Update on Foam Extinguishers from the British Fire Consortium.
In summary the extinguishers that WJFire have supplied that are currently in use and under maintenance are valid for use until 2030. |
‘The UK ban on Foam Extinguishers from 4th July 2025’
The BFC have seen many statements from both extinguisher manufacturers, extinguisher traders and sellers of this type of equipment and other interested parties within the industry. These statements are in relation to the banning of AFFF foam extinguishers from 4th July 2025. Any such statements are at best misleading,but most definitely not true.
Only AFFF foams containing PFOA (C8) Perfluorooctanoic acid or any PFAS Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances containing C8, which would also include PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) are banned from use from 4th July 2025.
PFAS is a very large group of more than 10,000 fluorinated molecules, some are banned but not all. It is true that all PFAS materials will be banned at some stage in the near future, but they are not all covered by current legislation. PFAS materials such as PFOA and PFOS have not been used in the manufacturing of AFFF foam concentrates in the EU for at least 10 years. If an AFFF foam extinguisher is between 1 and 5 years old as of today, it is highly unlikely to contain PFOA or PFOS (C8). Foam extinguishers that contain AFFF foam, and which are in circulation today, are manufactured using C6 fluoro surfactants. That is to say, they do not contain PFOA or PFOS and are not therefore impacted by this ban. There is new legislation planned for publication in 2025, which will set out a timeline for the banning of the PFHxA
molecule (Perfluorohexanoic acid) which is directly related to C6 fluoro surfactants. This particular legislation will signal the final use of AFFF as an extinguishing agent, not just in extinguishers but across all industries, including the Fire and Rescue Services, petrochemical, aviation, shipping and fire system industries. The timeline for the elimination of AFFF (C6) and other film forming firefighting foam products
will depend on the nature of the industry in question.
In the draft of this new legislation, it is proposed that AFFF (C6) used in extinguishers will be banned in 5 years from publication of the legislation, whereas the petrochemical and shipping industries will have 10 years before the ban takes effect.
The Environment Agency insists that all PFAS containing foams are incinerated. This includes all AFFF foams regardless of whether they are manufactured with C6 or C8 fluoro surfactants. This is directly related to waste streams generated from the disposal of AFFF foams in extinguishers. This does not mean that the 6 or 9 litre foam extinguishers on the wall in your building are banned from the 4th July 2025. AFFF foam extinguishers will continue to be manufactured and sold into the marketplace in accordance with current and future legislation.
This statement by the BFC is not endorsing the use of AFFF, or any particular extinguishing agent. However, we believe it is essential that our members make informed decisions based on fact, not fiction. Nor should your decisions be based on misleading statements by those who either misunderstand current legislation or who have commercial motivations to promote alternative products. The BFC will
update our members on the new legislation once it has been published and give an appraisal of how the new timelines detailed in the legislation will impact on their businesses.
