Science Inventory

Remediating and reducing the environmental impact of fire suppression systems contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Perspectives on current guidelines

Citation:

Magnuson, M., T. Sleight, AND W. Harper. Remediating and reducing the environmental impact of fire suppression systems contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Perspectives on current guidelines. Fire Safety Journal. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, 163:104811, (2026). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2026.104811

Impact/Purpose:

PFAS may never be completely removed by rinsing. It may continue to persist after repeated cleaning attempts, and the slow release of PFAS deposits may cause reemergence long after initial cleaning attempts. Continued improvement in analytical detection will reveal lower and lower levels of PFAS even after cleaning previous thought to be exhaustive, until they reach the analytical background levels, and such levels continually improve. This truly makes some PFAS “forever” chemicals, at least until they can no longer be detected at levels associated with health or environmental effects. The literature reviewed in this perspectives manuscript educates and informs facility managers and operators of a comprehensive range of considerations regarding remediation of fire suppression systems. While the available literature is limited, several conclusions and takeaways emerge in several categories for remediating fire suppression systems contaminated with PFAS, whether they be hangars, ARFF firetrucks, or other similar fire suppression systems.

Description:

Tens of thousands of foam-based fire suppression systems, such as firetrucks and hangars, might be contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Governmental policies surround the use of these substances in firefighting foams. This document provides overall technical framework “guidelines” toward remediation of fire suppression systems containing certain PFAS. These PFAS originated from the use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF), which are being replaced with fluorine free foam (F3) alternatives. PFAS remediation from AFFF- contaminated surfaces is a complex and multi-disciplinary technical topic, and this framework is intended to help the reader navigate the many, intertwined details. As practical application of these details can vary greatly from system to system, this document provides discussion of implications of PFAS persistence and a comprehensive range of considerations regarding remediation of fire suppression systems contaminated with PFAS. This document will not–and no document will ever–solve all problems related to PFAS remediation for fire suppression systems, but it can help enable the many thousands of owners of such systems to take substantial steps toward the goal of reducing PFAS contamination in fire suppression systems. This document discusses topics and questions that practitioners frequently have when addressing their specific fire suppression systems.