It is the responsibility of the person taking the sample to obtain a sample representative of the tank contents. If you do not feel qualified to correctly take the foam concentrate sample, we can recommend a foam system service representative who will come to your facility.

Recommended methods for obtaining a representative foam concentrate sample:

If there is a possibility that water has diluted the foam concentrate, it is recommended that a sample be taken from both the top and the bottom of the tank. In this case, the top and bottom sample can be compared to determine the extent of dilution. Because water is less dense than foam concentrate, it is typical for the top sample to be more dilute than the bottom sample. In many cases where the concentrate has been diluted, the diluted concentrate can be removed from the system and discarded without discarding the entire tank contents.

Foam concentrate stored in drain lines can be high in metal ions and may not be representative of the tank contents. It is recommended that the concentrate in drain lines be removed from the system and discarded prior to taking a foam sample.

A minimum of 500 milliliters (16 ounces) of foam concentrate is required to complete the laboratory tests. Place the sample in a clean polyethylene container and clearly mark the jar with a permanent marker.