DATA SHEET

HIEX
High-Expansion
Foam Generators

Features
n UL Listed and CE Marked
n FM Approved models available
n LNG specific models available
n Water-powered so no electrical power is required
n Foam capacities of up to 847 m3/min (29,900 cfm)

001273

Application
SKUM HIEX High-Expansion Foam Generators are intended
for use in total flooding or local application high-expansion Approvals and Certifications
foam systems. Total flooding high-expansion foam systems
are commonly used to protect the following hazards: UL Listed
n Flammable liquid storage areas SKUM High-Expansion Foam Generators are UL Listed for
use with the SKUM METEOR-X 2% High-Expansion Foam
n Hazardous waste storage areas
Concentrate.
n Ship holds
n Engine rooms FM Approved
The HIEX-5A, HIEX-15A, and HIEX-27 models are FM Approved
Local application foam systems are commonly used to protect for use with SKUM METEOR-X 2% High-Expansion Foam
aircraft hangars. High-expansion foam systems are also Concentrate.
frequently used to protect LNG facilities. These systems are
typically used to control the vaporization rate of LNG spills CE Marked
or reduce the intensity of LNG fires by controlling the rate of All models are CE Marked in conformance with the Machinery
vapor release. Directive 2006/42/EC.
Note: High-expansion foam generators used in LNG applications typically
require expansion ratios of approximately 500:1.
Operation and Maintenance
Refer to the SKUM HIEX High-Expansion Foam Generator
Description Operation and Maintenance Manual for detailed procedures
SKUM HIEX High-Expansion Foam Generators produce large on installation, operation, and maintenance. A printed copy of
volumes of foam by coating a stainless steel perforated metal this manual is included with every generator.
screen with high-expansion foam solution and expanding
it with airflow generated by a water-powered fan. When
used with SKUM METEOR-X 2% High-Expansion Foam Foam Generator Components
Concentrate, these generators are capable of producing
FOAM SCREEN
finished foam with expansion ratios from 450:1 up to 987:1, BLOWER FAN
depending on the model and operating pressure.
WATER MOTOR

Protective Coatings
Standard generator model housings are constructed of
galvanized or bare carbon steel base material and are AIR
FOAM FLOW
painted using a UL Listed paint system. All fans are painted
using a marine grade powder paint system tested to a
minimum of 3,000 hours in salt spray corrosion testing to
ensure adherence and durability. LNG generator models are FOAM
constructed of pickled and passivated 316 L stainless steel for SOLUTION
INLET
corrosion resistance in the most challenging environments.
Stainless steel foam screens are not painted to avoid FOAM
inhibiting foam production. SOLUTION
SPRAY
001274

Note: While NFF (also known as SFFF) agents may be compatible

with existing AFFF and/or NFF hardware, system contamination from
fluorinated agents may exist if hardware and piping is not replaced upon
conversion to non-fluorinated agents.

Tyco Park | Grimshaw Lane | Newton Heath | Manchester | M40 2WL | Tel: +44 (0) 161 259 4000 | www.skum.com
© 2024 Johnson Controls. All rights reserved. All specifications and other information shown were current as of document
revision date and are subject to change without notice. | Form No. FDS-2016072-05
Materials of Construction
SKUM HIEX High-Expansion Foam Generators are manufactured from a combination of carbon steel, stainless steel, and brass
components. For materials of construction of the major components, see the following table:

Component Material
Model Standard Models: Standard Models: LNG Models:
HIEX-2A HIEX-27 HIEX-2A LNG
HIEX-5A HIEX-20 LNG
HIEX-15A
HIEX-20
Housing Galvanized Steel Galvanized Steel 316L SS, Pickled
and Passivated
Foam Screen 201, 302, or 304 SS 201, 302, or 304 SS 316 or 316L SS
Fan Carbon Steel* Carbon Steel* Carbon Steel*
Water Motor Brass Cast Iron/Bronze Brass
Nozzles Brass Brass Brass

*Carbon Steel fans are powder painted with a durable, marine grade paint system for corrosion resistance.

Performance Data

UL Listed Performance (METEOR-X 2%)

Part UL Listed Inlet Pressure Flow Rate Foam Output Expansion

Generator Model Number Orientation bar psi Lpm gpm m3/min cfm Ratio
3.4 50 132 35 62 2,188 468
Standard 438481 Horizontal
HIEX-2A 5.2 75 159 42 77 2,727 486
or Vertical
LNG 438488 6.9 100 189 50 85 3,010 450

Horizontal 3.4 50 231 61 189 6,658 816

HIEX-5A Standard 438482
or Vertical 5.2 75 284 75 266 9,383 939

2.8 40 409 108 343 12,121 840

Horizontal 3.4 50 450 119 410 14,491 911
HIEX-15A Standard 438483 or
Vertical 5.2 75 549 145 542 19,141 987
6.9 100 640 169 617 21,796 965

2.8 40 803 212 383 13,530 477

Standard 438485
Horizontal 3.4 50 901 238 418 14,746 463
HIEX-20
or Vertical 5.2 75 1,113 294 538 19,007 484
LNG 438492
6.9 100 1,279 338 640 22,598 500

2.8 40 685 181 575 20,295 839

Horizontal 3.4 50 768 203 679 23,965 883
HIEX-27 Standard 438487 or
Vertical 5.2 75 920 243 773 27,303 840
6.9 100 1,045 276 816 28,802 781
Note: METEOR-X 2% concentrate should not be used for salt water applications.
Performance Data (Continued)

FM Approved Performance (METEOR-X 2%)

FM
Part Approved Inlet Pressure Flow Rate Foam Output Expansion
Generator Model Number Orientation bar psi Lpm gpm m3/min cfm Ratio

2.8 40 208 55 114 4,020 547

HIEX-5A Standard 438482 Horizontal
3.4 50 235 62 147 5,184 625

2.8 40 405 107 270 9,540 667

3.4 50 450 119 344 12,150 764
HIEX-15A Standard 438483 Horizontal
5.2 75 562 149 484 17,100 861
6.9 100 659 174 546 19,296 829

2.8 40 697 184 554 19,548 795

Horizontal 3.4 50 765 202 612 21,600 800
HIEX-27 Standard 438487 or
Vertical 5.2 75 924 244 766 27,036 829
6.9 100 1060 280 847 29,916 799
Notes: METEOR-X 2% concentrate should not be used for salt water applications.
System Calculation for System Calculation for
Total Flooding Local Application
Building Group II aircraft hangar using outside air to
n Light steel construction generators.
n Non-sprinklered
Hangar to be protected
n Group II hangar measuring 3066 m2 (33,000 ft2)
Hazard
n Low density combustibles n Sprinkler system (wet pipe) for 6.9 Lpm/m2 over 465 m2
(0.17 gpm/ft2 over 5000 ft2)
Fill Time
As stated in NFPA 11, the fill time for a non-sprinklered Fill Time
building of light steel construction and a hazard of low As stated in NFPA 409, fill depth of 0.9 m (3 ft) within one
density combustibles is a maximum of 3 minutes (T). minute (T) with sufficient foam concentrate for 12 minutes
total.
Building Area
30.5 m (100 ft) × 9.1 m (30 ft) = 278 m2 (3,000 ft2) Building Area
45.7 m × 67.1 m = 3066 m2 (150 ft × 220 ft = 33,000 ft2)
Building Height
3 m (10 ft) = Volume (V) of 850 m3 (30,000 ft3 ) Foam Volume (V)
3,065.8 m2 x .9144 m = 2803 m3 (33,000 ft2 × 3 ft = 99,000 ft3 )
Calculation Without Sprinklers
Calculation With Sprinklers
R = (V/T) × CN × CL
R = ([V/T] + Rs) × CN × CA* × CL
R = Rate of Discharge in cfm
Rs = Rate of foam breakdown by sprinklers
V = Submergence Volume in ft3 10 cfm/gpm × sprinkler system discharge in
T = Submergence Time in minutes gpm (0.075 m3/min/Lpm × sprinkler discharge
CN = Compensation for normal shrinkage in Lpm)
(1.15, constant) CN = Compensation for normal shrinkage
CL = Compensation for leakage (1.15 constant)

1.0, no leakage CA* = Compensation for inside air

(1.20 constant)
1.2, moderate leakage
CL = Leakage factor (not required for local
R = (30,000 ft3 / 3 min) × 1.15 × 1 = application systems)
10,000 × 1.15 × 1
R = ([99,000 ft3 / 1 min] + 8500 cfm) × 1.15
= 11,500 cfm required
= 107,500 × 1.15
11,500 cfm/6,658 cfm per HIEX-5A at 50 psi = 1.73
generators = 123,625 cfm minimum required
123,625 cfm / 27,303 cfm per HIEX-27 at 75 psi
Metric Calculation
= 4.53 generators
R = (850 m3 / 3 min) × 1.15 × 1
= 283.3 × 1.15 × 1 Metric Calculation

= 326 m3/min required R = ([2803 m3 / 1 min] + 241 m3/min) × 1.15

= 3044 × 1.15
326 m3/min / 189 m3/min per Metric HIEX-5A at 3.4 bar
= 3501 m3/min minimum required
= 1.73 generators
3501 m3/min / 773 m3/min per HIEX-27 at 5.2 bar
Therefore, use two HIEX-5A generators at 6,658 cfm = 4.53 generators
(189 m3/min) each.
Therefore, use five HIEX-27 generators at 27,303 cfm
(773 m3/min) each.
*Inside air may be used with AHJ approval. When using inside air,
Johnson Controls recommends using the 20% compensation factor
(CA) noted in the calculation for R. Contact Johnson Controls Technical
Services with questions on the use of inside air for high-expansion
foam systems.
Ordering Information
Standard Models (Carbon Steel Construction)
Part Generator Weight
Number Model (kg) lb 2% Approvals
438481 HIEX-2A 33 (73) UL, CE
438482 HIEX-5A 116 (255) UL, FM, CE
438483 HIEX-15A 180 (397) UL, FM, CE
438485 HIEX-20 180 (397) UL, CE
438487 HIEX-27 327 (720) UL, FM, CE

LNG Models (Stainless Steel Construction)

Part Generator Weight
Number Model (kg)   (lb) 2% Approvals
438488 HIEX-2A LNG 33 (73) UL, CE
438492 HIEX-20 LNG 180 (397) UL, CE

HIEX-27 Dimensions

11.1 mm DIA.
(0.44 IN.)
4 PLACES
914 mm
(36.0 IN.)

348 mm 1607 mm
(13.8 IN.) TOP VIEW (63.2 IN.)
127 mm
1016 mm
(5.0 IN.)
(40.0 IN.)
2 IN.
NPT*

89 mm DIA.
613 mm
(3.5 IN.)
(24.1 IN.)
1638 mm
(64.5 IN.)

819 mm
(32.2 IN.)

2357 mm
1543 mm
(92.8 IN.) SIDE VIEW (60.8 IN.)
1143 mm
348 mm FRONT VIEW (INLET END)
(44.9 IN.)
(13.8 IN.) 127 mm
(5.0 IN.) * SIDE INLET ONLY

11.1 mm DIA.
(0.44 IN.)
6 PLACES

914 mm 203 mm
(36.0 IN.) (8.0 IN.)

008417
BOTTOM VIEW, MOUNTING HOLE LOCATIONS
General Dimensions

HIEX-5A DIA. 12.7 mm

(0.50 IN.)
H
4 PLACES

A F

C TOP AND BOTTOM VIEW

MOUNTING HOLE LOCATIONS
SIDE VIEW
008770 008769

HIEX-2A, HIEX-15A, HIEX-20 DIA. 11.1 mm

(0.44 IN.)
4 PLACES H
D

A F

E
G

TOP AND BOTTOM VIEW

C MOUNTING HOLE LOCATIONS
SIDE VIEW 001275a 006371

ALL SQUARE OUTLET MODELS

FRONT VIEW (INLET END)

001275b

A B C D E F G H
Model in. (mm) in. (mm) in. (mm) in. (mm) NPT – in. in. (mm) in. (mm) in. (mm)
HIEX-2A 25.0 (635) 25.0 (635) 30.1 (764) 3.9 (99) 1.0 16.0 (406) – – 3.3 (83)
HIEX-5A 44.5 (1130) 42.1 (1069) 40.3 (1024) 6.4 (154) 1.5 27.0 (686) 18.5 (470) 6.1 (156)
HIEX-15A 64.0 (1629) 64.0 (1629) 46.0 (1178) 8.5 (219) 2.0 36.0 (914) 5.0 (127) 8.0 (213)
HIEX-20 64.0 (1629) 64.0 (1629) 46.0 (1178) 8.5 (219) 2.0 36.0 (914) 5.0 (127) 8.0 (213)

Note: The converted values in this document are provided for dimensional reference only and do not reflect an actual measurement.
SKUM and the product names listed in this material are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.