Why You Should Use Compressed Air Foam

Compressed Air Foam or CAF is basically a combination of a soap foam concentration and the water which is fairly common to the art of firefighting, as well as compressed air. The combination of the three elements makes water much more effective in fighting fire which is why CAF should be used.

The soap is referred to as Class A Foam Concentrate. It has only one purpose but it provides several benefits when it is mixed with water. The main reason for the CAF concentrate is to allow the water and air to properly mix which cannot occur without the soap concentrate.

There are other benefits to mixing the CAF with water:1. It makes the water cling to carbon materials which are combustible and it stops the water from running off to fast before it has enough time to adequately soak the wood.2. It reduces the surface tension of the water so it can easily flow soaking into all the combustible materials that pose a threat.3. It attracts carbon bi products of the smoke from fire which then reduces the size and intensity of the black cloud.

The compressed air is an integral part of this formula because when air is pumped into the water each droplet is blown into a bubble which then forces the entire drop onto the endangered surface.

You see water has the ability to absorb plenty of heat. In fact it is 9300 btu/lb but water alone is only able to reach the outer perimeter of the fire which can cause substantial water damage while not doing a great deal to stop the fire in its tracks.

The compressed air changes the surface to mass ration which means that the entire drop of water can be instantly absorbed with no excess water passing through the fire which then causes the fire to go out a lot faster while almost completely eliminating water damage.

Are you aware that with CAF a fully engulfed house fire can be extinguished in under a minute using under 50 gallons of water? The key is applying water effectively. When it is not effectively applied you need lots of water to put out even the smallest fire. You could say that CAF provides an instant cure.

Before purchasing CAF here are some important tips:

1. Check the soaps consistency. It should not be thin and watery but rather should look like a quality dish soap.2. Ask the supplier for a sample to try. Spray it on a surface and then see what happens. Check that it foams the way you want, how it works in your water, the humidity levels, and other relevant factors.3. Buy from a supplier you trust so that you can believe the information provided.4. Check around and see what other companies are using. There are many different brands and talking to others will help you better choose which ones right for you.5. Don't base your purchasing decision just on price. Make sure you consider what you are getting for that �great price.�6. Pull the MSDS sheet so that you know all the health issues with this product. The MSDS sheets are easily available from even the supplier.

That's it. You are ready to invest in your own compressed air foam system. Why not go shopping?

About The Author:
Adam works as a air compressor technician for over 7 years. For his work, he finds it advantageous to keep a notebook on the common problems and fixes of the various brands and models that he works on. At http://www.aircompressorhut.com, he makes this information open to the public to facilitate the evaluation of the different air compressor.

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Title:	Why You Should Use Compressed Air Foam
Author:	Adam Haymer
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Why You Should Use Compressed Air Foam