Extinguishing water and sprinkler water purification, Emden

An automotive supplier from Emden was planning the conversion of its production and the evacuation of three large production and storage halls. The installed sprinkler and extinguishing water systems, in which PFAS-based fire extinguishing foams were stored and used in the pipe network for maintenance purposes, were also to be cleaned and converted to foam-free extinguishing systems. This step was necessary due to the ban introduced in the EU on certain fire extinguishing foams containing PFAS. Initially, the extinguishing systems were temporarily shut down. The storage containers with the PFAS-containing extinguishing foams were pumped out, cleaned and then disposed of properly. The pumped-out foam concentrate was safely packaged. Proper disposal is planned as the next step. The sprinkler lines were thoroughly rinsed several times with drinking water in sections. The rinsing water was purified using a water purification system from ZÜBLIN Umwelttechnik until all PFAS concentrations were well below the limits set by the authorities. The cleaning performance was regularly checked and verified to the authorities. Finally, the cleaning and conversion of the fire protection systems to a foam-free solution was successfully completed. The flushing and conversion work on the extinguishing systems was carried out together with a specialist company for fire protection and extinguishing systems.

Special features

• Disposal of 6,000 liters of PFAS-containing firefighting foam concentrate
• PFAS concentrations in the sprinkler pipe network up to 30 µg/l total PFAS)

Scope of services

• Emptying, cleaning and disposal of three foam concentrate storage containers
• Packaging and disposal of the pumped-out PFAS-containing foam concentrate
• Provision of a PFAS Compact water purification system for the rinsing water from cleaning the sprinkler pipes