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Tactics and studies of the effectiveness of Compressed Air Foam Systems.

Compressed Air Foam Systems in Limited Staffing Conditions.pdf
This research project explored the feasibility of enhancing suppression crews of limited manpower by equipping them with Class A foam and Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) technology and training. The problem that was addressed was that, especially in the early stages of fire suppression operations, there were frequently insufficient personnel to employ traditional extinguishment methods safely and efficiently. The purpose of this research project was to determine if CAFS technology and procedures could be used to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and safety under limited personnel resource conditions.

Compressed Air Foam for Structural Fire Fighting.pdf (FEMA Boston, MA)
During most of 1992 and the early part of 1993, the Boston Fire Department participated in a field test of a compressed air foam system (CAFS). Partial funding for the program, including the equipment, analysis and reporting, was provided by the United States Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The overall objective of the project was to evaluate the applicability of CAFS technology to an urban fire suppression environment.

Capabilities and Limitations of CAFS for Structural Firefighting.pdf (Fire Protection Research Foundation workshop summary)
Despite generally favorable reviews on the overall extinguishing capabilities of CAFS, questions and concerns remain on certain performance characteristics such as operational tactics, maintenance, and reliability. This project seeks to provide a comprehensive scientific study on the use of CAFS for structural firefighting. This two year project is led by California Polytechnic State University (CalPoly) and involves a collaborative effort with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) in coordination with fire service partners. One of the tasks of the project is to conduct a workshop with interested and experienced parties to discuss safety effectiveness implications associated with CAFS, and to review and discuss the proposed project research plan. This report documents all pertinent information relating to this workshop.

Investigation on the gas-cooling effects of CAFS.pdf (Department of Fire Safety Engineering and System Safety, Lund University, Sweden)
This report investigates the gas-cooling effects of compressed air foam (CAF). A literature review has been made on the subject and on related issues in order to gather information. Two experimental series were conducted, the first to evaluate the gas-cooling properties of CAF compared to water. The other one was conducted to investigate how the recommended tactic, with application from a safe distance, would affect the temperature and thereby the need for traditional gas-cooling. The results from the first experiments show that CAF has a gas-cooling effect but is less effective than water. The second series of experiments indicate that the suitable tactics may limit the need for traditional gas-cooling.