Madison Fire Makes Switch To PFAS-free Foam

The Madison Fire Department has acquired and placed into service a brand of firefighting foam shown to be PFAS-free, according to manufacturer claims and an independent test of the product.

Effective December 13, 2019, all Madison Fire Department rigs were equipped with National Foam brand’s Knockdown Class A Foam Concentrate. This foam was independently tested by the University of Notre Dame to verify the fluorine levels in the product. Results of the test showed fluorine levels at 1 ppm with a margin of error of 6 ppm. Fluorinated firefighting foam products typically contain around 5,000-7,000 ppm total fluorine.

Knockdown Class A Foam Concentrate was chosen following internal functional testing of multiple products marketed as PFAS-free. In addition to its extremely low concentration of fluorine, it was selected by the Madison Fire Department for its ability to perform effectively in a wide range of temperatures, which is especially important during Wisconsin’s frigid winter months.

The Madison Fire Department has contracted with a licensed disposal company to responsibly dispose of the fluorinated foam that was previously used by the department. This switch allows the Madison Fire Department to effectively fight fires while potentially reducing the risk of environmental contamination brought forth by PFAS.

The Madison Fire Department shares the community’s concerns about the health and cleanliness of our environment. We recognize that the test results cited above are according to today’s testing standards. We will continue to monitor this product as industry standards change and testing methods evolve.