Neometrix / Fire Protection / Foam Proportioning System / NMX-FPT-68

NMX-FPT-68 · ENGINEERED-TO-ORDER CLASS — SPECIFY · MATCH · BUILD · SET · CHECK · PROVE

Foam Proportioning System. Foam is only as good as its mix.

Name: Foam Proportioning System
Brand: Neometrix
SKU: NMX-FPT-68

Fire-fighting foam is made from three things: water, concentrate and air. The concentrate has to be drawn into the water in the right proportion, whatever the flow, and the air is added at the branchpipe.

So the system is built around three things: a proportioner matched to the water supply, a concentrate that reaches it at the rate it needs, and a mix that is checked, not assumed.

Discuss a foam system Capability note (PDF)

A single mobile foam trolley on a plain white studio background: a sturdy grey painted steel tubular frame on two large pneumatic wheels with a long push handle, carrying a horizontal cylindrical bright stainless steel foam concentrate vessel with a round filler cap, a compact stainless inline eductor with a short grey pickup hose into the vessel, a coil of plain grey flexible hose on a rack and a bright aluminium branchpipe with a pistol grip, and no people

Fig · 01 — A mobile foam trolley: a wheeled frame carrying a stainless concentrate vessel, an inline eductor, a coil of hose and a branchpipe — illustrative render.

The mix

drawn in at the right proportionchecked across the flow range

The supply

water pressure matchedto the proportioner chosen

The concentrate

delivered at its own ratetype and thickness allowed for

The foam

aerated at the branchpipemix and air make the blanket

Status

engineered to orderno foam system claimed

ISO 9001ISO 14001NFPA 11 · IS 4989 reference standards

Overview

Why the whole job is the mix.

Because a foam blanket is only as good as the proportion of concentrate in the water that makes it, and that proportion depends on the water supply as much as on the equipment.

A single foam proportioning skid on a plain white studio background: a heavy grey painted steel base frame carrying a plain grey electric motor coupled to a compact gear pump, a large horizontal cylindrical stainless steel foam concentrate vessel on two saddles with a round manway cover and a short filler neck, and a stainless balanced-pressure proportioner with flanged pipework and two lever ball valves, and no people

Fig · 02 — A pump proportioning skid: a concentrate vessel, a pump and a balanced-pressure proportioner on a steel base — illustrative render.

Foam is only as good as its mix.

What the system is for

It mixes foam concentrate into a water supply at a set proportion and delivers the foam solution to a branchpipe or a monitor, to smother a fire in a flammable liquid. It suits a mobile foam trolley for first response, a pump proportioning skid for a fixed installation, and a pressure proportioning vessel on a water main.

Why the mix is the product

Foam is made of water, concentrate and air. The concentrate has to be drawn into the water at the proportion its maker specifies. Too little gives a thin foam that drains and breaks early. Too much wastes concentrate. The branchpipe then adds the air, so the mix and the air together make the blanket.

Why the water supply decides the proportioner

An inline eductor draws concentrate by the suction that water makes passing through it. It needs the inlet pressure it is designed for, it loses a large part of that pressure across itself, and it stops drawing once the back pressure downstream climbs too high. A mix that was right on the bench goes wrong on a longer hose or at a raised branchpipe.

Why a pump proportioner holds the mix

A balanced-pressure proportioner feeds the concentrate to the water with a pump, under pressure. The mix then holds across a wide range of flows, and little pressure is lost across the unit. The price is a power supply and a pump that suits the concentrate.

Why the concentrate matters

Concentrates differ in type and in thickness, and the thickness changes with temperature. A thick concentrate is drawn more slowly than a thin one, so the system is set up for the concentrate that will be used and the temperatures it will see. The public specification for concentrates, IS 4989, lists viscosity among the properties it measures.

Why the mix is checked

A foam system that has never been checked at its own flow and pressure is a guess. The mix is measured on commissioning, by a stated method, at the flows and pressures the system will run at, and it is written down.

The method

Specify, match, build, set, check, and prove.

Six steps in a fixed order. Matching the proportioner to the water supply, and checking the mix at the flows it will run at, are the two a quick order skips.

1 · Specify

The hazard, the water supply, the concentrate and the branchpipes or monitors are stated by the customer, and the system is sized to them.

2 · Match

The proportioner is matched to the water supply: its inlet pressure, its flow range and the back pressure of the hose and the branchpipe.

3 · Build

The vessel, pump, proportioner and pipework are built as one assembly, in materials that suit the concentrate.

4 · Set

The concentrate flow is set to give the proportion the concentrate maker specifies, at the design flow and pressure.

5 · Check

The mix is measured at the flows and pressures the system will run at, by a stated method, and the foam is checked at the branchpipe.

6 · Prove

The record is kept, and handed over with the system.

Which proportioner for which job

Proportioner	How it works	What it needs, and what to watch
Inline eductor	the suction made by water passing through a venturi draws the concentrate in	the inlet pressure it is designed for, and a limit on the back pressure; the mix drifts if the inlet pressure moves, and it stops drawing once the back pressure climbs too high
Balanced-pressure proportioner	a concentrate pump feeds the water stream under pressure	a power supply and a pump that suits the concentrate; the pump and its supply must be as dependable as the rest of the system
Pressure proportioning vessel	water pressure squeezes the concentrate out of a bladder into the flow	a refill of concentrate and a check of the bladder; it holds the mix across a range of flows without power, but it is empty when the concentrate is used up

The step people underrate is the match between the proportioner and the water supply. A proportioner chosen from a catalogue and never checked on the real hose and branchpipe is a guess.

Work content

What the system contains, element by element.

Read it as a checklist: a system missing a row will give foam it cannot defend.

A single foam eductor and branchpipe set laid side by side on a plain white studio background: a bright stainless inline eductor body with a threaded hose coupling at each end and a small side port with a short grey pickup hose, a length of plain grey flexible hose, and a bright aluminium aspirating foam branchpipe with a pistol grip and a ring of small air inlet holes near the front, and no people

Fig · 03 — An eductor and branchpipe set: the proportioner that draws the concentrate in, a length of hose and the branchpipe that adds the air — illustrative render.

Element	What it does	What matters
Concentrate vessel	holds the concentrate	a vessel in stainless steel or another material that suits the concentrate, with a filler, a vent and a drain
Proportioner	draws the concentrate in	an inline eductor, a balanced-pressure unit or a bladder vessel, chosen for the water supply and the flow range
Concentrate pump and drive (where fitted)	feeds the concentrate under pressure	a pump that suits the thickness of the concentrate, and a motor with its starter
Metering and check valve	set the proportion	a metering valve or orifice set for the concentrate, and a check valve that stops water entering the concentrate
Pipework and hose	carry the solution	pipe and hose sized so that the back pressure stays within what the proportioner can overcome
Branchpipe or monitor	makes the foam	an aspirating branchpipe or a foam monitor matched to the flow, which adds the air
Trolley frame and wheels (mobile unit)	carry the set	a frame with large wheels and a handle, with racks for the hose and the branchpipe
Isolation and flushing	protect the equipment	valves and a flushing connection, so that concentrate does not sit in the proportioner or the pipework after use
Test points	prove the mix	a sampling point for the solution and pressure points, so that the proportion can be measured at the flows it runs at
Procedure	fixes the sequence	specify, match, build, set, check and prove, the same for every system
Testing & documentation	prove the system first	a check of the proportion and the foam at the design flow and pressure, and a record the customer can inspect

The element that decides whether the system gives good foam is the check of the mix, because a system whose proportion has never been measured at its own flow and pressure can be wrong by a wide margin and never show it.

Full specification — expand

System	A concentrate vessel in a material that suits the concentrate, with a filler, a vent and a drain; a proportioner chosen for the water supply, an inline eductor, a balanced-pressure unit or a bladder vessel; where fitted a concentrate pump and drive that suit the thickness of the concentrate; a metering valve or orifice and a check valve; pipework and hose sized to keep the back pressure within what the proportioner can overcome; an aspirating branchpipe or a monitor; for the mobile unit a frame with large wheels, a handle and racks for the hose and branchpipe; isolation and a flushing connection; test points for sampling the solution and reading the pressures; a written test plan; and testing and documentation before handover
The One Idea	Foam is only as good as its mix.
Why The Mix Is The Product	Foam is made of water, concentrate and air, and the concentrate has to be drawn into the water at the proportion its maker specifies, because too little gives a thin foam that drains and breaks early, too much wastes concentrate, and the branchpipe then adds the air
Why The Water Supply Decides The Proportioner	An inline eductor draws concentrate by the suction of the water passing through it, needs the inlet pressure it is designed for, loses a large part of that pressure across itself and stops drawing once the back pressure downstream climbs too high, so a mix that was right on the bench goes wrong on longer hose or at a raised branchpipe
Why A Pump Proportioner Holds The Mix	A balanced-pressure proportioner feeds the concentrate to the water with a pump under pressure, so the mix holds across a wide range of flows and little pressure is lost across the unit, at the price of a power supply and a pump that suits the concentrate
Why The Concentrate Matters	Concentrates differ in type and in thickness, and thickness changes with temperature, so a thick concentrate is drawn more slowly than a thin one and the system is set up for the concentrate that will be used and the temperatures it will see
Why The Mix Is Checked	A foam system never checked at its own flow and pressure is a guess, so the mix is measured on commissioning by a stated method at the flows and pressures the system will run at, and written down
Standards	NFPA 11 is the public standard for low-, medium- and high-expansion foam systems, and IS 4989 is the Indian standard for foam concentrates, covering their properties and their performance on standard fires. This page prints none of their application rates, proportions or test limits, and no edition year: those come from the standard the customer names and from the hazard. Approval of a system for a hazard rests with the customer and the authority they name; none is claimed here
Configurations	A mobile foam trolley, a pump proportioning skid and a pressure proportioning vessel
Scope Boundary	This page is the foam proportioning system and mobile foam trolley. It is not a hydrant and pump system, which supplies the water (see fire hydrant and pump system), not a fire test facility (see hangar fire test facility) and not a training facility (see damage-control and fire-fighting training facility). A portable extinguisher, a sprinkler system and a gaseous system are different equipment again. No certification is claimed here
Status	Neometrix engineers foam proportioning systems and mobile foam trolleys to order, and no delivered foam system is claimed.

Configurations

One method, three ways to build the system.

The method, the match to the water supply and the check of the mix are shared. What changes is how the concentrate is drawn in, and where the system stands.

Mobile foam trolley

Vessel, eductor and hose

A wheeled frame carrying a concentrate vessel, an inline eductor, hose and a branchpipe, for first response on a flammable liquid fire, supplied from a hydrant or a portable pump.

Pump proportioning skid

Pump, proportioner and vessel

A skid with a concentrate vessel, a pump and a balanced-pressure proportioner, for a fixed installation fed from a fire water main.

Pressure proportioning vessel

Bladder vessel on the water main

A static vessel in which water pressure squeezes concentrate from a bladder into the flow, for installations that have to work without a power supply.

And the part that is not equipment at all, yet decides all three: the test plan. It fixes the flows and pressures at which the mix is checked, the method of measuring it, the concentrate to be used and the temperatures it will see, and it is written from the hazard and the water supply, not from the equipment.

Where it is used

Wherever a flammable liquid can burn, and water alone will not smother it.

The common thread is a fire that has to be covered by a blanket, and a blanket that has to be made right the first time.

Flammable liquid storage and handling

Where a spill or a pool fire in a flammable liquid has to be smothered quickly.

Workshops and covered bays

Where a mobile unit is kept ready beside the work and wheeled to the fire.

Pump rooms and loading points

Where a fixed system protects a place that handles fuel or oil every day.

Fire training grounds

Where crews learn to build a foam blanket, and the equipment has to behave the way the lesson says.

Watch

See it in motion.

A short walkthrough video of the foam proportioning system.

FAQ

Common questions.

Longer answers, for readers who want the reasoning.

Q · 01 What does a foam proportioning system actually do?

It draws foam concentrate into a water supply at a set proportion and delivers the foam solution to a branchpipe or a monitor, where air is added to make the foam. It holds the proportion across the flow it is asked to run at, can be checked at test points, and keeps a record. It does not decide where foam is needed or how much a hazard requires.

Q · 02 Why is the mix so important?

Because the foam can only be as good as the solution it is made from. Too little concentrate gives a thin foam that drains and breaks early, and a blanket that does not last. Too much wastes concentrate, which is costly and has to be stored and refilled. The proportion the maker specifies is the one the foam was tested at, so the system has to hold it, and not merely be capable of it on a good day.

Q · 03 Why does the water supply decide which proportioner to use?

Because an inline eductor lives on the water supply's pressure. It needs the inlet pressure it is designed for, it uses up a large part of it, and it stops drawing once the back pressure on its outlet climbs too high, which longer hose, a raised branchpipe or a partly closed valve can all cause. A pump proportioner or a bladder vessel depends less on the supply pressure but brings its own needs, a power supply or a refill. The choice is made from the real water supply, not from the catalogue.

Q · 04 Why is the mix checked rather than assumed?

Because every part of the mix depends on conditions that change from one site to the next: the inlet pressure, the length of hose, the branchpipe, the thickness of the concentrate and the temperature it sits at. A proportion that was right on the bench is a claim about the bench. The system is therefore measured at the flows and pressures it will run at, by a method written in the test plan, and the result goes in the record.

Q · 05 Is this the same as the hydrant system, the fire test facility or the training facility?

No, and the differences are worth stating precisely. The fire hydrant and pump system page covers the water supply, and it says in its own words that foam is a separate system. The hangar fire test facility page covers a chamber in which a fire-fighting system is validated by a test fire. The damage-control and fire-fighting training facility page covers a place where crews are trained. This page is the foam proportioning system and the mobile foam trolley. A portable extinguisher and a sprinkler system are different equipment again. It does not replace any of them, and it does not claim what they claim a second time.

Q · 06 Has Neometrix built one of these?

We would rather answer this plainly than let a page imply otherwise. Neometrix engineers foam proportioning systems and mobile foam trolleys to order, and no delivered foam system is claimed. What stands behind the offer is adjacent: Neometrix engineers a fire hydrant and pump system (see the fire hydrant and pump system page), a fire test facility (see the hangar fire test facility page) and a fire-fighting training facility (see the damage-control and fire-fighting training facility page). The pumps, motors, eductors, branchpipes, monitors and hose are catalogue items, bought in, not invented. What Neometrix engineers is the system around them: the vessel and the pipework, the match to the water supply, the set and the check of the mix, the trolley frame, the procedure and the test plan. So the honest position is that the system is engineered to order, the neighbouring disciplines are in the building, and the first system of this exact kind will be built around the customer's own water supply and concentrate rather than taken off a shelf.

Q · 07 Which standards apply, and what can the system not do?

NFPA 11 is the public standard for low-, medium- and high-expansion foam systems, and IS 4989 is the Indian standard for foam concentrates, covering their properties and their performance on standard fires. This page prints none of their application rates, proportions or test limits, and no edition year: those come from the standard the customer names and from the hazard. The system mixes, delivers and keeps a record. It does not certify a hazard as protected: this page claims no certification or accreditation. No pressure, flow, proportion or volume figure is printed here, and approval for use rests with the customer and the authority they name; none is claimed here.

Q · 08 What do you need from us to quote?

Six things, and most of them describe your site rather than the equipment. First, the hazard: what burns, where, and how large an area is to be covered. Second, the water supply: the pressure and the flow that are really available at the point of use. Third, the concentrate: its type and maker, and the temperatures it will sit at. Fourth, the branchpipes or monitors: which are to be used, and at what height and distance. Fifth, the check: how the mix is to be proved, and at which flows. Sixth, the record: what you want kept with each system. From that we come back with a system concept, a written test plan you can check, and a budgetary price.

The neighbouring fire pages, and how they differ from this one.

Three neighbours: one supplies the water, one tests a suppression system by fire, one trains crews.

↗ The water supply

Fire Hydrant & Pump System

A pump house, a main and hydrants judged at the farthest hydrant - the water, where this page mixes the concentrate into it.

↗ A fire test

Hangar Fire Test Facility

A fire simulation chamber that validates a fire-fighting system - a test of a system, where this page is the foam system itself.

↗ A training facility

Damage-Control & Fire-Fighting Training Facility

Trainers where crews learn the fight under full instructor control - training for people, where this page is equipment.

Browse all Neometrix product lines.

Get a quotation

Tell us the hazard, the water supply,
and the concentrate.

The projects desk replies within two working days with a system concept, a written test plan you can check, and a budgetary quotation. Write to [email protected] or use the form.

Enquire — foam system Capability sheet (PDF) +91 7777 876 876

ISO 9001 / 14001 ENGINEERED-TO-ORDER CLASS — FOAM PROPORTIONING SYSTEM SPECIFY · MATCH · BUILD · SET · CHECK · PROVE — FOAM IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS MIX ENGINEERED IN NOIDA · INDIA