PFAS Bans, A Changing Legal Landscape & An Eco-Friendly Alternative: What You Need to Know

PFAS is a hot topic right now and the legal landscape surrounding PFAS fire extinguishers is constantly evolving, making understanding the legal ramifications difficult at the best of times. But with recent legislation coming into effect, many people feel confused and unsure if they are still compliant. That’s why we have put together some answers to our most frequently asked questions on this topic.

In this article we will cover:

• What is PFAS?
• What’s the problem with PFAS?
• How has legislation changed?
• Are foam fire extinguishers banned?
• Are more bans on the horizon?
• Should I switch to PFAS free?

What is PFAS?

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, is a group of over 10,000 synthetic, man-made chemicals that have been used in a huge range of consumer products since the 1950s.

PFAS is truly everywhere, being used in non-stick frying pans, microwaveable popcorn bags & food packaging, rinse aid, skin cream & cosmetics, baking equipment, outdoor clothing, waterproof jackets and firefighting foams.

What’s the problem with PFAS?

The recent introduction of laws across the globe banning certain PFAS chemicals, with proposals for further bans has got a lot of people wondering… “What is so bad about PFAS?”

Well, there are a few issues with PFAS that make it especially problematic.

1. PFAS is everywhere. Not only is it in many of the products we use every day but PFAS has been found at the heights of Mt. Everest, the depths of the deep sea and even as far away as Antarctica.
2. It takes a very long time to degrade. Some PFAS chemicals have been found to take over 1,000 years to degrade, earning PFAS the nickname of ‘forever chemicals’. This presents a serious problem. Unlike some chemicals, once PFAS is released into the environment, it will be there for hundreds of years to come.
3. PFAS has been found to be harmful to the environment, especially when it leaches into ground water. It has been linked to a range of health conditions in animals. Some of the risks posed to wildlife include impacted blood and liver function, neurological damage and fertility and developmental issues. The Environmental Working Group used 125 peer reviewed studies to create an interactive map showcasing the extent of the spread of PFAS chemicals to wildlife across the world and the danger it poses to many species, you can find the map here to learn more.
4. PFAS has also been found to be harmful to people’s health. The European Environment Agency has linked exposure to PFAS to liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and several types of cancer. The American Cancer Society has also outlined exposure to PFOA specifically as increasing the risk of testicular cancer and kidney cancer.

The issues outlined above are exactly the reason that the use of PFAS is being banned in a range of industries.

How has legislation changed?

So, you may now be asking yourself “How does all of this impact the fire industry?”. Let’s break down the changes in legislation and what they might mean for you.

First, we must acknowledge that it can be difficult to fully understand which regulations impact the UK as some changes to EU policy are applicable to the UK, while others are not. As if parsing through the legal minutiae of safety regulations wasn’t hard enough already!

There are two core regulations that effect safety legislation in the EU, EU POPs Regulations and EU Reach Regulations. EU POPs Regulations are EU law that the UK has retained following Brexit, meaning changes in these regulations apply to the UK. Meanwhile EU REACH Regulations are not directly applicable to the UK, as following Brexit we have our own version called UK REACH, operated by the Health and Safety Executive.

The key thing to understand is that recently EU POPs Regulations changed to include a ban of the use of the PFAS chemical PFOA in firefighting foams. As this is an EU POPs Regulation, it does affect us here in the UK. This ban came into effect in the UK on 4th July 2025.

Are foam fire extinguishers banned?

The recent changes in regulations surrounding the use of PFOA in foam firefighting equipment does impact the legal use of foam fire extinguishers, however, a common misconception is that all foam fire extinguishers have been banned, which is not the case.

Some foam fire extinguishers do contain PFOA, this would be C8 Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) fire extinguishers. Due to these containing harmful PFOA chemicals, the use of C8 AFFF fire extinguishers has been banned. C6 AFFF fire extinguishers do contain PFAS chemicals, but they don’t contain PFOA, the chemical banned in the EU & UK. As such, the use of C6 AFFF fire extinguishers is still fully compliant with UK regulations and these foam extinguishers are the most common type that has been used in recent years.

However… Are more bans on the horizon?

While C6 AFFF fire extinguishers are perfectly legal under current regulations, there has been a definite shift in both Europe and the UK towards increasing bans on PFAS chemicals.

France implemented some serious bans on PFAS chemicals when they enacted Law No. 2025-188 (1) on 27th February 2025. This law bans the use of PFAS in certain textiles by January 2026 and phases out the use of PFAS in all textiles by 2030, with the exception of essential PPE. This ban also applies to cosmetics, footwear and waterproofing agents.

On top of this, the European Chemicals Agency has proposed significant changes to EU REACH that would restrict the use of around 10,000 PFAS chemicals. This would ban PFAS firefighting foams in the EU. While these changes are to EU Reach, and as a result do not directly apply to the UK, it is worth noting that DEFRA and the Health and Safety Executive are currently reviewing the use of PFAS chemicals in multiple areas, including in firefighting foams. They are in the public consultation stage, which is set to conclude on 18th February 2026. Not to mention the fact that PFAS chemicals such as PFOS, PFHxS and PFOA have already been banned in the UK.

For this reason, many have speculated that the UK will follow suit, predicting restrictions will be in place by 2026, with a phasing out period that would put bans into full effect by 2030. It is impossible to speak with certainty on what restrictions will be passed into law, but the legal landscape surrounding PFAS in the EU and UK has been observably shifting towards further bans, with more bans on the horizon being quite likely.

Should I switch to PFAS free?

This shifting legal landscape is exactly why many are opting to replace their C6 foam fire extinguishers with PFAS free alternatives. Many see it as great way to futureproof their firefighting equipment, get ahead of potential changes in legislation and avoid hefty disposal costs for their AFFF extinguishers in the future. Aside from this, some businesses decide to opt for PFAS free fire extinguishers because they are more environmentally friendly, less destructive to wildlife and less hazardous to people’s health. This makes them ideal for ethically minded businesses that have commitments to reduce their environmental impact.

It is worth understanding the difference between AFFF fire extinguishers (containing PFAS) and SFFF fire extinguishers (PFAS free alternative) when considering transitioning. AFFF and SFFF extinguishers are both suitable for Class A & B fires but are fundamentally different in the way that they work.

Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) fire extinguishers are named as such because they contain fluorinated surfactants (a subgroup of PFAS chemicals) which reduce the surface and interfacial tension of the foam, enabling it to form an aqueous film on the surface of flammable liquids. This helps better extinguish flammable liquid fires and prevent reignition. Synthetic Fluorine Free Foam (SFFF) fire extinguishers on the other hand do not contain fluorinated surfactants to form this aqueous film and instead solely rely on the foam blanket to be a physical barrier between the fire and fuel & oxygen.

To summarise, SFFF fire extinguishers are not a one to one replacement for AFFF extinguishers and there may be some situations where they will be less effective. However, SFFF fire extinguishers are still very effective fire suppressants and will be more than capable of handling most fire risks, as well as being an eco-friendly alternative, futureproof against potential oncoming PFAS bans.

Conclusion

C6 AFFF extinguishers as of now are still fully compliant and you are well within your rights to keep using them. But at Fire and Safety Centre we recommend a PFAS free alternative because of both the changing legal landscape and because of our core values of caring for both people and the planet.

Interested in transitioning to PFAS free? View our full range of PFAS Free Foam Fire Extinguishers.