It has been discovered that low molecular weight poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) can be used in place of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (DGME) in fire foam concentrates without compromising the desirable properties provided by DGME. Surprisingly it has been found that lower molecular weight PEG with a weight average molecular weight Mw of 400 or less provides comparable performance to DGME with considerably lower toxicity. Use of this PEG permits preparation of fire foam concentrates that exclude DGME completely and that are less toxic than conventional DGME-containing concentrates.

The present invention is generally directed to fluorine-free firefighting foam concentrates containing a surfactant component comprising one or more surfactants, optionally one or more solvents, optionally one or more inorganic salts, and optionally one or more organic salts. The present invention is also directed to firefighting foam solutions and firefighting foams prepared from such concentrates and methods for their use. The fluorine-free firefighting foam concentrates exhibit Newtonian behavior. The fluorine-free firefighting foam solution exhibits dilution thickening properties.

A proportioner having a body portion that defines a foam passage and a fluid passage. The proportioner also includes a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate having an opening for receiving the restrictor disk. The proportioner can further include a rod member connected to the restrictor disk and a clapper assembly connected to the rod member via a sliding interface. The clapper assembly can be configured to control a flow of the foam concentrate through the foam passage in proportion to a flow of the fire protection fluid through the fluid passage by moving the rod member to vary the distance between the restrictor disk and the orifice plate. The sliding interface can be disposed between a first guide and a second guide, and at least a portion of the restrictor disk is deposed in the opening.

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.

A method of manufacturing a self-expanding fire-fighting foam solution is disclosed. Here, the method can include purging air from a container, wherein the purging is performed via flowing an inert gas into the container, such that substantially inert environment is created within the container. In addition, the method can further include dispensing or filling a pre-determined amount of foam concentrate into a container, dispensing or filling a pre-determined amount of water into the container, and mixing the foam concentrate and water within the container, wherein the mixed foam and water within the inert container provide the self-expanding fire-fighting foam solution and having a pH ranging from about 6.8 to 7.8 moles per liter.

Firefighting compositions that may be used in onboard firefighting systems of heavy industrial equipment, such as heavy vehicles and other types of heavy equipment used in construction, forestry, mining, and other similar industries, are provided. The firefighting composition are aqueous liquids which include (a) a sodium and/or potassium salt of an organic acid; (b) one or more of an alkylpolyglycoside surfactant, an alkyl sulfate anionic surfactant, an alkyliminodialkylcarboxylate surfactant and a zwitterionic surfactant; (c) an acetylenic diol derivative surfactant and/or a siloxane-based surfactant; and (d) alkylene glycol and/or glycerol. Methods of producing a firefighting foam from the aqueous firefighting composition and using the aqueous firefighting composition to fight a fire, such as fighting a fire using an onboard industrial equipment firefighting system, are also provided.

A method of fighting a fire includes aerating a firefighting foam composition to form an aerated firefighting foam; administering the aerated firefighting foam to a fire or applying the aerated firefighting foam to a surface of a volatile flammable liquid; wherein: the firefighting foam composition includes a sugar component; a surfactant component comprising an anionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, or a mixture of any two or more thereof; a polysaccharide thickener comprising succinoglycan; and at least about 30 wt. % water.

A method of fighting a fire includes aerating a firefighting foam composition to form an areated firefighting foam; administering the aerated firefighting foam to a fire or applying the aerated firefighting foam to a surface of a volatile flammable liquid; wherein: the firefighting foam composition includes a sugar component that includes a monosaccharide sugar and/or a sugar alcohol; an anionic surfactant; a zwitterionic surfactant; an organic solvent including glycol ether and/or glycol solvent; a polysaccharide thickener; and at least about 40 wt. % water; wherein the composition is substantially free of any amine oxide or nonionic surfactants; and the composition is substantially free of fluorinated compounds.

A method of proportioning a finished foam at or near a hazard comprising proportioning and delivering a first finished foam to the hazard, determining if the first finished foam extinguishes or suppresses the hazard, if not, selecting an amount of a fluorinated additive, and proportioning a foam solution including the selected amount of the fluorinated additive to form a fluorinated finished foam. A foam injection system is also disclosed.

The present invention is directed to fluorine-free firefighting foams containing one or more biopolymers. The biopolymers of the compositions of the present invention include for example, diutan, guar, xanthan, scleroglucan, and combinations thereof.