FOMTEC ARC 3×3 S

Features

• Approvals: UL Listed, ULC Listed, FM Approved
• Tested, Listed and Approved with Sprinklers
• Excellent firefighting on Class B polar solvent and hydrocarbon fires.
• For use in high risk applications such as warehouses, offshore installations, oil and chemical tankers, petrochemical and chemical plants.

Application

Fomtec ARC 3×3 S is intended for use on Class B fires with hydrocarbon fuel as well as on polar solvent fuels i.e. Isopropanol, Methanol etc. and other foam destroying product fires such as MTBE, and Class A fires such as paper, word and textiles. Refer to the FM Approval Guide and UL Listing for approved fuel hazards and application rate. It can be used with both aspirating and non-aspirating discharge devices. It is compatible with all dry chemical powders, this statement is not verified by UL or FM.

Fire Performance & Foaming

Fomtec ARC 3×3 S has been designed to give the best properties of:

• Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)
• Alcohol resistant foam (ARC)

The fire performance of this product has been measured and documented according to „International Approvals” stated in this document. The foaming properties are depending on equipment used and other variables such as water and ambient temperatures. Average expansion 7:1, average ¼ drainage time 08:30 minutes using UNI 86 test nozzles.

Proportioning

Fomtec ARC 3×3 S can easily be proportioned at the correct dilution using conventional equipment such as:

• Inline inductors
• Inline Balanced Pressure, proportioning systems (ILBP)
• Bladder tanks and ratio controllers
• Around the pump proportioning systems
• Water motor or turbine foam proportioners
• Self inducting branch pipes and nozzles

Refer to the FM Approval Guide and UL Listing for propotioning equipment approved for use with this concentrate.

Sprinkler application

Sprinkler applications are especially challenging for any foam due to the very low operating pressure and the very low expansion reached. Applying foam through a sprinkler is a very forceful application method and requires foam that can handle direct application and partial submersion into the fuel without losing fire performance and burn back resistance. Foams that shall be regarded as suitable for Sprinkler applications shall also be able to withstand limited time of water deluge directly onto the foam blanket without losing burn back properties. This test is performed on the foam during the Heptane test. Fomtec ARC 3×3 S has passed these tests showing very good extinguishing and burn back properties. Refer to FM Approval Guide and UL Listing for acceptable system configurations used with this concentrate and specific sprinkler SINs and their associated minimum application rates.

The Fomtec ARC 3×3 S is ideal for all High-risk applications where any type of discharge outlet may be in use such as:

• Petrochemical and chemical plants
• Offshore installations
• Oil and Chemical tankers
• Tank Farms
• Warehouses

Compatibility

Contact one of the Fomtec sales team with questions.

Technical data

*This product is tested according to FM and UL-standard and has passed the specific circumstances in the test. 

Environmental impact

Fomtec ARC 3×3 S is formulated using specially selected raw materials, selected for their fire performance and their environmental profile. Fomtec ARC 3×3 S is biodegradable. It contains only C6 fluorotelomers. The handling of spill of concentrate or foam solutions shall how ever be made according to local regulations. Normally sewage systems will have no problem with a 3% foam solution based on Fomtec ARC 3×3 S, but local sewage operators should be consulted in this respect. Our C6 foams contain no PFOA and no PFOS, in accordance with US EPA Stewardship Programme 2010/15 and EU Directive 2006/122/EC and amended Council Directive 76/769/EEC.

Full details will be found in the Material Safety Datasheet (MSDS).

Storage / Shelf life

Stored in original unbroken packaging the product will have a long shelf life. Shelf life of 10-20 years will be found in temperate climates. As with all foams, shelf life will be dependent on storage temperatures and conditions. If the product is frozen during storage or transport, thawing will render the product completely usable. Synthetic foam concentrates should only be stored in stainless steel or plastic containers. Since electrochemical corrosion can occur at joints between different metals when they are in contact with foam concentrate, only one type of metal should be used for pipelines, fittings, pumps, and tanks employed in the storage of foam concentrates. We recommend following our guidelines for storage and handling ensuring favourable storage conditions.

Packaging

We supply this product in 25 litre and 5 US gallon cans, 200 litre and 55 US gallon drums, 1000 litre and 265 US gallon IBC containers and in bulk on special request.

International Approvals

• Underwriters Laboratories, UL 162 7th edition
• ULC listed
• Factory Mutual (FM) 5130

Inspection/testing/maintenance

The foam concentrate should be tested annually. The testing should be made by a suitable laboratory for analysis of foam concentrates and should measure: pH, specific gravity, expansion, drainage time as per NFPA 11 annex D or Fomtec test procedure 1304, film formation test as per FM 5130 point 4.5 or Fomtec test procedure 1306, alcohol resistance (for ARC 3×3 S only) according to Fomtec test procedure 1314, and viscosity as per FM 5130 Appendix J or Fomtec test procedure 1305. Storage containers should be inspected and reevaluated for the suitability of the storage location in regards to temperature fluctuations (temperature should be as stable as possible). Exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided.

Viscosity

Fomtec ARC 3×3 S is a non-Newtonian thixotropic liquid. The viscosity for Fomtec ARC 3×3 S will reduce the higher the shear stress is. The table below show useful viscosity data at different shear stress levels at four different temperatures.

Viscosity measured with Brookfield RST Rheometer