Published by the Fire Protection Research Foundation in May 2022
The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently published a report with a goal of developing a roadmap for the fire service [industry] while transitioning from fluorinated foam (i.e., AFFF) usage to fluorine free foam technology. The report was provided to help advance topics related to fire safety.
The following sections may be of particular interest to our customers as they relate to services currently offered by Dyne Fire Protection Labs.
Page 13
As a point worth noting, there is currently no widely accepted definition of what a fluorine free foam (FFF) is. The fire protection industry is trending toward verbiage that includes “no intentionally added PFAS” and “a maximum PFAS content of less than 1 ppm (1 mg/L)”. Both requirements are under scrutiny by regulatory authorities in the U.S.
Page 21
Discussion has been centered around trying to meet either the EPA drinking water advisory level for PFAS (70 ppt), the 1 ppb total PFAS requirement in the NDAA for DoD foams, or the 1 ppm PFAS that has become adopted by other industry standards (UL-162) and throughout Europe (ECHA). Specifically, these industries/countries have defined acceptable limits for PFAS as products containing less than 1 mg/L (1 ppm) of organic fluorine. In the U.S., the EPA plans to publish revised disposal/destruction guidance but not until in 2023. As a point worth noting, it has been difficult to reliably measure concentrations of PFAS and/or organic fluorine below 1 ppm with the available technologies.
Page 82
To date, there is no clear guidance for how clean final rinsate water must be to satisfy local regulators (i.e., it is currently not mentioned or is undefined). All rinsate should be stored and disposed of per all required local, State and Federal regulation. Discussion has been centered around trying to meet either the EPA drinking water advisory level for PFAS (70 ppt), the 1 ppb total PFAS requirement in the NDAA for DoD foams, or the 1 ppm PFAS that has become adopted by other industry standards (e.g., GreenScreen and UL-162). Specifically, these industries/countries have defined acceptable limits for PFAS as products containing less than 1 mg/L (1 ppm) of organic fluorine. It has been difficult to reliably measure concentrations of PFAS and/or organic fluorine below 1 ppm with the available technologies.
Page 13
With respect to foam aspiration, the lower aspirated foam solutions (expansion ratios in the 3-4 range) had 20-50% higher extinguishment densities as compared to the higher aspirated foam solutions (expansion ratios in the 7-8 range). In some cases, higher application rates were required to extinguish the fires using the lower aspirated foam solutions.
The content, opinions expressed, and conclusions contained in the report and annexes are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Technical Panel or Sponsors.
Reprinted with permission from Fire Protection Research Foundation, Firefighting Foams: Fire Service Roadmap, Copyright© 2022, Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy, MA, USA. All rights reserved.
