With the release of proposals by the EU relating to the use […]
With the release of proposals by the EU relating to the use and control of a range of chemicals known to be persistent organic pollutants, the FIA has updated its guidance for those manufacturing, responsible for, or using firefighting foams.
Research undertaken on behalf of the European Commission has identified chemical components within firefighting foams – PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS – that with continued use “will lead to an increasing environmental stock and further environmental and human exposure”, which the Commission considers to be “an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment”. The length of time that these components persist in the environment has seen them be dubbed ‘forever chemicals’.
These chemicals are used widely in paper and cardboard for use as food contact materials, in textiles, and in firefighting foams. The concentrations of these chemicals in AFFF (aqueous film-forming foams) used in fire extinguishing applications was found to be above the proposed threshold, and as a result, whilst PFOS and PFHxS are already banned, a ban on the use of PFOA will come into force from July 2025. The FIA publication therefore aims to provide guidance on what these restrictions “will mean for your firefighting equipment and how to ensure compliance moving forward.”
Whilst the work within the EU is still ongoing and does not apply to the UK market, there will be potential knock-on effects for those exporting firefighting foam products and also for their potential UK-based regulation, which is currently undergoing consultation.
The FIA guidance document is available to download here https://www.fia.uk.com/static/0745b346-d257-497d-a363f9ea58446f50/FIA-Guidance-PFAS-in-Firefighting-foams-Restirctions-Update-September-2024.pdf
Δ
Menu
Members
Knowledge