As the UK advances towards stricter environmental regulations, a notable change is on the horizon regarding Aqueous Film-Forming Foam fire extinguishers (AFFF for short).
These extinguishers contain a substance known as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which belongs to the PFAS family of chemicals recognised as harmful to human health and the environment. From 4 July 2025, C8 firefighting foams containing PFOA will be prohibited, with further bans on additional chemicals from the PFAS group still under consultation.
With this ban looming, there is a lot of confusion about whether or not all foam fire extinguishers need to be replaced. In this guide, we’ll cut through that confusion to explain exactly what is changing in July 2025, how you may be impacted and the steps you need to take to ensure your compliance with the new (and upcoming) regulations.
Do I need to replace my foam extinguisher?
Let’s get straight to the important detail. The short answer is no – not all foam fire extinguishers are affected by the ban, and only those that contain PFOA must be removed from service by the 4 July 2025 deadline.
According to the Fire Industry Association guidance from September 2024, after this date, “any remaining stock must be disposed of as hazardous waste.”
The British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE) advises: "A suitable replacement portable fire extinguisher would be any product that matches the class of potential fire identified by the fire extinguisher provider in their risk assessment, and that is compliant with the relevant parts of BS 5306."
While not every foam extinguisher will need to be replaced, every business should check their current foam extinguishers and find out whether they contain PFOA or not. There are still unconfirmed dates regarding additional PFAS chemical bans in the future, but the 4 July 2025 deadline stands firm as part of a move to protect public health and the wider environment as a whole.
If you are using a water-based or fluorine-free foam extinguisher, you will definitely not need to replace it as part of the initial ban.
How to check if your extinguisher is affected by the ban
There are several ways in which you can check to see if your existing foam extinguishers are affected, including:
- Look for chemical data on the label of the extinguisher, or the safety data sheet
- Contact the manufacturer or your supplier for confirmation
- Request a risk assessment to ensure that your fire safety measures align with the latest (and future) regulations
How are banned AFFF foam extinguishers disposed of?
Disposal of any extinguishers that contain PFOA must be done through licensed hazardous waste disposal services. They will incinerate the extinguishers at incredibly high temperatures to prevent any kind of environmental contamination.
What happens if you don’t comply with the new regulations?
As this is a legal requirement, there are several potential repercussions if you do not comply with the new regulations, including:
- Prosecution or enforcement under UK environmental and fire safety legislation
- Fines for improper storage or use of banned substances
What are the options for extinguishers that need replacing?
It’s important at this stage to note that the bans on PFAS and PFOA do not signify the end of the line for foam extinguishers. Instead, the firefighting industry is progressively shifting towards fluorine-free foams (FFF), which offer effective fire suppression without the environmental and health concerns associated with PFAS (or “forever”) chemicals.
FFF extinguishers (as opposed to the banned AFFF) do not contain harmful PFAS chemicals and are considered environmentally friendly.
At Firechief® Global we took the steps to move ahead of the ban by investing into the research and development of new PFAS-free extinguishers.
At the start of 2025 we introduced a new range of extinguishers designed to provide effective fire suppression without releasing the banned, harmful chemicals. The PureSafe range includes both watermist and foam extinguishers that have been tested to ensure that they provide the vital protection required and each model in the range is approved to BS EN 3 standard with BSI Kitemark and MED certification, too, for complete peace of mind.
You can also find out more about the pending ban on PFAS chemicals and C8 firefighting foams by joining our Firechief® Academy webinar, specifically developed to look beyond the headlines and deeper into the facts surrounding the ban. Head over to the Academy now to find times and dates.
In addition to our foam and PureSafe fire extinguishers, the Firechief® range of fire safety products also includes fire blankets, extinguisher stands, suppression systems, signage and fire safety products for all types of fires. For information, call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.
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Disclaimer
The information contained within this blog is provided solely for general informational and educational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions based upon this information, we advise the reader to consult all relevant statutory or regulatory guidance and, where necessary, to consult a qualified fire or industry regulation professional. The use or reliance on any information contained herein is solely at the reader's risk.