Jan Knappert: Fluorine-free Foams and the Environment

Published: 10 November, 2009

As a major supplier to German municipal and industrial fire brigades, we are constantly asked to provide solutions for new risks and to satisfy the strict requirements of the German environmental protection agency (UBA). The majority of municipal fire brigades in Germany use multipurpose detergent-based foam which provides good Class A and small Class B fire protection capabilities. However, with the increasing calls for bio-fuels, these foams are ineffective when used on fuel spills of ethanol-enriched petrol and diesel following a vehicle accident. Brigades are having to look at all aspects of firefighting foam usage and disposal of fire-water runoff.

This has resulted in a culture change within the Fire Service and individual brigades are investigating: (i) the types of foam they have in stock; (ii) its effectiveness on Class A and Class B fires; (iii) ease of cleanup post-discharge; (iv) their historical use of foams; and (v) environmental data on COD and BOD.

In line with these efforts, we have recently launched a new environmentally friendly fluorinefree alochol-resistant foam, which is ideal for fire brigades increasingly dealing with conventional and ethanol-enhamced fuel incidents.

About the speaker:

International Sales Director - Dr Sthamer Hamburg, since November 2006, appointed to grow the international business of the company. Jan has 25 years experience in the Fire Industry, with companies such as Gent, Kidde, Preussag Minmax and Tyco, designing products through to systems and managing sales and engneering teams.

File: Click here to download in PDF format. (645k)

Bookmark this

The London Fire Brigade switches its foam

For the next 2.5 years the LFB will be using fire fighting and training foam from Auxquimia.
Firefighters urge caution during ‘severe cold weather’
‘We’ve recently heard of people putting heaters and hairdryers in their beds to stay warm and this is a disaster waiting to happen” – Dave Brown, Assistant Commissioner for Operations and Mobilising, London Fire Brigade.
Angus Fire – global innovation in fire fighting
Angus Fire is a global leader in fire fighting technology with a long history of pioneering innovation. The company occupies a unique world position in the development and manufacture of fire hose, foam concentrates and fire fighting equipment.
Fike hosts cub scouts for fire safety demonstration
A leader in industrial and explosion protection safety solutions recently hosted a group of scouts for fire and explosion safety demonstrations.
Going underground
Industrial Fire Journal's Editor reports on a one-day seminar on the benefits of a systematic approach to fire safety on underground railways, as organised by London Underground, October 2011.

Sign Up

For the latest news and updates from Hemmingfire.

Company Profiles

Angus Fire – global innovation in fire fighting

Angus Fire is a global leader in fire fighting technology with a long history of pioneering innovation. The company occupies a unique world position in the development and manufacture of fire hose, foam concentrates and fire fighting equipment.

Holmatro - Mastering Power

Holmatro Rescue Equipment develops, manufactures, sells and services high-pressure hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical rescue equipment. With a comprehensive dealer network on all continents, manufacturing plants in the Netherlands (head office) and USA, and sales offices in China and UK, we supply our products and services to fire and rescue organizations all over the world.

Dr Sthamer - Hamburg: foam fights fire

Dr Sthamer – Hamburg, has been developing and manufacturing state-of-the art firefighting foams since the 1920’s. Having been founded in 1886 by Dr Richard Sthamer, we are still proudly owned and managed by the Sthamer family. Our base is still at the original site where we started in, on the banks of the Bille River in Hamburg Germany.