Eliminating PFAS in Industry and Fire Protection Systems: Technical Considerations for Effective Action
Removing PFAS from industrial equipment requires more than simply draining it and carrying out conventional cleaning. The effectiveness of the process depends on the system’s design, the materials from which it is constructed, its operational history, and the conditions available during the intervention.
An accessible storage tank does not present the same challenges as an extensive pipework network incorporating pumps, valves, instrumentation and branch lines. For this reason, the procedure must be tailored to each installation and defined on the basis of technical criteria.
1. Circuit Geometry and Configuration
The geometry of the system determines whether the cleaning solution can reach all surfaces and circulate at the required flow rate, temperature and contact time. Before carrying out the intervention, it is advisable to assess:
- Total system volume.
- Length and diameter of the pipework.
- Elbows, reducers and changes in cross-section.
- Blind branches or areas with low circulation.
- Tank bottoms.
- Supply, return, drainage and venting points.
- Possibility of establishing a closed-loop circuit.
Drawings and isometric diagrams make it possible to anticipate the fluid path, although they should be checked against the installation’s actual configuration where undocumented modifications may have been made.
2. Dead Legs and Residual Volumes
A system may retain product even after liquid has ceased to discharge. Residues trapped in valves, pumps, instruments, hoses or closed branches may be reintroduced during treatment or subsequently contaminate the replacement product.
- Non-drainable tank bottoms.
- Pump casings.
- Valves and actuators.
- Instrumentation connections.
- Branches with no circulation.
- Hoses and flexible connections.
Depending on the system design, some components may need to be isolated, dismantled or treated separately.
3. Materials and Chemical Compatibility
The cleaning solution must be compatible with every component of the system, not just the primary material of the tank or pipework. A single installation may incorporate stainless steel, carbon steel, plastics, seals, elastomers, protective coatings and sensitive instrumentation.
- Metallic and plastic materials.
- Gaskets, seals and elastomers.
- Internal coatings.
- Pumps and instruments.
- Maximum permissible temperatures.
- Compatibility with the subsequent product.
The condition of the surfaces also has an impact. Corrosion, surface roughness or the presence of accumulated deposits may hinder the process and make it necessary to adjust the treatment strategy.
Operating Variables
PFAS removal does not depend solely on the chemical product used. The outcome is also influenced by process variables:
- Solution concentration.
- Operating temperature.
- Contact time.
- Flow rate and circulation velocity.
- Level of turbulence.
- Number of cycles.
Insufficient circulation may leave some areas untreated, while excessively aggressive conditions may affect seals, coatings or ancillary components. In extensive networks, it may be advisable to divide the installation into separate sections.
5. Prevention of Cross-Contamination
Pumps, hoses, auxiliary tanks and connections must be managed in a controlled manner. Contaminated auxiliary equipment may reintroduce PFAS into equipment that has already been treated or transfer them to other areas of the plant.
- Do not share auxiliary equipment between circuits without verifying its condition.
- Do not mix return flows from different areas.
- Do not reuse pumps or hoses without prior inspection.
- Do not introduce the new product before completing the verification process.
- Do not transfer waste to equipment that was not initially affected.
6. Certification in Accordance with Regulation (EU) 2025/1988
The procedure must be certified through specific PFAS analysis conducted by an external laboratory, with reference to Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 of 2 October 2025. This Regulation amends Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation with regard to PFAS present in firefighting foams.
- Representative sampling of the fluorine-free foam introduced after cleaning.
- Analysis of the sum of all PFAS by a competent external laboratory.
- Traceability of the samples, the treated equipment and the product loaded.
- Acceptance criterion: a concentration below 50 mg/L for the sum of all PFAS, equivalent to approximately 50 ppm in an aqueous matrix.
- Issuance of the analytical report and the decontamination certificate associated with the treated equipment.
The regulatory limit applies to fluorine-free firefighting foams from equipment cleaned in accordance with the best available techniques, with the exception of portable fire extinguishers. Certification must confirm compliance before the system is placed into full service.
7. Information Required to Plan the Intervention
The scope of the intervention can be defined more accurately when more information about the installation is available:
- Drawings and isometric diagrams.
- Equipment and circuit volumes.
- Construction materials.
- History of products used.
- Pressure and temperature limits.
- Connection points.
- Shutdown window.
- Commissioning conditions.
Where this information is incomplete, a preliminary technical inspection can confirm the system’s actual configuration and reduce uncertainty.
A Bespoke Solution for Each Installation
Removing PFAS from industrial facilities and fire protection systems requires the process to be adapted to the system geometry, materials, dead legs, accessibility and production constraints. Not all systems can be treated using a standard procedure.
Lagupres assesses these factors to define the appropriate circulation conditions, auxiliary equipment and certification requirements in accordance with the regulatory and technical requirements applicable to each project.