We all recognise that Brussels’ European Parliament is at the heart of EU politics. It’s perhaps no surprise that its airport wanted to be one of the first to comply with a change that is likely to sweep across Europe and beyond by 2025: the latest EU-wide restriction on the use of fluorinated compounds commonly known as PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances). In the airport’s case, this means firefighting foam.
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) set the standards against which all aircraft firefighting foam is benchmarked. The current Level C performance standard, the elimination of C8/C6 formulations and now the proposed complete removal of fluorine means that the bar has been raised even higher for foam manufacturers. But environmental stewardship must be matched to performance. Brussels Airport chose Dr. Sthamer’s vaPUREx LV ICAO C 3% F-5 for that very reason. Extensive testing with their ARFF vehicles demonstrated that Dr. Sthamer would be their first choice.
ICAO level C & the economies of efficiency: less is more
ICAO level C presents both challenges and opportunities in the airport sector. Whilst reducing application rates from 2.5 lpm/m2 to 1.56 lpm/m2 enables cost savings through greater efficiency in media use, it will expose weak manufacturers who were previously relying on overkill from high-volume truck monitors. When Level C is fully embraced, new appraisals can lead to reductions in the size of trucks, foam stock inventories and reviews on the personnel required to achieve the best results.
The potential increase in viscosity of certain PFAS-free products has also become a barrier to transition implementation with regard to the existing proportioning system on the trucks. To be compatible, a replacement foam should have similar low-viscosity characteristics to previous generation AFFFs. Brussels Airport’s ARFF vehicles were calibrated for the existing 3% concentrate; if the replacement foam is too viscous, significant modification work would have to be undertaken to ensure tactical readiness. Needless to say, remedial work was not required with the installation of the Dr. Sthamer vaPUREx LV ICAO C 3% F-5, made without the addition of PFAS.
Training has always been at the heart of aircraft rescue, but the use of foam from an environmental stewardship viewpoint has been highly contentious for many years. Site contamination from the older C8 and C6 fluorinated AFFFs has been widely identified at numerous sites across the world. This means that all run-off must be contained for treatment, which invariably means high temperature incineration. Not only is this environmentally undesirable but also very costly. Dr. Sthamer vaPUREx LV ICAO product range offers easy and complete biodegradability. However, all responsible manufacturers advocate site containment to avoid groundwater contamination.
Ongoing support from your foam supplier cannot be overlooked either. Assistance in proportioning system calibration, regular concentrate performance lab testing, and the all-important emergency replacement stock should all be factored in when deciding on your partner in the fluorine-free foam world. Dr. Sthamer’s Hamburg manufacturing base and their extensive distributor network means that Brussels Airport will be fully supported with replacement product as quickly as needed.
Bram Neele, Area Sales Manager, Dr. Sthamer, commented: ‘The goal of Brussels airport was to transition to a fluorine free foam while reducing the required adjustments to a minimum, ensuring good extinguishing performance and quick foam supplies in case of an incident. Together with our local dealer, we provided technical consultancy in the initial transition phase together with a proven track record of fast and reliable emergency deliveries of fire-fighting foam concentrates.’
Dr. Sthamer and their local distributor supported Brussels airport on the disposal of PFAS-containing foam stocks and the subsequent ARFF vehicle cleaning process. To ensure the correct calibration of the vehicles at Brussels airport, technical specialists tested the foam systems onboard.
Dr. Sthamer’s vaPUREx LV ICAO C 3% F-5, made without the addition of PFAS, was carefully chosen as an environmentally benign alternative for Brussels Airport with the following features:
- A 3% aviation-specific fluorine-free foam concentrate that meets ICAO level C
- A 3% foam concentrate with a low viscosity (≤ 20 mm²/sec at 20°C
- A -5°C freeze protection to secure operation during winter
- A 100% biodegradable foam concentrate.
- A 3% foam concentrate that is fully compatible with both the size of fire truck foam tank and current operational practice.
- A 3% foam concentrate that functions equally well when proportioned and discharged through 450 lpm handlines, 1,500 lpm bumper monitors or 4,500 lpm roof monitors.
- Emergency foam stocks supported by local distributor and factory back-up (24/7 available).
Dr. Sthamer is a long-established foam concentrate supplier with an R & D heritage founded on four generations of technical expertise and innovation. The vaPUREx product Range is made without the addition of PFAS-containing ingredients.
