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Can ‘Forever Chemicals’ be Destroyed?

Fire Attack Systems Effective & Environmentally Friendly Fire Fighting Chemicals, Foams, Powders & Foam Inducers

Forever chemicalsWhen it comes to long term toxicity, forever chemicals [PFAS] are in the same category as lead, which is why the discovery of a new process of elimination is turning heads. The process causes certain PFAS to fall apart, resulting in benign end products. PFAS are a range of chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s, and are very difficult to get rid of. They cannot be eaten by bacteria, incinerated with fire or diluted by water. Even if buried underground they will leach into the soil, creating problems for future generations.

Now, Northwestern University chemists have done what seemed impossible, and developed a method of dispensing with PFAS. The method uses common reagents that work in low temperatures and are inexpensive. A simple technique which causes two of the major classes of PFAS compounds to fall apart. The process results in harmless end products with no risk to humans, animals or the environment.

Even the tiniest amount of PFAS exposure can have negative health effects, and as the chemical does not break down, a solution is definitely needed. The research team found a weakness in the PFAS compounds that could be its downfall. PFAS contains a long tail of unyielding carbon-fluorine bonds, at one end of the molecule, there is a charged group that frequently contains charged oxygen atoms. This head group was heated in dimethyl sulfoxide with common reagent sodium hydroxide. The process decapitated the head group, leaving behind a reactive tail.

This caused a cluster of reactions, including spitting out fluorine atoms to form fluoride, which is the safest form of fluorine. The discovery has enabled a deeper understanding of PFAS and opened up ways to tackle it. Although this is an exciting breakthrough, it deals with a limited number of compounds and there are more than 12,000 others.

 

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Take a Proactive Approach to Fire Safety

Fire Attack Systems Effective & Environmentally Friendly Fire Fighting Chemicals, Foams, Powders & Foam Inducers

BatteriesDuring the warmer months there is always an increased risk of fire in many areas, including waste and recycling plants. This is due to the presence of things like batteries in waste, vehicles and machinery. Batteries are found more often in waste streams these days, as they are frequently included in children’s toys and mobile phones. In fact they are now more prevalent than ever and come in a variety of sizes, shapes and specifications.

Thermal runaway is a risk where batteries are concerned, causing the battery to overheat and pose a fire risk. Excess heat is generated when batteries fail, malfunction, become damaged, are overcharged or have too much voltage. They can then combust and emit toxic gases or sometimes cause explosions. When fires on waste sites have been looked into, it has become obvious that batteries are not being disposed of in the correct way. They are frequently being thrown into the general waste as opposed to being recycled.

This is a volatile situation as batteries are then often damaged by machinery and surrounded by combustible materials. Batteries ending up at general waste facilities is becoming a major headache for managers etc. Operational downtime due to fire can cripple a waste or recycling business. Even if it’s a minor fire, equipment etc may be damaged, and usually the site must be closed while investigations and risk assessments take place.

There was a fire of this type at a recycling site in the UK in 2021, as a result of a battery being present. A lack of fire protection at the site meant that the fire was able to spread quickly leading to whole-site loss. The facility had to be completely rebuilt, costing several million euros. There was also the cost of operational downtime, reputational damage and any fines or sanctions enforced by the Environment Agency (EA). A simple fire protection system could have averted the situation for a fraction of the expense.

 

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The Changing Face of Arctic Wildfires

Fire Attack Systems, Effective Fire Fighting Chemicals, Foams, Powders, Foam Inducers, Environmentally Friendly

Arctic WildfiresWildfires are becoming more of a problem than ever before, and experts have noticed worrying changes in the way they behave. In the last few years there have been reports about fires, from the unusual setting of the Arctic. Although fires burning in the permafrost of this region are not uncommon, their recent behaviour is alarming. Nicknamed ‘Zombie Fires’, these blazes are now burning areas of fire-resistant vegetation. International fire scientists warn that this has ‘strong consequences for the global climate’.

Apparently the 2020 Arctic wildfire season arrived about two months earlier than normal, and its scope was unprecedented. The vast scale of the fires was commented on by Dr. Merritt Turetsky, a permafrost ecologist at the University of Colorado Boulder. He said, “There are other trends we noticed in the satellite data that tell us how the Arctic fire regime is changing and what this spells for our climate future”.

Two new features of these Arctic zombie fires were identified, firstly, they saw much larger areas of holdover [or zombie] fires. These are fires from the previous season which have remained ignited and continued smouldering. This occurs over the winter in carbon rich peat which then reignites once the weather warms up again. The second feature of these devastating fires is the new occurrence of the problem in fire resistant landscapes. This is thought to be yet another consequence of global warming, which many fire fighting specialists are helping to tackle.

Companies such as the Laboratory of Expertise, Innovation & Analysis [LEIA] provide an innovative solution to all kinds of fires. They are based in the UK and are dedicated to developing fire fighting techniques, chemistry and equipment. Their team work alongside the fire fighting sector to test and analyse chemicals and equipment They also provide a vast amount of informed advice on all aspects of fire fighting chemicals, equipment and delivery. Their client base covers manufacturers in places like Europe, North Africa and Asia.

 

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Tackling Wildfires in the UK

Fire Attack Systems Effective & Environmentally Friendly Fire Fighting Chemicals, Foams, Powders & Foam Inducers

Fire Attack SystemsMany locations across the US experience catastrophic wildfires, which devastate the land, animal life and those living in the area. Wildfires are also a big problem throughout the rest of the world including the UK. Veteran firefighter Shaun Walton has written a piece for the International Association of Wildland Fire, on his 30 years as a firefighter. The fascinating article talks about the difficulties of tackling fire many years ago without the advanced technology used today. Working in and around Greater Manchester, a varied knowledge of different types of fire was required. This is because the environment consisted of densely populated residential, commercial and industrial areas surrounded by large expanses of environmentally protected rural moorland.

Shaun, completed his training with Greater Manchester County Fire & Rescue Service (FRS) in North West England. In three decades, he has seen an increase in the scale and frequency of wildfires in the UK, and expects the situation to get worse. He believes the key to reducing these instances, lies in studying local, national and international wildfire solutions. A level of success in fire prevention has been gained globally by looking at fire weather prediction systems, pro-active prescribed burning and joint operational response.

The descriptive terms have changed over the years in line with the increased severity and destruction of wildfires too. Once widely labelled ‘moorland, forest or grass fires’, these fires are now known in the UK as wildfires or wildland fires. In those earlier years things were made more difficult by a lack of IT communication, as there was no access to mobiles, internet etc. The pooling of knowledge between services and sharing information about fire behaviour in recent years has been very effective.

The introduction of ground breaking products such as Fire Attack Systems [FAS], manufactured by specialists ABC Macintosh have also had a great impact. These environmentally friendly systems deliver high pressure foam and water for an exceptional solution. Read more about these systems here.

 

 

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Advanced Environmentally Friendly Fire Attack Systems

Fire Attack Systems Effective & Environmentally Friendly Fire Fighting Chemicals, Foams, Powders & Foam Inducers

 

Fire Attack SystemsAdvances in fire fighting technology are surpassing all expectations, and smart technologies and ground breaking chemicals are increasingly appearing. Even just a decade ago, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and mixed reality could not have been imagined. Other innovations are also being introduced, such as big data, facial recognition, biotelemetry, 360 video and the use of gaming technology. These developments are helping to streamline planning and methods, which lessen the chance or effects of fire for all concerned.

Water Droplet Reduction

Our associate company 3F report an amazing response to our FAS Fire Attack System, which offers fast and efficient fire extinction. It features a High Pressure output of 100 – 200 bars, significantly reducing the size of water droplets. This means that less water is required to successfully get the job done. A car fire for instance would only take 60 litres of water to extinguish with this system, as opposed to 800 litres of traditional spraying.

FAS is ready to use out of the box, needing no assembly or tools, and just a 200 to 400 litre tank guarantees an operating time of around 20 minutes. The equipment can be easily transported and used in mobile intervention vehicles such as pick-up trucks, motorcycles, quads and fire trucks. These machines are simplicity itself to use too, including swift change over of the various lances supplied.

Environmentally Friendly Products

F.A.S. is designed and manufactured to the most stringent standards with regards effectiveness, waste, cost and importantly environmental impact! Along with a significant reduction in water consumption, the widespread introduction of solvent free foams is a priority. Less pollution and damage to the surrounding area when tackling devastating fires, is an extremely positive step. To find out more about FAS take a look at the 3F website.

 

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Fires Cause Devastation Again

Effective & Environmentally Friendly Fire Fighting Chemicals, Foams, Powders, Foam Inducers, Fire Attack Systems

People across the globe must by now be aware of the terrible situation in parts of South Australia. Bush fires are ravaging this beautiful area, which has been given ‘catastrophic’ or ‘extreme fire danger’ ratings. The worst hit locations have been Kangaroo Island, Mount Lofty Ranges and the lower south-east, rated catastrophic. Extreme fire danger is forecast for lower Eyre Peninsula, the mid-north, and Yorke Peninsula.

A catastrophic, or red rating indicates bushfires which are not survivable, the rating being created in Victoria in 2009 after Black Saturday bushfires claimed 173 lives. These types of situation prompt evacuation orders even before a fire has started. This is because there is no question whether a fire will happen or not, it’s virtually guaranteed. Anybody living in a rural area or small village in the vicinity are advised to move elsewhere temporarily.

This kind of fire affects many other parts of the world also, although thankfully not always on this scale. There were 96 wild fires in the UK in 2019, even before the month of May had arrived. Fires across land and mountains impacted several areas of the UK and parts of Wales for instance were hit hard. The conditions in Wales such as open spaces, and winds are ideal for fires to become a problem.

As most fire fighting teams know all too well, swift, effective action is required in these circumstances. Skill and knowledge go along way towards successfully dealing with these disastrous events, along with the right chemicals to slow and distinguish a major fire.

Specialists ABC Macintosh, manufacture a range of fire extinction chemicals that have been highly successful at bringing devastating fires under control. At the same time as tackling these awful occurrences, the chemicals used are environmentally friendly, and will not cause any negative effects. They have also been developed to provide a cost effective, yet high performance solution to fire management. Let’s hope it isn’t too long before the terrible situation in Australia comes to an end for all concerned.

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A Year of Successes

Environmentally Friendly Fire Fighting Chemicals, Foams, Powders & Fire Attack Systems

2018 has so far been an incredible year for the team here at ABC Macintosh, which is not only good news for us, but also highlights the positive message provided by eco friendly fire fighting products! Innovative chemicals and equipment are having an increasing impact across the globe, and we are extremely proud to be at the heart of that process.

The year got off to an amazing start as our international marketing associates 3F, formed an alliance with major manufacturers of fire fighting systems, Wormald. The Australian company is a leader in fire protection, providing a vast range of systems, equipment and products and catering to many industries. They share our vision of distributing high quality, safe and effective products which will lower risk of or quickly suppress fire.

The year also saw us winning a contract for 3F to supply fire fighting foam used in industrial transformers to Telesto, based in Poland. These specialists in fire fighting technology, also develop and manufacture safe fire fighting products. They are a versatile company, and are also involved in a range of activities including dust control, object decontamination and other applications.

In Singapore we will be supplying the Singapore Navy with fluoro free foam on all of their ships. Marine firefighters on these ships receive rigorous and intensive training, and in the event of a fire onboard, are required to suit up in equipment weighing 9kg in under a minute, negotiate a pilot ladder of between 5 and 9 metres to breach the vessel, then put on the 12kg breathing apparatus. This elite squad needs the highest performance equipment and systems in order to successfully contain and extinguish fires on ships. One of the most hazardous and demanding situations to have to deal with. We also won several lucrative contracts this year to supply foam for oil industry operators PDVSA in South and Central America.

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Exciting New Alliance

Environmentally Friendly Fire Fighting Products, Cost Effective Extinguishers, Foam Suppressants

We can be nothing but impressed and encouraged at the efforts made by manufacturers of fire fighting products to provide a safe environmentally friendly solution these days. Major names within the industry are taking the initiative and working together to bring extremely positive outcomes.

Our worldwide marketing associate company 3F recently announced their new partnership with Wormald, who manufacture sustainable fire fighting products. Already known for its leading technologically advanced foam concentrates, 3F is recognised the world over for their innovative and forward thinking approach.

Wormald is a specialst fire protection company in Australia, operating in almost 40 locations and catering to industries including building and construction, oil and gas, defence, mining, power generation, healthcare, leisure management, corporate, education and IT&T. It is committed to considering people, property and the environment, which is why, in response to concerns about global warming, it is expanding it’s range of Fluorine Free Foam products. Traditional Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFFs) have been identified as having a negative environmental impact due partly to them containing fluorinated surfactants such as PFOA and PFOS.

Solvents used in fire fighting foams, carries a risk of compromised health and can damage the environment due to it’s organic load composition. They have a high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) which could overload water treatment plants. Also in the event that they are released into rivers or lakes they may contribute to asphyxiation resulting in oxygen consumption.

Justin Morris, Technical Director at Wormald explained, “Wormald is pleased to announce it has negotiated an exclusive partnership with 3F, a business that is leading the world in the development of efficient and environmentally friendly fire fighting foams and equipment through its fluorine free and solvent-free formula,”

Wormald will offer their customers 3F’s FREEDOL SF, a fluorine and solvent free foam agent which contains substantially less COD compared to typical AFFF’s. The high performance products are approved by Global-Mark, and comply with Queensland’s Fire Fighting Foam policy announced by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection in 2016, which will require full compliance by no later than July 6, 2019.

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Recent Wildfires

Effective & Environmentally Friendly Fire Fighting Chemicals, Foams, Powders, Foam Inducers, Fire Attack Systems

As major wildfires like that on Saddleworth Moor continue to devastate the land and threaten wildlife, scientists are warning that thanks to climate change, this may become a more frequent event in Northern Europe including the UK and Ireland. Extreme heat and strong winds are the conditions that facilitate this kind of fire, and fire and rescue services, along with the army have had a real struggle to contain this latest blaze.

Professor of fire science at Imperial College London, Guillermo Rein, stated that according to recent studies, “climate change is expected to increase the fire frequency and severity of wildfires in Europe”.

These fires are also believed to exacerbate climate change due to the amount of stored carbon within the UK’s peatlands being released through fire. Since the last ice age, peatlands have helped to cool our climate and retain carbon, fires however could reverse that effect and return the carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

There are other concerns associated with these recent fires too, as raised by Prof Susan Page of the University of Leicester. She said that “For the Saddleworth Moor fire, a further concern is the industrial legacy of this region, with the peat soils containing the fallout from many years of heavy industry in surrounding towns and cities. The peat soils contain this pollution legacy in the form of increased levels of heavy metals, which will also be liberated into the smoke by the fires.”

This fire has covered seven square miles across (18 sq km), with the active “fire front” stretching up to 2.5 miles (4km), and firefighters say it could rage for weeks. People within the region have been advised to stay indoors and keep windows shut, and those attempting to travel to the area to help are being discouraged, as it is too dangerous.

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After a Fire

Fire Damage, Environmentally Friendly Fire Fighting Chemicals, Foams, Powders & Fire Attack Systems

Fire does not discriminate, so wherever you live, how old you are or how much money you have, there is still a chance of a fire occurring in your home or business premises. It is a major fear of many homeowners, although when the thought pops into our heads, we are highly likely to shrug it off and avoid thinking about it. This means that frequently, when a fire does break out, most people are not prepared for the consequent devastation.

Even where nobody has been hurt during the fire, you could be left to cope with emotions like frustration, anger, sadness and despair. You will probably have lost many valuable belongings along with a lifetime of memories. You may be in a bit of as fog, as you wonder what your next step should be. In these situations it’s important to try and focus on what needs doing and how to move forward.

One of the first things to do if you have had a fire in East London, is to contact your insurance company agent, who will advise on how to proceed, and what should be at the top of the list. Such as:-

  • Securing a place to stay either with friends, relatives or temporary accommodation, perhaps in apartments that charge lower rates for people displaced by disaster.
  • Once the affected area is deemed safe by the fire service, taking action to minimise further damage to the property. This may include removing debris and sealing windows and doors by covering with wood, metal etc, plus getting rid of water via a pump.
  • Not turning utilities like gas, electricity on until the fire service tell you otherwise.
  • Making the compulsory lists of items damaged or lost to the fire and their value, it helps if you have evidence such as receipts, digital invoices etc.
  • Hiring the services of a professional to inspect and assess the damage.

While it might seem like the end of the world, fire happens to many people and it is possible to get over it and move on with your life.

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