AFFF Portable Fire Extinguishers – do not buy or use

By Paul Turner, National Manager Response Capability | Published: 13/01/2021 | Operational | National

Fire and Emergency only buys Dry Powder and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers. We do not use or refill portable extinguishers containing Class B foam (usually AFFF) and these are not part of our standard equipment,” says Paul Turner, National Manager Response Capability.

“The Firefighting Chemicals Group Standard (2017) has been amended recently which means that PFAS-based portable fire extinguishers need to be withdrawn from service and disposed of.

“We are working with an environmental waste disposal company to make sure that this process complies with the Group Standard’s requirements.”

Paul says the instructions to not use these portable fire extinguishers and why were outlined in National Notice 075/2020 published on 17 November 2020.

If your station has any fire extinguishers with a blue band like the one in the photo or are blue all over, please contact your Regional Equipment and Logistics Coordinator or Victor Lenting (victor.lenting@fireandemergency.nz) or Myrie Randell (myrie.randell@fireandemergency.nz).