Since January 1, 2023, the regulations governing PFAS in firefighting foam have been tightened. As a result, many users are switching to PFAS-free firefighting foam. To make this transition possible, existing systems must be drained and thoroughly cleaned. The situation was no different for the Antwerp Fire Department’s foam container. Our cleaning team took on this challenge.

It soon became clear that cleaning this container was no easy task. The container had been emptied two years ago. However, our colleagues still found remnants of a yellow, sticky mass at the bottom. Unfortunately, this mass could no longer be pumped out and therefore had to be removed manually.

After removing the residue, the entire container was thoroughly cleaned with high-pressure water in the first phase. Next, a specially developed adsorbent was used to further clean the tank. This patented liquid contains microscopic particles of adsorbent with very strong adsorption power. This allows the PFAS particles to be easily absorbed.

The system can effortlessly pump and spray the liquid, ensuring that all surfaces are reached. The circulation of the hard adsorbent particles also provides a mildly abrasive effect on the surface of the tanks, helping to remove any remaining PFAS contaminants. Finally, the agent—along with the adsorbed PFAS—is flushed out of the system. Because the formula is concentrated, less rinse water is required. This results in less waste and makes the cleaning process faster, more cost-effective, and more sustainable.

After the treatment, several samples were collected and sent to the laboratory. The results returned from the laboratory were better than expected and were among the best the testing lab has ever seen! The Antwerp Fire Department can now extinguish fires with PFAS-free foam, thanks to the successful intensive cleaning.

Our cleaning colleagues have once again demonstrated that they can handle even the most complex cleaning assignments.