The use of firefighting foam to protect people and assets is not new. However, the concentrates available today require specific management to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, while also maximising the effectiveness of their application.

Over the past decade and especially in the last five years, there has been growing discussion around the transition away from Fluorinated foams (including FP, FFFP, AFFF) to non-fluorinated firefighting foam, also known as Fluorine-Free Foam (F3).

The Fluorinated foam to F3 transition is happening, and the complexities involved are being presented to Incos Engineering Pty Ltd with increasing frequency. Working with existing assets and equipment to transition to products they were never designed to proportion or apply can be both rewarding and challenging (sometimes the foam simply doesn’t work).

Our mission is to balance environmental responsibility with system performance. Not all F3 products will work for special hazards, but we’ve identified some locally supported options that do work—when the system is redesigned to accommodate the key differences between F3 and Fluorinated foam.

Incos Engineering Pty Ltd provides end-to-end guidance, including product and equipment testing, so you can make an informed decision when considering a switch to F3.

The photos below show when F3 works, it works brilliantly. But I have also included a final photo to highlight a test where the product didn’t quite meet expectations, transparency is key.