Frequently Asked Questions

 

If fluorinated foams such as AFFF and FFFP can cause environmental damage, is it possible to use fluorosurfactant free foams in extinguishers?

This would be the ideal solution to the problem - but it is not possible.
An extinguisher contains a relatively small amount of liquid and requires the intervention of a physical barrier to shut off the oxygen to the fire. This barrier is achieved by forming a film on the surface of the liquid fuel (Class B). The fluorosurfactant provides this film or barrier.
The minimum ratings required in the European Standard EN3 cannot be achieved without this film formation.

During servicing of extinguishers we have always discharged the foam at the clients premises. Why do we need to change now?

Foam such as AFFF used in extinguishers is a List 1 material described under the Ground Water Regulations 1998. You are not permitted to discharge foam anywhere if it can eventually find it's way back to ground water, either indirectly via surface water drains or directly to land, such as hard standing, car parks, grassed areas, soil or rough ground. The foam must be contained at site or at the servicing company's facilities for proper disposal.

During servicing of extinguishers we never discharge to land. Instead we discharge the foam either to the client’s sewer or to our own sewer at our facility. Why should we change now?

Foam discharged from extinguishers is a “trade waste”. You are not allowed to discharge a trade waste directly to sewer without the written consent and prior agreement of the water company responsible for your area. Regardless of any previous practice, the fluorinated material in foams such as AFFF, AFFF-AR, FFFP, FFFP-AR cannot be identified by the water company and is therefore not treated by them. The fluorinated material will remain in the sludge at the water treatment plant which is then sent to agricultural land. The water company unwittingly becomes the polluter as the fluorinated material in the sludge has an indirect route back to ground water.

Why has fluorosurfactant foam become a major problem for the industry. This has never been an issue before, why is it an issue now?

Over the last five years, studies have proved that fluorinated materials generally have a detrimental impact, not just on the environment but also on biological systems. Fluorinated material is now found in human blood; this was not the case until the late 50's. The main cause of this phenomenon is more to do with packaging, tapes, coatings etc. However, the environmental impact of fluorinated foams is one of the reasons why 3M announced that it was to halt manufacture of PFOS-containing fire fighting foam in May 2000.

I have been in the fire extinguishing business for 30 years. This has never been an issue before, why is it an issue now?

Doing something for 30 years does not make it right. We all have a responsibility to ensure we do what is necessary to maintain a healthy and sustainable environment. Dealing with waste products from our industry in a proper and safe manner is one of our contributions toward fulfilling that responsibility. Operating a business within current legislation should be sufficient motivation for any Company Director.

Surely it is the responsibility of the foam manufacturer to take the foam back when it is discharged.

It is the foam manufacturers responsibility to supply a product that is fit for purpose. It is supplied for the purpose of extinguishing fire for the application you require.
It is not the manufacturers responsibility to deal with your waste.

The manufacturer supplies you with a concentrate material, not a foam solution ( foam concentrate mixed with water).

What are foam manufacturers doing to resolve the environmental issues of foam?

Most foam manufacturers have developed and to continue to research new foam products and how best to deal with the very serious environmental issues associated with foams. Some manufacturers have been able to reduce the level of fluorosurfactants in their formulations whilst maintaining acceptable levels of performance. However, one thing is absolutely clear. If the foam you are using contains fluorosurfactants of any kind, the degradation products from these foams will persist in the environment for decades and thus need to be contained and treated accordingly.

Foams containing, or which have a degradation product known as PFOS are no longer manufactured. So why should we be concerned about PFOS any longer?

It is true to say that most recent fears about foams have been related to PFOS. There are two distinct problems that must be considered. First of all, although PFOS foams are no longer manufactured many thousands of tonnes of super-concentrate are still available in the market place. They will remain in the industry for at least the next 10 years or more. PFOS is classed as very persistent (vP) in the environment, it is bioaccumulative and toxic. All of this research information is documented. Secondly, as a service engineering company you may not know what foam is contained in any particular unit of equipment and should treat all foams on a worst case basis.

My foam supplier confirms that the foam he supplies is not PFOS based but produced via the telomer process. Is it OK for me to put this foam down the drain?

In short, No.
Foams manufactured today use fluorosurfactants manufactured using a Telomer process. The degradation product from these foams is known as H-PFOS. There is currently not sufficient data to show whether these foam degradation products are as toxic or bioaccumulative as PFOS. However, they are known to be extremely persistent in the environment and remain as List 1 materials under the Ground Water Regulations 1998 and so must not be discharged to ground water. In terms of dealing with waste, all fluorinated foams should be dealt with by containment and treated to remove the fluorosurfactants.

What is the difference between the PFOS and H-PFOS molecule?

Complicated molecules of a similar chain length can act in a similar way. Both PFOS and H-PFOS have the same chain length and a very similar structure. They both contain eight carbon atoms. In the PFOS molecule all eight carbon atoms are fluorinated. This molecule is very persistent (vP), bioaccumulative (B) and Toxic (T) and therefore classified as PBT. In the H-PFOS molecule, commonly described as 6:2 FtS or fluorotelomer sulphonate, six of the eight carbon atoms are fluorinated. This molecule is known to be extremely persistent (vP) in ground water. Research in the USA by the Environmental Protection Agency and other Environment Agencies elsewhere in Europe continue to try to ascertain the environmental impact of Telomer foams with regard to bioaccumulation and toxicity.

When and where can fluorosurfactant-free foams be used?

Fluorosurfactant-Free Foams (FSFF) can be used successfully in the vast majority of applications by the Fire and Rescue Service or Fire Bigades. More than 95% of all fires attended by Fire and Rescue Services fall into one of the following categories:
house fires; car fires; industrial fires such as a pallet fires; tyre fires; fires containing plastics, paper, any solid fuel materials; fuel spillages, either hydrocarbon or polar solvent (alcohol). Products such as ECOPOL (FSFF-AR) or BIO FOR N (FSFF) are foams that are fluorosurfactant-free and can deal successfully with all the above.

Can FSFF and FSFF-AR replace AFFF and FFFP used by the Fire and Rescue Service?

There is no logical reason for the Fire and Rescue Service to use AFFF or FFFP for most foam application operations.

FSFF should be used in all applications unless a specific risk and area involving a high volume hydrocarbon fire has been identified by the Fire Service. In cases of large fuel tank fires, a foam which produces film formation and a protein blanket is more appropriate for that risk. Foam developers continues to look for alternatives to film formation in foams.

What if a Fire Service is called to assist another Service at a large tank fire and they carry FSFF but not AFFF or similar foams?

The Buncefield fire is a typical example. It is important to note that in the vast majority of fire incidents where the Fire Service attends a high risk site, the site operator will generally store or supply the fluorosurfactant foam required. This was the case at Buncefield, where the Fire Services attending provided Command and Control, fire fighting skills, logistics and techniques, and the hardware such as vehicles and water pumping facilities to deliver the foam. The site owners bought and supplied the foam.

How does the Fire Service contain the foam at the site of a car fire or any other typical fire they deal with on a day to day basis?

It is unlikely that any Fire Service can contain foam used at an incident unless of course it is a tank fire which is bunded. This is why it is essential that the Fire Service use a foam product that is fluorosurfactant-free. This will ensure that fluorinated material does not reach water systems such as ground water and rivers.

Which Fire Services in the UK use fluorosurfactant-free foams?

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service developed their strategy for using FSFF in 2002 and lead the UK Fire Service in this regard. All new build foam carrying vehicles use ECOPOL and BIO FOR N in conjunction with the Hydroflow 500A/B foam system.
This system delivers the foams at induction rates of between 0.1 and 3%. Needless to say, they use lower volumes of foam than previously experienced and their foam application is environmentally responsible. The foams also meet all their training requirements safely and in the knowledge that there is no environmental impact. Since 2003, British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) have been using ECOPOL (FSFF-AR) and BIO FOR N (FSFF) at their Salwick site near Preston, UK.