SECTION 5 – INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION ANSUL® Foam Systems Design

PAGE 5-2    REV. 0    2020-MAR-15 and Applications Manual

(Part No. 450040)

BLADDER TANK SYSTEMS

Introduction
The bladder tank is one component in a balanced pressure
foam proportioning system. It requires no external power other ! CAUTION
than water pressure to ensure correct operation. The bladder Do not weld on the bladder tank shell. Welding temperatures
tank is designed and constructed in accordance with the may cause damage to the bladder inside the tank. Only the
ASME Code, Section VIII for unfired pressure vessels with a equipment listed on the sales order is supplied. All intercon-
working pressure of 175 psi. necting piping, valves or fittings not specifically mentioned are
not included.
Installation
Before installation of a bladder tank, check for any damage
that may have occurred during shipment. Please read through
the complete Operation and Maintenance Manual (provided
with each order) prior to starting any installation.
When installing a bladder tank, it is recommended that access
! WARNING
space be provided for operation and maintenance. A minimum Please refer to the ASME label installed on the bladder tank for
of a 3 ft (0.9 m) space from tank connections or flanges the maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP). Standard
should be maintained. Additional space must be provided for bladder tanks are ASME coded for 175 psi MAWP. Also,
removal of the center tube/s during maintenance. This will check the label on the tank showing the tank capacity and
require the length of the tank shell above the vertical tank for type of foam concentrate to be used in the tank. The bladder
center tube removal. The horizontal tank requires the diameter tank typically does not come equipped with any pressure relief
of the tank shell above the tank for the vertical center tube device. Typically this device is not supplied because the water
removal as well as the length of the shell at one end for the supply pressure, flow capacity, and full system design details
horizontal center tube removal. must be known before a pressure relief device is installed. It
Once the tank has been located in the correct position and is the responsibility of either the owner or the Fire Protection
anchored to the floor, it can be piped into the system. On the Engineer designing the system to establish whether or not the
horizontal bladder tank, the water inlet into the tank is located relief device is required.
on the top of the tank near one end. On the vertical bladder
tank, there are two water inlets into the tank. They are located
near the top of the tank shell and are 180 degrees apart.
Only one water inlet is required to be connected. The other is
available to accommodate various piping arrangements
ANSUL® Foam Systems Design SECTION 5 – INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION
and Applications Manual 2020-MAR-15    REV. 0    PAGE 5-3
(Part No. 450040)

BLADDER TANK SYSTEMS (Continued)

Figure 5-1 shows a typical piping arrangement utilizing a
bladder tank with one proportioning controller as well as all
necessary valves and components.

VERTICAL BLADDER TANK WITH ONE PROPORTIONING CONTROLLER

KEY

BALL VALVE - NORMALLY CLOSED BALL VALVE - NORMALLY OPEN

HYDRAULICALLY
SWING CHECK VALVE
OPERATED BALL VALVE

TO DISCHARGE
DEVICES

BLADDER
VENT VALVE

CONCENTRATE
TANK SHELL CONTROL VALVE
VENT VALVE
PROPORTIONING
CONTROLLER

FOAM CONCENTRATE

BLADDER
TANK
DELUGE VALVE

TANK SHELL
WATER SUPPLY

OS&Y VALVE

TANK SHELL
DRAIN VALVE

BLADDER
DRAIN/FILL VALVE WATER SUPPLY

FIGURE 5-1
010813
SECTION 5 – INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION ANSUL® Foam Systems Design
PAGE 5-4    REV. 0    2020-MAR-15 and Applications Manual
(Part No. 450040)

BLADDER TANK SYSTEMS (Continued)

Figure 5-2 shows a two-bladder tank (one main, one reserve)
system.
The reserve tank is manually valved off from the system.
Once the primary tank has been discharged it can be
manually isolated from the system and the reserve tank
brought “on line” by opening the manual valves to/from the
tank and closing the manual valves to/from the main tank.
This restores coverage of the foam protection system. The
main tank can now be recharged with foam concentrate while
it is isolated from the system.

BLADDER TANK SYSTEM WITH MAIN AND RESERVE TANKS

KEY

BALL VALVE - NORMALLY CLOSED BALL VALVE - NORMALLY OPEN

HYDRAULICALLY TO DISCHARGE
SWING CHECK VALVE
OPERATED BALL VALVE DEVICES

FOAM CONCENTRATE
PROPORTIONING
CONCENTRATE CONTROLLER
CONTROL VALVE
BLADDER BLADDER
VENT VALVE VENT VALVE

TANK SHELL TANK SHELL

VENT VALVE VENT VALVE

DELUGE VALVE
RESERVE MAIN

BLADDER BLADDER
TANK TANK

TANK SHELL BLADDER OS&Y VALVE

DRAIN VALVE DRAIN/FILL
VALVE

TANK SHELL WATER SUPPLY

BLADDER DRAIN VALVE
DRAIN/FILL
TANK SHELL WATER SUPPLY
VALVE

FIGURE 5-2
010874
ANSUL® Foam Systems Design SECTION 5 – INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION
and Applications Manual 2020-MAR-15    REV. 0    PAGE 5-5
(Part No. 450040)

BLADDER TANK SYSTEMS (Continued)

Figure 5-3 depicts a single bladder tank supplying three is required at each zone, the proportioners must move to the
different risers, each with individual proportioners. It is recom- supply side of the pressure regulating sprinkler valve.
mended that a pressure relief valve be added downstream of Depending on hydraulics, it may be desired to install a single
the water supply check valves to protect against over-pres- proportioner in the supply header that feeds one or all of the
surization due to thermal expansion. If the water supply to zones required to flow at the same time.
the tank is provided from the header upstream of the deluge
The water supply feeding the bladder tank can be taken
or alarm valves, no check valves are recommended in the
from a constant pressurized water supply source. It will not
common water supply line.
damage the bladder tank if left under constant pressure. The
Note: in this configuration a relief valve may be located foam concentrate will be forced out of the tank but not into
elsewhere in the system protecting the entire system from the proportioning controller because of the normally closed
excessive pressure do to thermal expansion or sized for fire hydraulic concentrate control valve (HOV). On a closed head
pump churn excessive pressure. system, after the piping has been primed with foam solution,
The sprinkler valves shall not be pressure regulating in the the HOV valve should be closed and left in the normally
system. In the below figure, the system is such that more than closed position. Upon system actuation, water from the alarm
one zone must not flow at any one time. If pressure regulation or deluge valve will pressurize the actuator of the HOV and
cause it to open allowing the foam concentrate to flow into the
controller.
VERTICAL BLADDER TANK WITH THREE PROPORTIONING CONTROLLERS

KEY
BALL VALVE - NORMALLY CLOSED BALL VALVE - NORMALLY OPEN

HYDRAULICALLY TO DISCHARGE DEVICES

SWING CHECK VALVE
OPERATED BALL VALVE

FOAM CONCENTRATE

PROPORTIONING
CONTROLLERS

BLADDER
VENT VALVE

TANK SHELL
VENT VALVE

CONCENTRATE
CONTROL VALVE
TYPICAL
OF THREE
TANK SHELL
BLADDER WATER SUPPLY
TANK

DELUGE VALVE

OS&Y VALVE
TANK SHELL
BLADDER DRAIN VALVE
DRAIN/FILL
VALVE

WATER SUPPLY

FIGURE 5-3
010878
SECTION 5 – INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION ANSUL® Foam Systems Design
PAGE 5-6    REV. 0    2020-MAR-15 and Applications Manual
(Part No. 450040)

BLADDER TANK SYSTEMS (Continued)

Bladder Tank Proportioners (Ratio Flow Controllers) – For proper mixing of the concentrate into the water
Three configurations of proportioners are used in Bladder supply, install the proportioner with the required minimum
Tank Balanced Pressure Foam Proportioning Systems. straight pipe lengths of the same nominal diameter
They are the Threaded, Between the Flange (BTF, wafer), before and after the proportioner. Before the proportioner
or Flanged. The 2 in. and 2 1/2 in. threaded proportioners (upstream), there must be straight pipe that is a minimum
have a female NPT inlet with a male NPT outlet. The 3 of 5 times the proportioner nominal diameter. After the
in., 4 in., 6 in. and 8 in. BTF proportioners are designed to proportioner (downstream), there must be straight pipe
be installed between two 150 lb. flat-face flanges. These that is a minimum of 2.5 times the proportioner nominal
wafer style proportioners have the recovery area internal diameter. Note: This straight pipe minimizes the turbu-
to the downstream piping. The Flanged Proportioners are lence inside the proportioner, which is required for accu-
also installed between two 150 lb. flat-faced flanges. These rate proportioning
proportioners can be installed or removed without removing – For automatic systems, when the proportioner is installed
the piping. Refer to product data sheets (latest revisions) and at an elevation below the top flange of the bladder tank,
Balanced Pressure Proportioners Manual (Part No. 445058, it is required that an automatic foam concentrate control
latest revision) for detailed descriptions. valve (normally closed) be installed on the foam concen-
For the foam system to function correctly, it is important that trate line. This valve will prevent siphoning of the foam
the following installation guidelines are followed: concentrate from the tank into the piping.

– The controllers are designed to be installed in the water – Specific piping arrangements may also require the use
supply system feed line in either a horizontal or a vertical of an automatic foam concentrate control valve because
configuration. of potential pressure differential between the tank and
proportioner.
– Establish that the fire protection system design flow rate
is within the flow range of the proportioner for the specific – BTF proportioners are capable of being installed in
concentrate being used before installation. schedule 10, 40 or 80 pipe.
 Note: High Viscosity (AR-AFFF) agents may have higher – When using AR-AFFFs, hydraulic calculations for the
low-end approved flow rates than Newtonian foam piping from the bladder tank to the proportioner are crit-
agents. Exception: Variable Range Proportioners – see ical. See the Friction Loss Table in the Appendix.(page
data sheet for limitations of these devices. 6-10 to 6-11)
– Check the concentrate inlet orifice to ensure the correct – When calculating the hydraulics for a foam fire protec-
size has been installed for both the proportioning rate and tion system, please refer to the Friction Loss Curves
concentrate type. and Minimum Inlet Pressure Versus Flow graphs on the
proportioner data sheet, latest revision.
– A directional arrow is displayed on the body of the propor-
tioner. This indicates the direction of the system flow.
Ensure that the proportioner is installed with the arrow
going towards the system discharge devices.
– When the BTF type proportioner is correctly installed, the
bell-like recovery section is located inside the system pipe
with foam solution flowing to the discharge device.
– The distance from the bladder tank to the proportioner is
critical. When designing the piping arrangement to/from
the bladder tank, it is important to have foam concentrate
pressure at the proportioner is within 2 psi (conservative)
of what the water pressure is at the proportioner.
– Install the water supply to the bladder tank upstream from
the proportioner.
ANSUL® Foam Systems Design SECTION 5 – INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION
and Applications Manual 2020-MAR-15    REV. 0    PAGE 5-7
(Part No. 450040)

BLADDER TANK SYSTEMS (Continued)

Recommended practice is to install a pressure gauge in the
Design Note – Variable Flow Systems
water line near the water inlet to the proportioner as well as
When using a bladder tank with a modified venture propor- one in the foam concentrate line near the foam concentrate
tioner in a closed head foam water sprinkler system, a number inlet. This will facilitate system troubleshooting should there be
of sprinkler heads will have to open before the necessary a problem with correct proportioning.
flow rate is reached through the proportioner. This allows the
PIPING MATERIALS:
correct proportioning of the foam concentrate into the water
stream. At flow rates below the approved rate, very lean or no Stainless steel, brass or bronze pipe is suitable for use with
proportioning of the foam concentrate into the water stream all foam concentrates. Black steel foam concentrate pipe
will take place. The size of the proportioner and concen- can be used for synthetic foam agents (not protein based)
trate type are the controlling factors. The larger the propor- when piping is normally flooded based on Johnson Controls
tioner, the higher the low-end flow rate. Subsequently, more corrosion testing. NFPA 11 does not allow black or galvanized
heads must open before accurate proportioning is achieved. concentrate pipe.
Exception: Variable Range Proportioners have very wide Note: In deluge systems the piping between the HOV and
approved ranges with 3% AFFF or AR-AFFF as noted on the proportioner is not normally flooded.
product data sheet.
NFPA 16 and 30 require correct proportioning at system
design flow as well as the flow rate of the four most remote
! WARNING
sprinklers. Galvanized pipe is not suitable for use with any foam concen-
trate.
Design Note – Hydraulic-Concentrate Control Valve (HOV) Natural “Red” rubber gaskets are not compatible with foam
This valve is used in the foam concentrate line to prevent concentrate.
foam concentrate from entering into the proportioning
controller when the system is not in operation. When installed Many foam concentrates have a solvent included in their
correctly, this valve will open automatically and allow the foam formulation which may dissolve standard pipe joint compound
concentrate into the controller. The valve is normally in the (pipe dope) normally used with plain water sprinkler systems.
closed position and is activated by water pressure. In normal When installing a foam water fire protection system, it is
installations when the system is activated, a 1/4 in. pipe or recommended that a quality TEFLON* tape in accordance
3/8 in. ID tubing feeds water to the actuator (Note: connection with MIL-T-27730 or a TEFLON based pipe-joining compound
at the actuator is 1/8 in. NPT) of the hydraulic concentrate be used on all threaded fittings.
control valve from a non-pressurized line on the alarm side
If foam concentrate spills on any painted surface, immediately
of the deluge or alarm valve. Upon system alarm or trip this
wash the area with water. The solvents in the concentrate
non-pressurized line will be pressurized, thus causing the
may cause streaking of a painted surface from prolonged
hydraulic concentrate control valve to open.
exposure.
For further information on this valve, please refer to the
It is recommended that the area where the bladder tank is
data sheet “Hydraulic Concentrate Control Valve” (Form No.
installed be heated to a minimum of 35 °F (1.6 °C). Freeze
F-9197, latest revision).
protected foam concentrates are manufactured for storage
If an electric actuated concentrate control valve is required, in temperatures as low as -20 °F (-28.8 °C); however, after
please contact technical services for further information. a bladder tank system has been flow tested and drained, a
A hydraulic concentrate control valve is not required when small amount of water could still be left inside the tank around
supplying one proportioner from a bladder tank system when the bladder. If subjected to temperatures below 32 °F (0 °C), it
the proportioner is installed higher in the system than the top could freeze and damage the bladder.
of the bladder tank. If the bladder tank will be under constant
Before any testing of the foam system is initiated, isolate
pressure, a hydraulic concentrate control valve is required in a
the bladder tank from the system by closing the manual ball
deluge system. If the proportioning controller is installed below
valves and flush the rest of the system with water to remove
the top of the tank, siphoning of the foam concentrate out of
any foreign material that may be in the pipe work.
the tank will take place. In this instance, a hydraulic concen-
trate control valve should be installed. All valves, (ball, check, etc.), shown on any figures, diagrams
and/or sketches in this information are recommended to be
It is suggested that a union or a grooved coupling be installed
installed within the piping arrangements to/from the bladder
between the foam concentrate check valve and the inlet to
tank.
the proportioning controller. This will facilitate servicing of the
controller if necessary.

* TEFLON is a trademark of Chemours Chemical Corporation.