Foam party

A foam party is a social event in which participants dance to music on a dance floor covered in several feet of suds or bubbles dispensed from a foam machine. For safety reasons, the foam is generated from non-toxic, non-staining, hypo-allergenic solutions Fact|date=April 2008.

Participants may wear bathing suits or beach attire, snorkeling goggles, sunglasses, and shower caps. Many participants arrive fully clothed, and some then partially disrobe as the party progresses, while others remain fully clothed.

Generally, foam parties occur at nightclubs, dance clubs, or private parties.

Safety issues

Household soaps and detergents are generally not used for foam parties; they are not pH-neutral, may contain protein-dissolving enzymes, and can cause alkaline chemical burns or irritation to the eyes and respiratory system Fact|date=April 2008.

There have been several reports in the media of severe allergic skin or eye reactions to party foam, but in almost all cases this has been the result of inexperienced operators using dish washing liquids instead of non-irritating foam Fact|date=April 2008. Participants with allergies to soap should either wear appropriate protective clothing such as a dental mask and Tyvek coveralls, or avoid contact with the foam entirely. Sore throats have also commonly been reported, but it is not known if the exact cause is the foam itself.

Foam can also conduct electricity; thus, there are safety concerns with regards to electrical equipment Fact|date=April 2008. Nightclubs often contain environmental lighting, sound equipment, speakers, and other electronics that could potentially malfunction.

On July 23, 2008, at 11:30 p.m., a foam party at the Venezia Palace Hotel in Antalya, Turkey, ended in the deaths of 2 tourists from Israel and one Turkish citizen, as a result of electrocution. [1. Hotnews Turkey, July 24, 2008 [1] Retrieved July 24, 2008] The tourists were brothers Shai and Nir Hachim, aged 18 and 14 respectively, of Holon, Israel. [1. Hotnews Turkey, July 24, 2008 [1] Retrieved July 24, 2008] [3. Haaretz, July 23, 2008 [3] , Retrieved July 24, 2008]

One common method of protection is the use of a ground fault interrupter on devices that could come in contact with the foam. Visitors of foam parties also may attempt to protect personal electronic devices like cameras and mobile phones from the foam.

Because foam parties create a wet, slippery, and disorienting environment, glass bottles and beverage glasses may be restricted by the venue and replaced with plastic cups. This reduces the risk of participants being injured by a broken bottle or glass. In some municipalities, special licenses are required for the club prior to a foam party being held and some clubs require attendees to sign a liability waiver before entering Fact|date=April 2008.

Another issue that can occur at foam parties is groping, when the dancers are partially disrobed on the foam-covered dance floor.

Foam generation

Generating hundreds of cubic meters of foam in a club environment is difficult because foam breaks down rapidly after it is generated; breakdown is greatly accelerated by heat from club lights, air flow, and people moving through the foam. The event shown in the photos above lasted four hours and was held on a dance floor measuring 10m x 15m. It requires three foam generators, approximately 80 liters of foam concentrate, and over 500 liters of water to keep this size of dance floor filled with foam for the evening Fact|date=April 2008.

Foam concentrate is diluted with water in a 150 liter plastic garbage can or 220 liter drum and pumped to the foam generator, which is usually suspended from the ceiling. Then it is sprayed on to the fabric bag. By adjusting the air volume from the blower, solution flow, and thread-count of the bag's fabric, different foam consistencies can be achieved, ranging from a thick shaving cream texture to large bubbles. The distribution of foam can range from a blizzard-like effect of small bubbles to a thick mass of bubbles.

Some club operators have used commercial foam cannons capable of shooting jets of foam over 10 meters - either at people in the crowd, or up in the air. Foam cannons have been used for a long time in firefighting and crowd control, but have recently been used for mass decontamination (with MDF200 decon foam) Fact|date=April 2008. The use of foam cannons in clubs has been limited by high cost and the need for a source of high-volume high-pressure air to launch the foam.

History

Foam parties on film can be dated back to "A Rhapsody in Black and Blue" (1932) [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023393/ 5] where [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Armstrong Louis Armstrong] can be seen dancing, singing and playing his trumpet in a large area of soap suds. Songs performed in the foam 'I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You' and 'Shine'. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023393/plotsummary]

Venue damages

Foam parties can cause damage to improperly equipped venues. Because foam contains water and a wetting agent (soap), it readily wicks into painted surfaces, wooden floors, and drywall at the base of walls. It will also readily saturate upholstered surfaces such as furniture, draperies, and carpets. Carpets are of particular concern because water can be absorbed by and trapped within the carpet's under padding, creating an environment for mold and fungus growth.

Filling a dance floor with foam can raise the water content of the venue's air to near 100% humidity, causing water to condense on pipes, windows, metal doors, and any other surface that is below the dew point. This can cause serious problems when foam parties are held in cold climates during the winter, causing condensation on the walls and ice buildup in building's HVAC ducts. An industrial dehumidifier may be used to prevent condensation and lower the air's moisture content.

Water from the foam that is not absorbed by the air can pool on the dance floor. If drainage is not provided for the hundreds of liters of water over the course of the event, it creates additional safety hazards and may even flood the venue. There may also be a dry-off or buffer area between the foam-covered area and the rest of the venue to prevent damage to parts of the venue not equipped to deal with foam.

External links

Report of the foam party accident in Turkey, July 23, 2008:

1. Hotnews Turkey, July 24, 2008 [http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/9505137.asp?scr=1] Retrieved July 24, 2008

2. Jerusalem Post, July 23, 2008 [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1215331072922] Retrieved July 24, 2008

3. Haaretz, July 23, 2008 [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1004839.html] , Retrieved July 24, 2008

4. www.imdb.com, "A Rhapsody in Black and Blue (1932)" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023393/]