Issues of Interest - Detailed View
Class A Foam Resolution
Another long running issue seems to have reached a conclusion based on the Chief Officer’s recent official endorsement the Class A Foam working party recommendations for a new Class A Foam – Chemguard First Class. Further information about the decision and transition arrangements will be forwarded to brigades by CFA shortly. VFBV have been actively pushing for an outcome on this issue for some time and are very pleased with the outcome. The UFU have endorsed the use of the new foam subject to them reviewing CFA’s procedures and their members being appropriately trained.
Chemguard First Class, A Class Foam
The change of foam brand was recommended based on testing the CFA foam Working Party supervised evaluating performance and their review of chemical analysis work done by technical experts examining environmental and human health impacts.
Transition arrangements will involve using existing stocks of Forexpan S before changing to Chemguard First Class. Details related to flushing out equipment at the time of the change will be issued during the next few weeks.
Integrated stations are not expected to use Forexpan S as part of the attrition process and it has been agreed with the UFU, that integrated fire station based staff will not use the new product or come in contact with it until appropriately trained and the UFU has reviewed all class a foam related procedures and training (as UFU members have not used Class A foam in the past this process is required to meet OH&S laws and EBA requirements. It is planned to have this process completed by this summer). As these procedures are already known by volunteers who have completed class A foam training they will be free to use the new product on exhaustion of the Forexpan S without any need for retraining as Chemguard First Class is assessed as completely compatible with existing equipment and procedures.
Operating procedures for the new foam are not expected to change from those used now however if the UFU review process identifies a change, this will then go back to the Foam Working party (this then ensures volunteer input) for consideration before being implemented by CFA.
It also needs to be noted no adverse environmental and health impacts associated with Forexpan S were identified via the Working Party’s Assessment process however Chemguard First Class was considered superior in regards to its performance and handling properties as it is not listed as a hazardous substance unlike CFA (and DSE’s) current foams.
Publicity will be released promoting this change in various CFA communication mediums, including the Fireman. These releases will better define the process the CFA went through to make this change and benefits the new foam will deliver. When the new product is released a new MSDS will also need to be released. This will need to be circulated to workplaces storing the foam. The colour of the 20 lt foam drum will also change to clearly identify the new foam from the old (and from class B foam).
Other changes being considered are whether the new foam is ordered direct from the CFA supplier or it is ordered via the CFA State Logistics Centre and whether the State Logistics Centre can coordinate the used drums collection and recycling process (including Class B Foam drums). These matters are still being investigated.
To ensure consistent control of this process in its early stages please ensure all inquiries related to this change are directed back through your Region Office in the first instance.
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