Safe Foam Disposal
Responsible, compliant disposal of fire fighting foams
The vast majority of fire fighting foams contain fluorinated surfactants which degrade in the environment to either PFOS or H-PFOS (6:2 FtS).
Fluorosurfactants are the key to a foam's efficiency in fighting a whole range of Class B (hydrocarbon fuel) fires.
Fluorosurfactants persist in the environment, i.e. they do not biodegrade and are likely to be bioaccumulative and toxic. It's illegal to release them knowingly into groundwater or controlled waters.
The Environment Agency has clear guidelines for compliance with current legislation including the Ground Water Regulations 1998 and the Water Resources Act 1991.
A policy statement by the Environment Agency issued on the 1st February 2006 on fire-water run-off containing PFOS (perfluorooctane sulphonate) details the protection level for each of the water streams. They include groundwater, fresh water, marine waters, waters to sewer and sewer sludge disposal.
The difficulty in the past has always been the availability of credible alternatives for treating foam. However, the Perfluoro Filtration Extraction Cleaning and Treatment process (also known as the perfFECTTM system) now provides a solution.
How should you proceed?
Most businesses or organisations probably have a Fire Service Engineer contracted to deal with their fire extinguisher requirements. You should ask them how they dispose of the foam from fire extinguishers when they are discharged. If the answer is that he discharges to ground or down any drain then action should be taken to correct this situation immediately.
Our foam disposal service
Our foam clean service is open to all fire protection companies who should contact Basingstoke Fire Protection direct, The perfFECTTM system will be made available to them to deal responsibly with your extinguisher foam on your behalf.
Fire Service Engineers have a major role to play in ensuring that over 3 million litres of fire fighting foam, discharged annually as part of maintenance procedures, is handled responsibly for the direct protection of the community's water supply.
"Fluorosurfactants used in fire fighting foams are persistent and likely to be toxic - they are not extracted by sewage treatment systems".
Your fire service engineers should be issuing you with the required documentation for you to demonstrate that you are handling this material in a responsible manner with the regulations set out by the Environmental Agency.
What are the benefits of a managed foam disposal service?
You have an assurance that, as an active partner in this process, we provide the most environmentally responsible approach to dealing with your waste product.
Please contact us now with any requirements you may have for the safe disposal of your fire fighting equipment or to discuss any other fire protection needs or concerns you may have.
