As superyachts become larger and crew numbers remain unchanged or are reduced due to automation the need to adapt the fire fighting party becomes important
Unlike Navy ships, which have crew in abundance, trying to extinguish a Class B fire with old fashion in-line eductors, portable foam applicators with a bucket of foam or waiting 5 +/- minutes for the fixed AFFF system to discharge foam is no longer an effective solutions towards saving passengers, crew and the yacht.
Fire doubles in size every 11 seconds! Not a pleasing prospect especially when you are sailing short and you have not had much sleep. Also, mustering a fire-fighting crew in the dead of night takes time and time is against you!
The PFA-95 is a force multiplier, that operates between 35 psi and 150 psu meaning just 1 crew member can operate and apply AFFF solution in seconds to the seat of the fire using existing maintained fire main pressureThe ratio controller allows the fire fighter to set the AFFF % of foam concentrate (1% or 3% or 6%).
Most portable foam applicators and in-line eductors requires a minimum of 75 psi to operate, and this does not do not comply with SOLAS regulations.
These old fashion types of equipment are not force multipliers, are cumbersome to operate requiring 3 or more crew members to operate causing unnecessary delay of 5 +/- minutes before AFFF is applied to fight the fire.
The SOLAS & FSS Code, state that PFA’s must produce 53 cubic feet of low expansion foam (10:1) per minute and operate at a minimum of 36 psi
The PFA must be Type Approved by the maritime administration and/or classification societies to these minimum testing standards.
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