Barricade gel

Barricade properly known as Barricade Fire Blocking Gel is a liquid concentrate made of absorbent polymers that is designed to protect structures and form firebreaks in wildland interface fires. These absorbent polymers are similar to those used in diapers.

Designed to be sprayed on by homeowners through 1 1/2 inch firehoses or a standard garden hose using an eductor unit. The concentrate is picked up by an eductor in a ratio of 1%-6%. The polymers soak up hundreds of times their weight in water creating millions of tiny drops of water surrounded by and protected by a polymer shell. The result is a "bubblet" or a drop of water surrounded by a polymer shell in contrast to a bubble which is air surrounded by liquid.

As the gel and water are sprayed onto an exposed surface, millions of tiny "bubblets" are stacked one on top of another. The stacking of the water "bubblets" form a thermal protective "blanket" over the surface to which it is applied. In order for the heat of the fire to penetrate the protected surface, it must burn off each layer of the gel "bubblets" coating. Each layer holds the heat away from the next layer of bubblets beneath. The polymer shell of each bubblets and their stacking significantly prevent water evaporation. The manufacturer claims "Barricade can provide thermal protection from fire for extended periods even at 3500° Fahrenheit".

The stacking of the bubblets is similar to asperated AFFF or CAFS, except that bubblets are water filled, whereas foam bubbles are only filled with air. Because it takes more heat to raise the temperature of water than air, the water filled bubblets will absorb more heat than the air filled foam bubbles which are more effective for vapor suppression. When barricade gel is applied to a surface such as an exterior wall the water filled bubblets will absorb the heat given off by the fire and prevent it from reaching the wall.

As a minimum Barricade like Class A foams should be applied to roofs, windows, eaves, doors, decks, and fences that are connected to the structure. Most home fires in wildland fires, other than roof fires, are caused by the radiant heat that passes through the windows and ignites the interior as a result window coverage is very important. It can also be used to coat brush, woodpiles, vehicles, create firebreaks, and importantly cover LP tanks.

Proper coverage of an average home requires between 3 to 5 1 /4 gal. containers of Barricade. This can vary on home size and the square feet which you want to coat. A minimum of a 1/4 inch thick layer is required for protection but the thicker the blanket the greater the protection will be and the longer the blanket will last. A 1/4 inch layer will last a minimum of 6-8 hours to a maximum of 24-36 hours, the gel can also be re-wetted when drying occurs to lengthen the protection.

Important/Warning
-Barricade should not be used as a substitute for defensible space. A minimum of 15 ft. directly around the structure cleared of all brush. And low cut and spaced brush and grass out to 100 ft. though a home on a hill top will require 150 - 200 ft.

-The concentrate must be shaken for 2 min. before use and has a shelf life of only 3 years compared to the unlimited shelf life of other pre-treatment foams such as FireAde. I have found minimum coverage of an average 2 story home takes about 30 min. with 2 people using 2 garden hose units and 20-30 min. for a person using the 1 1/2 fire hose unit.

-Barricade is extremely slippery and creates a slip/fall hazard when coating a roof. It is safer to apply the gel from a ladder if possible or use the longer range fire hose unit from the ground.

-The eductor unit requires a min. of 30 psi. to proprly apply and hydrate the gel. If your tap or well water pressure is to low you will need a pump. Many companies sell fire pumps that allow you to use the garden hose eductor unit and the larger 1 1/2 inch unit for faster coverage. The fire pump will also allow you to use Class A foam, AFFF, or a wetting agent such as Drench additive for fire attack along with Barricade gel for pre-application.

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