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ICAF
- Integrated Compressed Air Foam System
General Section
FM-0723-0-07 C
Foam Supply
Foam concentrate is stored inside a stainless steel pressure
vessel type tank as described in the Foam Supply Section.
There are two interconnection lines provided on all foam
storage tanks. One connection is used to pressurize the
foam storage tank with compressed air
(circled item 3)
on
alarm condition, the other to provide foam concentrate to the
mixing chamber
(circled item 2)
. Piping between the foam
storage tank and the ICAF System is factory prepared
according to the installation arrangement and is supplied with
the system.
System Supervision
The ARC-1 release control panel supervises the air and
water supplies to insure system's reliability at all times.
A high pressure transducer
(C7)
is provided to supervise
cylinder bank pressure. The intent of this device is to provide
a supervisory signal if the cylinder bank pressure goes under
the minimum pressure required to provide air supply for the
specified discharge time. A cylinder bank pressure under
2200 psi (15,158 kPa) will cause the controller to go in a
supervisory alarm mode.
An alarm pressure switch
(B15)
is provided with an alarm test
valve
(B5)
and a drain valve
(B6).
The alarm pressure switch
is operated through the system's water alarm line when the
system is discharged. System actuation, manual or
automatic, will cause the control panel to go under alarm and
flow confirmation modes.
The main control valve
(B10)
is supervised from abnormal
position by an integrated supervisory switch. The
supervisory switch supervises the valve in an open position
and will cause the controller to go in a supervisory alarm
mode in case the main control valve is not in a completely
open position.
Release Systems
The system can be activated manually, electrically using
solenoid valves or pneumatically using a pilot line. When
electrically activated, the solenoid valves are controlled by
FireFlex's ARC-1
release controller listed for releasing and
compatible with the solenoid valves.
Electric Fail Safe Release:
Electrically controlled ICAF Systems require an electric
Solenoid Valve
(R2)
controlled by the Approved ARC-1
Control Panel with compatible detection devices (if
provided with this system, see Controls Section for
details). The Failsafe mode maintains the system
activated in case of total power failure (AC and DC) of the
release control panel. An emergency release valve
(R1)
is provided for manual override in case of a malfunction of
the release control panel.
In fire condition, when the detection condition is satisfied
the ARC-1 Control Panel energizes the Solenoid
Valve
(R2)
open, the pneumatic control line is then
pressurized causing the water, air and foam
pneumatically activated control valves
(A1, B9
&
F1)
to
open simultaneously and generate the CAF through a
piping system into the discharge devices and to be
discharged over the area served by the discharge
devices.
Electric Release:
Electrically controlled ICAF Systems require an electric
Solenoid Valve
(R2)
controlled by the Approved ARC-1
Control Panel with compatible detection devices (if
provided with this system - see Controls Section for
details). An emergency release valve
(R1)
is provided for
manual override in case of a malfunction of the release
control panel.
In fire condition, when the detection condition is satisfied
the ARC-1 Control Panel energizes the Solenoid
Valve
(R2)
open, the pneumatic control line is then
pressurized causing the water, air and foam
pneumatically activated control valves
(A1, B9
&
F1)
to
open simultaneously and generate the CAF through a
piping system into the discharge devices and to discharge
over the area served by the discharge devices.
Pneumatic Release:
Pneumatically controlled ICAF Systems require a
pneumatic release system, equipped with fixed
temperature releases
,
and/or pilot heads. An emergency
release valve
(R1)
is provided for manual override in case
of a malfunction of the release line.
Release trim, for pneumatically controlled ICAF Systems
utilizes a Pneumatic Actuator
(R5)
normally held closed
by pressure maintained in the pneumatic release system.
The air supply for the pneumatic release piping system is
provided by the cylinders bank installed as part of the
ICAF System unit. It is recommended to provide
Inspectors Test Connections on the release system.
In fire condition, the low pressure resulting in the
operation of the pneumatic release system causes the
Pneumatic Actuator
(R5)
to open, the pneumatic control
line is then pressurized causing the water, air and foam
pneumatically operated control valves
(A1, B9
&
F1)
to
open simultaneously and generate the CAF through a
piping system into the discharge devices and to discharge
over the area served by the discharge devices.
Manual Release.
Manually actuated ICAF Systems provide a manual
means for the user to actuate the system. Manual
actuation is accomplished by turning the manual release
valve
(R1)
in the open position (identified
"Emergency
Release"
on the front of the unit).
In fire condition, by turning the "Emergency Release"
valve in the open position the user will cause the
pneumatic control line to pressurize, causing the water,
air and foam pneumatically operated control valves
(A1,
B9
&
F1)
to open simultaneously and generate the CAF
through a piping system into the discharge devices and to
discharge over the area served by the discharge devices.
