Advantages of Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) and Features of the Snuffer CAF System

Advantages of Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) & Features of Snuffer CAFS System

1. The Snuffer Model 25/40 makes an excellent first response unit when mated to a one ton truck and 200 gallon or more water tank.
2. Compressed air foam will stick to vertical and overhead surfaces using Class A foaming agent concentrates of only 0.2 - 0.3%. At these low injection rates, the cost of producing foam is drastically reduced over other methods.
3. Compressed air foam makes a more uniform bubble structure for better utilization of water and this in turn provides better protection and knock down ability. Foam will stick to vertical and overhead surfaces at rates as low as 0.2 - 0.3 of a percent - better than any other foam device.
4. Compressed air foam makes water work from 5 to 30 times better than water alone in suppressing fires, depending on surface and fuel contributing to combustion.
5. Compressed air foam reduces structural water damage because much less water is used to knock down a fire.
6. Structural fire clean up is easier and quicker with Class "A" compressed air foam because the foam is easily swept out of the room and/or left to evaporate. (Foam should not be flushed with water at the fire site).
7. Knock down of structural fires with compressed air foam allows for easier detection of arson because less evidence is washed away (relative to plain water).
8. Using compressed air foam will result in less water pollution than traditional fire fighting methods (over plain water or aspirated foam).
9. Compressed air foam filled hoses are much lighter than water filled hoses and the foam filled hose will float making them easier to handle. Respirator systems will last longer because less effort is required to move hoses around.
10. Generally, only one person is required to handle the hose because of lower nozzle pressure. This frees up manpower for other duties. (Note: special kink resistant hose should be used inside structures).
11. There is good casting distance with compressed air foam.
12. Compressed air foam can be pushed several times the height of water, at any given pressure.
13. Compressed air foam can be pushed more than 4000 feet on level ground.
14. Class "A" compressed air foam works well on carbon based material.
15. Class "A" compressed air foam is ideal for penetrating deep-seated fires.
16. Class "A" compressed air foam does an excellent job of protecting structures and wild lands.
17. Class "A" compressed air foam momentarily seals fuels, cutting off oxygen.
18. Dry type compressed air foam does an excellent job of knocking down petroleum & car fires and works well as collateral protection.
19. There is less smoke emitted when using Class "A" compressed air foam to suppress fires.
20. Compressed air foam gives good definition inside and outside buildings; is applied faster and reduces the amount of foam required.
21. Smooth straight bore 7/8" or 1 1/16" nozzles are best for applying foam. A 1 3/8 ID valve without tip makes even dryer foam, which is excellent for interior attack.
22. Applying compressed air foam with the Snuffer is the lowest cost method of knocking down fires and protecting structures, forests or wild lands.
23. The Snuffer will apply Class "A", "A-B" and "B" - 1% & 3% using foaming agent concentrates at rates of up to 2.0%. Normally, Class "A" compressed air foam is applied at a rate of 0.3%. At 0.3%, a 20 litre pail of chemical will dose 1700 gallons of water. The operator can switch from one chemical type to another and back again without stopping.
24. The Snuffer can produce and apply wet, medium or dry compressed air foam without varying the injection rate more than 0.2% to 0.3%. A good quality foam concentrate must be used.
25. The Snuffer does a very good job of controlling small and medium petroleum fires using Class "A" compressed air foam and better still using Class "A-B" compressed air foam. A 20ft. pan with 2" of water, 10 gallons of diesel fuel and 5 gallons of gasoline can usually be knocked down in less than 15 seconds with dry foam.
26. When the Snuffer is primed, only 3 steps are required to produce compressed air foam.
27. The Snuffer normally uses a 1.5" line on the foam side coupled with a 1 1/16" Tip and a 1 3/8" ID valve. The Snuffer can be equipped with a "Y" and two 1" lines or two 1.5" lines with 3/4" nozzle.
28. The Snuffer using the compressed air side will blow the water/foam out of the lines for quick and easy clean up.
29. All of the self contained Snuffers are made so they can fill the water tank while still using the CAFS line.