Through aggressive measures and innovation, FOMTEC recognizes the urgent need for the fire industry to lead the elimination of PFA in fire control systems, ensuring both environmental responsibility and effective firefighting capabilities.
Throughout the global fire community, momentum is built around the urgent need to eliminate PFA from fire control systems. Installing scientific evidence of negative environmental impacts and the installation of identified PFAS chemicals such as PFOS and PFOA, human health issues, and fire forms that contain PFA – long-needed essential tools – are being phased out through increasingly stringent regulations. This change cannot be driven solely by policy. The fire prevention industry must take the lead through informed and proactive action.
At FOMTEC, we believe that the transition to synthetic fluorine-free foams (SFFF) is not only possible, but also essential. Environmental compliance is no longer a best practice issue. This is a fundamental responsibility, especially in an age where communities, regulators and ecosystems all demand cleaner and safer solutions.
Accountability through performance: The power of testing
It’s not just a chemical exchange to remove PFA from firefighter operations, but a complete system challenge. SFFF must be performed under actual emergency conditions. Trust in these products should be built on hard data rather than assumptions.
That’s why FOMTEC is investing in over 3,500 full-scale fire tests through its Enviro program. Forms containing Enviro USP and Enviro Ark have been tested and validated in real life environments. These tests ensure that SFFF not only meets environmental expectations, but also runs during critical fire control events.
This is more than passing the test. It is to set an example and demonstrates that fire safety and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive.
Beyond Compliance: Why the Industry Needs to Lead PFAS Phasing-off
This phase-off of PFA began in 2009 when PFOS used in 3M forms was identified as a very high content of interest, and in 2009, when it was added to the list of sustained organic pollutants. Scientists around the world have expanded their research into PFAS chemicals, increasing restrictions to other substances found in other substances discovered when they seep into the environment, or when they seep into the environment,
The trend in regulation continues, with EU regulations 2024/2462 introducing a tight deadline to remove PFHXA from firefighters and addressing further legislation on the PFA of the fire form expected this year. Similar procedures have been considered or adopted in many other jurisdictions.
Leading the transition means going further. Industry experts, consultants, system designers and manufacturers should work together to ensure that adoption of SFFF is not just a response to rules, but a deliberate step towards sustainable innovation.
FOMTEC is actively partnering with hardware manufacturers to authenticate foam water sprinklers, monitors, and nozzles for using SFFF in complex environments such as airport hangars and hydrocarbon storage sites. These are not future promises. Testing, verifying and ready today.
Industry-led Leadership: Roadmap for Action
In an age of urgency in the global environment, firefighter foam makers can’t afford to play a passive role. The industry must lead with courage, clarity and commitment. FOMTEC has embraced this responsibility by coordinating every stage of product development, testing and deployment with sustainability and environmental integrity.
We don’t wait for the standards to catch up. They are not waiting for regulations to enforce change. Instead, they help shape the future through transparent communication, open collaboration and an willingness to challenge the status quo.
This leadership takes many forms:
Investing in infrastructure testing to simulate real-world conditions and ensure SFFF meets stringent operational needs. Work directly with systems engineers and end users to ensure that your solution is practical, effective and well-understood. It promotes education and awareness within the industry to accelerate knowledge transfer and reduce uncertainty. Leading clients while maintaining support for legacy systems through clean, evidence-based migration strategies.
We view leadership as a service to the industry and society, not as a marketing position. FOMTEC’s commitment to removing PFA from fire control is driven by our values as much as our technical capabilities.
Industry-wide responsibility
We’ve seen major manufacturers leave the fluorinated foam market, but the real question is who will lead.
The responsibility is that we all work together, whether it’s manufacturers, specifications, asset owners, regulators, and more. This is a moment of constructive leadership guided by science, supported by data, and supported by a shared sense of purpose.
FOMTEC is committed to continuing support for legacy systems, while accelerating the development of safer alternatives. Fluoride-free environmental lines reflect not only technological advances, but values. Embody commitment to health, safety and environmental responsibility.
Close the PFAS chapter with purpose
The future of fire suppression exceeds PFA. As the global community is trying to eliminate eternal chemicals, our industry must have led first, not last.
Act now with integrity, transparency and bold commitment. This is our moment of showing what responsible innovation looks like. And together, we can build a fire safety industry that protects both people and planets.
This article will also be featured in the 23rd edition of Quarterly Publication.
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