Safco Italia M4 Medium Expansion Foam Nozzle 400 l/min

A medium expansion foam nozzle with its own pressure gauge

The Safco Italia M4 is a medium expansion foam nozzle with a stainless steel body and a hard plastic handle. A built-in pressure gauge lets the operator check the working pressure, and an aluminium shut-off valve controls the stream. The maker states compliance with EN 16712-3.

The sheet names it a medium foam nozzle with ball valve shut-off, rated at 400 l/min for the M4 and 200 l/min for the smaller M2. Both are supplied with UNI connections as standard.

Technical specifications

The sheet gives the length and weight without couplings. Operating pressure is not stated on the sheet; the gauge on the nozzle is there so that the operator can read it on site.

Where medium expansion foam is used

General engineering note (not from the sheet): medium expansion foam produces a larger foam volume per litre of solution than low expansion foam, so it is commonly used to cover a spill surface or fill a bund, pit or enclosed space. The correct choice depends on the hazard and the foam concentrate, and should be confirmed by your fire protection designer.

For fuel surface blanketing with a lighter, slimmer hand branch, compare the S4 low expansion nozzle in the Fire Fighting category.

M2 or M4

The M4 is 110 mm longer and 1.2 kg heavier than the M2, in exchange for twice the flow. Choose the size from the water flow your mixer and pump can supply; a 400 l/min inline mixer from the Series Z range pairs with the M4.

Because the medium expansion nozzles are heavier than the low expansion S-series (5.20 kg for the M4 against 2.30 kg for the S4, both without coupling), the crew handling should be considered during selection. The 2 inch male thread is the same as the S-series, so one mixer type can feed either nozzle family.

The sheet does not print an expansion ratio, pressure range or foam throw distance. Those performance values depend on the foam concentrate and operating conditions, and are not claimed here. When you request a quotation, state your foam concentrate so that the right nozzle size and mixer percentage can be discussed with the manufacturer data.

Using the built-in pressure gauge

The gauge on the M4 is its most practical difference from the low expansion S-series. General engineering note (not from the sheet): medium expansion branches only produce good-quality foam inside the inlet pressure window given by the manufacturer, and the operator cannot see that window from the foam alone. Reading the gauge at the branch tells the crew whether hose losses, a long lay or a partly closed valve upstream have pulled the pressure down. Ask for the recommended inlet pressure with the quotation and mark it on the gauge face or in the crew instructions, because the sheet itself does not print it.

Concentrate consumption at 400 l/min

The M4 takes solution at 400 l/min, so the concentrate drawn by the upstream mixer is calculated from the percentage setting: about 4 l/min at 1 %, 12 l/min at 3 % and 24 l/min at 6 %. These are calculated values, not sheet data. Medium expansion work such as filling a bund or pit often lasts longer than a surface attack, so plan the concentrate stock for the full filling time, not just the first minutes.

Planning medium expansion foam for a bund or pit

General engineering note (not from the sheet): the foam volume a branch produces equals the solution flow multiplied by its expansion ratio. Because the expansion ratio of the M4 is not printed and depends on the concentrate, the filling time of a given bund should be estimated with manufacturer data for your concentrate, then checked in a test with water and concentrate. Wind and heat break down medium expansion foam faster than low expansion foam, which matters on exposed sites in the Gulf summer.

Care and handling

General engineering note (not from the sheet): flush the branch with fresh water after use, protect the gauge from impact during storage, and check that the needle returns to zero when unpressurised. A gauge that does not return to zero should be replaced before the next operation. At 5.20 kg without couplings, the M4 is heavier than the S4, so include it in crew training rather than handing it out only during an incident.

For the quotation, list the quantity, coupling standard, the mixer that will feed the branch, and whether spare gauges are wanted.

Items usually ordered with the M4

The M4 is normally supplied as part of a foam set. The matching items are a Series Z inline mixer rated for the same flow, lengths of lined delivery hose with couplings in the station standard, adaptors where mixed standards are in use, spare pressure gauges, and enough foam concentrate for the longest planned operation. Because the low expansion S4 shares the same 2 inch thread, many teams order both branch types together, which lets the crew switch between blanketing a fuel surface and filling an enclosed space with one mixer and one hose layout.

Documents and quotation

The manufacturer sheet (English) is attached. Please tell us the coupling standard and flow you need, and we will confirm the model and code in the quotation. Also tell us whether the nozzle is for a mobile vehicle, a fixed foam station or a training set, because that affects the coupling and handle choice, and include your delivery location and the quantity so that the quotation is complete.