — the sample’s thickness when compared with water. Tested at 20°C
  5. Specific gravity — the ratio of a given value of the liquid when compared with an equal volume of water
  6. Freeze point — the temperature at which the sample changes from liquid to solid (i.e. crystallises)
  7. Sedimentation — how much insoluble or particulate matter there is in the sample
  8. Fire extinguishment (synthetic) — how the foam performs in extinguishing fires using a small-scale test pan indicative test
  9. Expansion rate — the ratio of foam produced compared with the volume of concentrate used. For example, a ratio of 7:1 means 1 litre of foam concentrate produces 7 litres of foam. The test is conducted using a UK defence standard branch pipe and in accordance with international standards BS EN 1568 1-4:2018 Annex G and NFPA 11:2021 Annex D
  10. 25% drainage — how fast water drains from the foam. Also known as a ‘quarter drainage test’ and a critical indication of a foam’s stability. The test is conducted using a UK defence standard branch-pipe with an application rate of 5 litres per minute at 5.5 bar (AFFF foams) or 7.0 bar (AR and protein foams) and in accordance with international standards BS EN 1568 1-4:2018 Annex G and NFPA 11:2021 Annex D

 

Please note that all the results we obtain in the Oil Technics Firefighting Foam Testing Services lab rely on the samples we receive, which may not be representative.

We strongly recommend comparing your results with the original manufacturer specification. If they don’t match, there may be an issue with one or more of the following:

  • Contamination
  • Evaporation
  • Dilution
  • Degradation
  • Decomposition

For each foam concentrate test, please provide…

  • 1 litre of concentrate in a 1 litre plastic bottle

Each sample needs labelling with the following information:

  • Your company name
  • Your order reference or PO number
  • Foam concentrate type, concentration, and manufacturer
  • Sample source and location
  • Date sample was taken

Download a foam concentrate sample bottle label and click here to download our sample & send guide.

Please use this address:

Foam Testing Laboratory
Oil Technics (Fire Fighting Products) Ltd.
Linton Business Park
Gourdon
Aberdeenshire
DD10 0NH
UK

Click here for the foam concentrate sample bottle label and click here to download our sample & send guide.

By agitating your foam, you ensure that any particulates that may have fallen to the bottom of the container are reincorporated, helping ensure you’re taking a representative sample.

If you take a sample from the top of the container without agitating it first, you may end up with a diluted sample which could give a false result during testing — particularly if there’s a possibility that water or debris could have entered the container.

Once you’ve taken your sample, please always wait to receive your Oil Technics Firefighting Foam Testing results and test report before doing anything else to your foam or foam system.

There’s detailed guidance on taking a sample from a tank — where agitating the concentrate is not always advisable — in this FAQ.

Samples taken from the top and bottom of a storage tank are likely to have different physical properties if the foam concentrate is contaminated or degraded.

We therefore recommend you refrain from circulating the tank contents before taking your samples, typically:

  • One 1 litre sample from the top of the tank
  • One 1 litre sample from the bottom of the tank
 

Sludge, sediment, rust, scale, etc, must be removed before collection of the bottom sample. To do this, draw off at least 5-10 litres of product before taking a sample.

If you have a tank sampling jar with a removable bung, we recommend taking an additional 1 litre sample from the middle of the tank.

Where it’s only possible to take one sample, circulate the tank contents before taking a 1 litre ‘composite sample’. However, do not circulate where dilution or contamination is suspected.

We also recommend you label the tank ‘Awaiting Foam Test Results’ plus the date the sample was taken, and do not circulate again until you’ve received Oil Technics Firefighting Foam Testing results and report.

When concentrate is stored in a drum, first take a 1 litre sample from the top and then shake vigorously before taking a second 1 litre sample.

A: Please send each foam concentrate sample in a well-packaged clean, tightly closed 1 litre plastic bottle.

Here are a few extra guidelines…

  • You can use virtually any plastic bottle, but they must be CLEAN before filling and have a well-fitted lid
  • We recommend sealing the bottle inside a plastic bag to prevent leakage
  • Package the bottle — or bottles — in a sturdy cardboard box with plenty of appropriate packing material
  • Avoid using bottles bigger than 1 litre — it’ll just cost you more to transport and we only need 1 litre to carry out the test.
  • Our standard 5-day turnaround — you’ll get your results and report within 5 days of us receiving your sample
  • Our priority 24-hour service — you’ll get your results and report within 24 hours of us receiving your sample
 

We also offer our UK North Sea oil & gas customers an emergency same-day testing service, with heliport collection.

Firefighting foams usually have a very long shelf life, provided they are kept within the manufacturers guidelines and temperature limits and are stored in the original and unopened shipping containers. For example, a shelf life of 10 – 20 years can be expected for AFFFs if stored correctly.

For opened containers, this shelf life can be compromised due to factors out-with manufacturers control such as dilution, contamination and extremes of temperature.

Please refer to Safety Data Sheet for preferred storage conditions and guidance.

Samples are visually examined for visible sediment, concentrate colour and whether homogeneous

  • Visible sediment indicates contamination (possibly due to poor storage conditions).
  • Colour change, when compared to the manufacturer’s specification, could indicate contamination by a different foam type or concentrate degradation.
  • Non homogeneous liquid suggests a serious failure.

A change in Specific Gravity, when compared to the manufacturer’s specification, indicates whether a foam concentrate has been diluted or, in high temperate climates, concentrated due to losses caused by evaporation.

A change in pH, when compared to the manufacturer’s specification, can be caused by one or all of the following:

  • Product degradation
  • Product contamination
  • Biological decomposition

Reduced viscosity, when compared to the manufacturer’s specification, can be a sign of dilution and/or degradation.

Excessively high viscosity can effect induction strength and performance.

Surface Tension indicates how well the foam will “spread” across the surface of a fire and is measured using a Torsion Balance measure.

Change in Surface Tension, when compared to the manufacturer’s specification, can effect performance.

Freeze point is measured by placing foam concentrates in a  freezer and the temperature taken at transition point between crystal and homogeneous liquid phase.

Changes in Freeze Point, when compared to the manufacturer’s specification, can indicate dilution or contamination of Foam Concentrate.

Expansion Ratio is the ratio of foam produced to the volume of solution used to generate that foam, ie Expansion Ratio = Volume of Foam / Volume of Foam Solution.

Expansion Ratio is related not only to the Foam concentrate but to temperature, water quality, foam making equipment and test procedure.

For these reasons, the temperature of the Foam Concentrate water, air and

Foam Solution is recorded.

Similarly, standard Foam making equipment and collection procedure should always be used in order to compare results obtained.

Change in Expansion Ratio, when compared to the manufacturer’s specification, can effect performance.

25% Drainage Time is the speed at which water drains from a foam and is therefore a critical measure of a Foam’s stability.

Foam Test laboratories measure the 25% Drainage Time (sometimes referred to as Quarter Drainage). This is the time taken for 25% of the water content to drain from a foam.

Change in 25% Drainage Time, when compared to the manufacturer’s specification, can effect performance.

Sediment is tested using a Centrifuge tube “spin”. Sediment can arise from:

  • Degradation
  • Contamination
  • Mixture of incompatible foams

Typically Protein based foams should not exhibit greater then 0.5% sediment and AFFF’s less than 0.1%.

Fire Extinguishment Performance are tested by igniting a quantity of fuel (heptane or alcohol) in a test pan and applying a quantity of foam after a set time. If the fire is not extinguished within a set time, the foam has failed.

Burnback performance is measured using a rectangular test pan filled with a quantity of heptane. This pan is divided – 90% of the surface has foam applied to it and the remaining 10% surface is ignited. After a set time, the divider is removed and the progress of the fire’s spread is measured and timed. The foam has passed if the flames have not progressed to a set percentage of the surface area after a set time.

Produced Foam Testing FAQs:

You need to know whether your foam system’s proportioning and induction equipment is fit for purpose and accurate.

The test we use at Oil Technics Firefighting Foam Testing Services shows the calculated percentage induction of your sample compared against internationally recognised standards NFPA 11:2021 and BS EN 13565-1:2019.

Foam proportioning systems are generally reliable and must be rigorously maintained and inspected, but committing to regular produced foam testing helps ensure they remain correctly proportioned.

The NFPA 11, 2021 edition, recommends at 13.2.1.1:

‘At least annually, all foam systems shall be thoroughly inspected and tested for correct operation.’

At Oil Technics Firefighting Foam Testing Services, we recommend testing your produced foam and foam concentrate at the same time. That way you can be fully confident about both your system and product.

We can test for all major produced foam types.

If you’re not sure of your foam type, please contact us.

Our test calculates the percentage induction of your produced foam sample. This is compared against these allowable parameters laid out in foam standards NFPA 11:2021 and BS EN 13565-1:2019:

‘The foam concentrate induction rate of a proportioner … shall be within minus 0% to plus 30% of the manufacturer’s listed concentrations, or plus 1 percentage point, whichever is less.’ NFPA 11, 2021 edition, 12.6.5

Your produced foam sample will fail if we find it is above the maximum or below the minimum stated value. Contact us if you need further information.

For each test, please put samples of the following into separate 1 litre plastic bottles:

  • 1 litre of produced foam
  • 1 litre of foam concentrate
  • 1 litre of induction water

Complete and add the relevant label to each bottle, ensuring you include the following information:

  • Your company name
  • Your order reference or PO number
  • Foam concentrate type, concentration, and manufacturer
  • Sample source and location
  • Date sample was taken

Download our sample & send guide.

Please use this address:

Foam Testing Laboratory
Oil Technics (Fire Fighting Products) Ltd.
Linton Business Park
Gourdon
Aberdeenshire
DD10 0NH
UK

Download the produced foam sample bottle labels, and click here to download our sample & send guide.

Each foam sample needs to be placed in a clean, well-packaged and tightly closed 1 litre plastic bottle.

Here are a few more recommendations:

  • Virtually any plastic bottle will be suitable, but they must be CLEAN before filling and have a well-fitted lid
  • Seal the bottles inside a plastic bag, if possible, to prevent leakage
  • The bottles need to be packed in a sturdy cardboard box with plenty of appropriate packing material
  • Using bottles bigger than 1 litre will just cost you more to transport — and we only need 1 litre of each sample to complete testing.

There are two levels of the Oil Technics Firefighting Foam Testing Services results service:

  • Our standard 5-day turnaround — you’ll get your results and report within 5 days of us receiving your sample
  • Our priority 24-hour service — you’ll get your results and report within 24 hours of us receiving your sample

We also offer our UK North Sea oil & gas customers an emergency same-day testing service, with heliport collection.

You need to take your produced foam sample from as close as possible to the point where the foam reaches the designated discharge area.

Before starting, activate the foam system long enough to remove standing columns of water as these would contribute to a diluted sample, and only take the sample when the system is in equilibrium.

Please provide the Oil Technics Firefighting Foam Testing Services lab with:

  • 1 litre of produced foam
  • 1 litre of foam concentrate
  • 1 litre of induction water

There’s full guidance on taking foam concentrate samples in these FAQs, including sampling from tanks.

Download the produced foam sample bottle labels and click here to download our sample & send guide.

You need to collect the produced foam sample from the point of impact within the discharge area. If you need more guidance, please contact us.

Take your sample by inserting the sample container into the edge of the produced foam stream. If you need more guidance, please contact us.

We highly recommend conducting a combined concentrate and produced foam test at the same time to ensure both your product and system are fit for purpose.

Any Questions?

Get in touch and our team can help with your query.

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