Project goal
The overall goal of this project is to develop a strategic roadmap for the fire service while transitioning from fluorinated foam (i.e., AFFF) usage to fluorine free foam technology. The project aims to enhance firefighter safety and health by developing recommendation of best practice for firefighting foam operations and handling, by summarizing currently available information, reporting existing knowledge gaps, including all types of applications of firefighting foam that provide possible exposure pathways to firefighters and others. The project is funded by a DHS/FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. Read the full project summary.
Download the report summary. (PDF)
Download the project poster. (PDF)
Virtual Workshop: Firefighting Foams: Fire Service Roadmap
The overall goal of this workshop, which was held in October 2021, was to support enhanced firefighter safety & health and control Class B fires, by developing a strategic fire service roadmap to effectively and efficiently transition from fluorinated foam (i.e., AFFF) usage to fluorine free foam technology. Topics include firefighting foams and their replacements; review of baseline information, common aspects, and regional differences; recommended best practices for acquisition/operations/handling/disposal; identify knowledge gaps; prioritize research needs; and stimulate dialogue between key groups.
This three-day virtual workshop consisted of two parts: (1) presentation series by subject matter experts using a condensed format addressing the following themes, followed by (2) discussion group sessions on the topics being addressed.
Workshop proceedings: Download the full workshop proceedings documentation (PDF) with the presentation slides.
Workshop presentations: View the workshop presentation series recordings.
Additional References
- NFPA Journal article "The New Foam," fall 2022.
- NFPA Journal article "The PFAS problem," fall 2022.
- NFPA Podcast "The New Foam."