Pancras, T., et al., report that Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) and Fluoroprotein (FP) or Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam (FFFP) foam have been used since the 1960s and 1970s, respectively, for the suppression of class B (flammable liquid) fires at airports, refineries and other major petroleum facilities. In recent years, however, the use of these has been challenged due to concern that certain poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in their formulation exhibit PBT characteristics (Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic). While alternative PFAS-free foams are now commercially available, concerns have been raised that these may be less effective for fighting large-scale flammable liquid fires and that other issues such as shelf life, compatibility with conventional application equipment and suitability of different materials for storage have not been fully evaluated.
It is important that users of class B fire-fighting foams understand and manage both environmental and fire safety aspects of foam use. An assessment of site foam stocks is recommended to ensure that any legacy stocks containing more than 0.001 weight % PFOS (banned for use in the EU since June 2011) are set aside for safe disposal by high temperature incineration. A similar assessment should be completed for foam stocks that may be brought to site from third parties in the event of an emergency. At locations where fluorochemical-based foams have been used for fire-fighting or firefighting training, users should consider how to manage the potential issues. Fire-fighting foams designated C6 by manufacturers are formulated using PFAS that cannot degrade to form PFOS or PFOA and so these seem of less concern from an environmental standpoint. It should be noted, however, that given the range of compounds present there is still uncertainty about their properties.
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