Articles

When you send foam samples to Dyne for quality condition testing, the tests Dyne completes fall into two categories on the report: physical properties and performance properties.  Physical properties, including refractive index, density, viscosity, and pH, are inherent attributes of the chemical composition of the sample and are completed on the concentrate prior to dilution.   Performance properties, including expansion ratio, drain time, and spreading coefficient (if applicable), are measures of foam quality and are measured after diluting the concentrate to its nominal concentration.  Ultimately, a foam sample’s overall Pass or Fail designation will depend on the foam quality*.

How does Dyne determine if a physical property is “In Spec”?

Each foam product’s physical specifications are determined by the manufacturer and are published on the foam product technical datasheet.  Dyne compares values obtained during periodical testing to these published ranges to determine if the result falls within the manufacturers stated range.  If the result does, it is deemed “In Spec”.  If the result doesn’t, it is deemed “Out of Spec”.

Partnering to Protect Lives & Property has been Dyne’s motto for 20 years. Over those 20 years, Dyne Technologies has come a long way but we’ve always been proud of our high-quality test results with timely delivery and unparalleled customer service. Recently rebranded as Dyne Fire Protection Labs, we have grown from a team of a just a few people to many lab technicians and administrative staff with a variety of backgrounds and skills.

Firefighting foam concentrates are designed to be mixed with water prior to use.  For most fixed foam systems, this is done automatically when the system is triggered by a fire event through the use of proportioning equipment resulting in foam solutions typically ranging anywhere from 1% to 6% foam concentrate (99 to 94% water, respectively) depending on how the foam concentrate has been formulated, certified, and listed.  Ensuring that both the foam concentrate and the proportioning equipment in this type of system meet periodical testing requirements will result in confidence in the fire protection system.  Performance degradation of either could be catastrophic.  However, for some portable systems, the foam concentrate may be mixed into a solution well before the event of a fire and then stored prior to use.  In this case, performance of the foam solution itself and not the concentrate and proportioning equipment must be evaluated.

by Grant Lobdell

The current, 2017 edition of National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 25 Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems further explains sprinkler field service testing as required in 5.3.1.1 in the annex section A.5.3.1.1:

Sprinklers should be first given a visual inspection in accordance with 5.2.1.1.1 to determine if replacement is required. Sprinklers that have passed the visual inspection should then be laboratory tested for sensitivity and functionality.  The waterway should clear when sensitivity/functionality tested at 5 psi (0.4 bar) or the minimum listed operating pressure for dry sprinklers.