Euralarm issues guidance on firefighting foam disposal
Euralarm has published new guidance on the safe and environmentally responsible disposal of firefighting foam media. The document addresses PFAS-containing foams as well as fluorine-free alternatives.
The Guideline on Disposal of Fire-Fighting Foam Media for UK and Europe provides practical recommendations for manufacturers, service companies, installers, maintenance providers, end users and waste management specialists involved in handling firefighting foams.
Guidance covers fluorinated and fluorine-free foams
The document covers AFFF, FFFP, fluorine-free foams (F3), Class A and Class F foams, as well as wetting agents and water additives. It also explains standards and legislation governing foam disposal, including European fire protection standards, waste legislation and restrictions on PFAS substances.
Euralarm outlines practical measures for handling, storage, transport and disposal. The aim is to help organizations reduce environmental impact while maintaining compliance.
Foam should be treated as potentially hazardous
The guidance states that all firefighting foam should be regarded as potentially hazardous unless proven otherwise. Uncontrolled discharge to land, drains or watercourses should be avoided.
Disposal should only take place through authorized hazardous waste routes. For PFAS-containing foams, high-temperature incineration at licensed facilities remains the preferred method and, in many cases, the mandatory disposal route.
Guidance also addresses servicing and maintenance
The document provides recommendations for servicing and maintenance activities, including containment during testing, appropriate storage and transport arrangements, and recovery of waste foam from portable extinguishers and fixed suppression systems.
It also encourages organizations to transition to fluorine-free foams where appropriate, remove legacy PFAS stocks and adopt closed-loop recovery systems to prevent environmental releases.
The guidance concludes that all firefighting foam should be fully contained, treated as potentially hazardous and disposed of through authorized hazardous waste processes in accordance with European standards and environmental legislation.
