The Problem:
For decades, foam-based fire extinguishers have been trusted for fighting flammable liquid and mixed fuel combustible fires. But in recent years, mounting legislation and liability concerns surrounding PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have dramatically reduced the number of foam extinguishers available on the market.
These so-called “forever chemicals” have been linked to environmental and health risks, prompting bans, recalls, and the phase-out of many legacy foams. The result has been a significant gap in available options for organizations that rely on foam for high-risk fire protection.
For some time, there was no true fluorine free replacement—leaving building owners, safety managers, fire departments, and fire protection professionals searching for a viable fluorine-free alternative that could meet performance and certification standards.
The Solution: The First UL-Listed PFAS/PFOS-Free Foam Extinguisher
That alternative now exists. A new generation of foam extinguishers has arrived—one that delivers proven performance without PFAS or PFOS.
RelyFx has introduced the first explicitly fluorine-free and UL-listed foam extinguisher:
The P2.5SFFF Hand Portable Synthetic Fluorine-Free Foam Fire Extinguisher.
What Sets It Apart
- UL Listing: Previously fluorine free options did not have the important UL listing. Independently verified compliance with recognized performance, quality, and safety standards.
- No PFAS / PFOS: Completely fluorine-free formulation that eliminates environmental and legal liabilities.
- Easy Replacement: Operational methods are nearly identical to legacy foam extinguishers, requiring only minor adjustments for performance differences.
Why Foam Still Matters
Foam extinguishers remain essential in environments where flammable liquids or mixed fuel fires are a risk—situations that other extinguishing agents like water, ABC dry chemical, or carbon dioxide may not effectively control.
- Class A hazards: ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and textiles. Foam acts as a wetting agent or “foam-wetted” water to suppress these fires.
- Class B hazards: flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline, oil, solvents, and fuels. Foam is preferred in garages, vehicle accidents, fuel handling areas, laboratories, hangars, and industrial facilities.
- Other settings: aircraft fuel areas, loading docks, tank farms, and chemical plants.
Foam extinguishers are valued because they suppress fire and prevent re-ignition by covering the fuel surface with a stable foam blanket.
A Safer Future for Fire Protection
In the last couple of years, the fire protection industry faced a difficult challenge. As legislation tightened and liability concerns around PFAS and PFOS grew, manufacturers began phasing out traditional foam agents — yet there was no effective fluorine-free alternative. At the same time, foam remained and still remains the best agent for smaller flammable liquid fires, but the options were disappearing.
That gap has now been addressed. The introduction of a UL-listed PFAS/PFOS-free foam extinguisher shows that the industry identified the issue and responded to fill a need. This development provides a practical, certified alternative for fire protection professionals.
We expect other manufacturers to follow suit — developing their own fluorine-free foam extinguishers that meet performance and listing requirements. Together, these advances mark meaningful progress toward a safer and more sustainable future for fire suppression technology.
Sources:
RelyFx P2.5SFFF Fluorine-Free Foam Extinguisher
U.S. Fire Administration – Firefighting Foams: PFAS vs. Fluorine-Free Foams
