Alpine Fire is encouraging facilities managers and compliance officers to contribute to the latest UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) consultation on further PFAS restrictions in firefighting foams. Operations Director, Mark Thewlis, explains why.
What’s next for PFAS foams?
In July 2025 the UK government banned C8 foam because it contains PFOA
(perfluorooctanoic acid), used to create PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances),
which are more commonly referred to today as “forever chemicals”.
PFAS /forever chemicals can pose a significant risk to health and the
environment, but are commonly used in firefighting foams (FFF) because of
their ability to suppress flammable liquid (class B) fires by forming a film that
cuts off the oxygen supply.
Thanks to their use in fire prevention and suppression, Alpine is no stranger to PFAS.
And we’ve been helping customers to remove and dispose of C8 foam that contains
them for many months. But now the focus is shifting to C6 foam, with a UK public
consultation on the use of all PFAS firefighting foams running until 18 February 2026.
The consultation marks a full move away from PFAS foams
This consultation marks another key step in the UK’s transition away from PFAS-based firefighting agents. However, while C8 foam has already been phased out, C6 usage may still be necessary in certain high-risk or specialist settings. That said, their long-term use is under review, and facilities need to understand both the implications and the alternatives.
The Environment Protection Agency has said that it expects C6 foam use to be limited in the near future. And whilst Alpine Fire does not advocate for continued widespread use of C6 foam, it does recognise that a sensible and informed transition is essential for operational safety and compliance, as the fire suppression and detection industry transitions towards fluorine-free foam (F3).
To ensure that stakeholders working with C6 foam have the ability to shape what comes next, Alpine Fire is launching an awareness campaign, to publicise the public consultation on the use of all firefighting foams containing PFAS, which will be running until 18 February 2026.
The shift to fluorine-free foam
The shift to fluorine-free systems isn’t as simple as swapping one foam for another. F3 foam has different viscosity and performance characteristics, meaning some suppression systems will require significant modification. Our role is to help clients make the transition safely, effectively, and in line with any upcoming regulation. And a simple timeline for PFA restrictions reveals where we are headed:
– 2020: C8 PFAS foam can no longer be used for training. Testing is only allowed if all releases are contained
– 2021: Stocks of C8 foams must be declared
– 2023 (March): HSE report concludes PFAS poses a risk to the environment and human health
– 2023 (January): C8 foams can only be used where containment is guaranteed
– 2025: C8 foam must not be in use from 4th July. Restrictions on C6 foam expected to come into effect
– 2030: Sales of fluorine-containing AFFF to be prohibited.
Given the direction of travel, it would be a shrewd move to begin exploring what fluorine-free alternatives are available (also known as SFFF, or synthetic fluorine-free foams), and analyse how compatible their usage would be with your current fire suppression and detection system.
The bottom line: prepare for change
The bottom line for facilities managers is that change is coming. Whether it’s the immediate ban on C8 foams or the inevitable restriction of C6, a fluorine-free future is inevitable. And simply waiting to see how this will impact your fire suppression is not a viable strategy. Instead, now is the time to proactively assess your systems and explore alternative solutions.
At Alpine Group, we believe in sustainable fire suppression, where protecting your critical infrastructure doesn’t compromise the nation’s health or the environment.
Get in touch to discuss the removal of C8 and C6 foams from your fire suppression systems.
