FIRE FIGHTING FOAM TRANSITION REQUIRES A SOUND PLAN

The experts at Kenbri Fire Fighting explain how the European Chemicals Agency’s expected PFAS restriction will impact operations. It is expected that the production, trade and use of PFAS-containing products will be severely curtailed starting January 2023. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has drafted a PFAS restriction that is expected to take effect starting 1 January 2023 and will have a significant impact. Hans Huizinga, fire fighting foam and safety consultant at Kenbri Fire Fighting, explains: ‘We have been informing companies and safety regions about the massive upcoming changes in the area of fluorinated fire fighting foam for over five years. However, thus far, many organisations have chosen to procrastinate on measures regarding the transition from fluorinated to fluorine- free materials. Now, the legal framework and the time frame for this issue have become clear.’ As part of the restriction, ECHA has stipulated a time frame for the phasing out of PFAS in fire fighting foam. This time frame shows that Seveso companies (those linked to handling, manufacturing, using or storing dangerous substances) have another ten years to transition to fluorine-free...