Foam Fire Extinguishers, talk of the town. Well, not the only hot topic right now, but it ranks highly in the realm of fire safety. It probably has something to do with the great foam fire extinguisher ban of 2025. Or, as we like to call it, the great misinformation wildfire of 2025.
I won’t beat around the bush; there was a ban on C8 firefighting foams containing PFOA. This took effect on the 4th of July 2025, and prohibits the use of that specific foam. Other foam extinguishants under the PFAS group, however, are not banned.
Do I Need to Replace My Foam Fire Extinguisher?
The short answer is no. Firstly, there is no requirement to replace existing foam extinguishers, no matter which side of the ban it sits – it’s only when replacing existing foam fire extinguishers that you need to consider this, as the ban applies to new extinguishers purchased. However, the fire industry has been well ahead of the game. In the vast majority of cases, PFOA hasn’t been in fire extinguishers since around 2020.
This is where this might still be confusing as in regards to AFFF, also known as aqueous film-forming foam, Governments are never great when it comes to new regulations. Modern AFFF contains PFAS, which itself is not currently banned. However, it is under the legislative microscope, potentially facing a ban in the near future. Foam extinguishers, like many other products such as non-stick frying pans and waterproof jackets, contain what is called a “forever chemical”, named so because it damn-near never breaks down. PFAS still contains this “forever foam”, but less of it than its predecessor.
This forever chemical aspect has contributed to why AFFF has been labelled by some as toxic. There is evidence that this is the case, especially in regard to the contamination of water supplies. And obviously, we strongly urge against ingesting the stuff, touching it, or discharging it down the drain. But the truth is that foam extinguishers are not harmful to people and animals as long as they’re used and disposed of correctly.
There are valid substitutes, even full-on replacements for foam fire extinguishers. So, if you’re still concerned, then think about outfitting your premises with different types of fire extinguishers. For your standard business premises, without flammable liquid fire risks, you’re better off with a water and CO2 extinguisher combination – foam is more expensive, and not often required. Water will handle common combustibles like wood and fabric with ease, while CO2 is for electric fires.
What is Fluorine-free Foam?
Fluorine-free Foam, also known as F3 foam, or PFOA-free foam. F3 upturns the environmental concerns related to forever foams by leaving out the polyfluoroalkyl substances used by AFFF. As such, fire extinguishers that use fluorine-free foam are an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional foams. They hold this status without compromising on firefighting power, as well.
F3 extinguishers are rated for Class A and B fires, which is the same as AFFF. They can handle solid fuel fires and liquid fires with the exact same effectiveness as the old foams. The only difference is that fluorine-free foam extinguishers are generally (but not strictly) more expensive than traditional foams. This is just the way it is. We currently sell the PFAS foam extinguishers because they’re still completely legal, cheaper than fluorine-free foams, and are still preferred by extinguisher technicians (except those trying to scare you into giving them more money by telling you foams are banned). However, if you have any concerns regarding their contents, then you’ll receive no judgment from us if you opt for the fluorine-free options.
Ultimately, traditional foam extinguishers will be banned and phased out of service and sale over the next few years. But as it stands, a fire is far more harmful than this foam. As long as you use it sensibly, there is nothing unsafe or illegal about owning an AFFF foam fire extinguisher. If you are having regular, annual servicing checks from a qualified technician (which you should be), your old foam extinguisher will be kept in working order and you will have an informed notice from your technician when the time comes to replace it, most likely with a fluorine-free foam extinguisher.
Why Did Extinguishers Use Foam in the First Place?
Ah, a bit of history to close this out. Basically, the foam that fire extinguishers use is an additive to the classic water ones. It proved an effective enhancement to the firefighting capabilities of water. This mainly came in the form of it being a viable way to extinguish flammable liquid fires. This role is spoilt for choice nowadays, primarily due to the prevalence of ABC powder fire extinguishers. These are impressively versatile, being able to handle most common fire types by themselves, but they aren’t without flaw.
Powder extinguishers are difficult to justify using indoors, particularly in poorly ventilated or otherwise enclosed areas. The powder can sit in the air, reducing visibility in the event of an evacuation, and is simply harmful on contact with the skin and when inhaled. While foam extinguishers are not the best for indoor use either, they pose less of a direct hazard due to not producing vapours or any kind of airborne by-product. But, ultimately, fluorine-free foam is the safest extinguishant for handling liquid fires indoors.
So, I hope I answered all of the core questions surrounding this topic, and that you feel more at ease with any decisions you might be looking to make regarding the purchase of foam fire extinguishers. If you have any more questions or lingering concerns, feel free to contact us, and we’ll be happy to chat. But if you feel ready to shop, then you can browse our range of foam fire extinguishers, including fluorine-free options, here. And if that’s still not enough, then check out this insightful video from our very own managing director, below.
