During the past few years, the Stamford Fire Department has been grappling with the idea of using Class A foam for structural firefighting. This research is based on the question of whether the Stamford Fire Department should adapt it's equipment and procedures to include the use of Class A foam for structural firefighting in Stamford, Connecticut.

This report provides a general overview of nozzle-aspirated class A and compressed air foam systems. It then discusses hands-on evaluations by several fire departments that are currently using class A foam systems in structural fire suppression or wildland/urban interface fire protection. Reported advantages and disadvantages in the use of class A foams and CAFS in structural firefighting, both from field experience and from recent fire protection literature, are included in this report.

Training recommendations were also made that would require approximately four to five hours of comprehensive training in order to develop firefighter confidence in the agent as well as some experience with pump and application procedures.

It was found that the amount of water necessary to provide initial fire suppression was an average of 29.5 percent less with the use of Class "A" foam versus plain water. In total overall operations, including salvage and overhaul, the overall necessary water usage was reduced by 37.4 percent. Based upon the information obtained and the results of the experiment, several recommendations are made.

Interested departments should conduct their own studies and provide a report of the results to members of the fire service.