b'ENVIRONMENTALAPF33Take how the vehicles were cleaned, forGoing forward, NoFoam will test foam proportioning equipment example. Two technicians from ECT2 spenton the airports ARFF Striker vehicle, while the E-One Titan and several days using a specialty cleaningrapid intervention vehicle have their own internal systems for FAA solution to remove as much PFAS massannual inspections. The company provides test equipment that as possible from the trucks and readyallows airport personnel to test ARFF vehicles foam proportioning them for the new foam. David Kempisty,equipment on a regular basis using water instead of discharging the companys director of Emergingfoam. As Holm explains, Naples Airport used our surrogate test Contaminants, explains that the solution isDAVE KEMPISTY liquid to verify and document that their trucks were proportioning effective because it has better performancecorrectly with the higher viscosity F3 [fluorine-free foam], after characteristics than conventional tap water. Techniciansmaking the necessary proportioner adjustments to match the new further optimized the cleaning process by setting temperatureshigher viscosity foam.strategically and flushing the trucks for varying periods of time.Then, NoFoam conducted testing andChangeover Challengesperformed simulated runs using a surrogateParticipants describe the transition to fluorine-free foam at APF as test liquid to ensure that the trucks pumpingsmooth but inherently complex.systems were properly proportioning foamFor ECT2, the biggest challenge was and water. As Kaare Holm, co-founderidentifying and plugging drain ports under of NoFoam, explains, For the transitionthe vehicles. We had technicians from the from AFFF to F3 [fluorine-free foam], theretruck manufacturer (E-One) on site to witness is a special FAA emphasis on conductingKAARE HOLM the process, and even they had a hard an output-based discharge test of thetime identifying the sources of some drips proportioning system. This was done with a matching surrogateand drops within the truck, says Patrick test liquid in lieu of discharging actual foam concentrate to makeMcKeown, business development managerPATRICK McKEOWNsure that the truck will perform correctly with the new foam.for ECT2. This just goes to show how After testing confirmed successful proportioning, airport ARFFcomplex these vehicles are and the challenge associated with personnel cleaned the trucks and refilled the tanks with newcleaning them. fluorine-free foam, ECOPOL A3+ MIL SPEC from BIOEX. With the support of certified mechanics from the city of Naples, they then recertified the two ARFF trucks. Finally, the airports stock of foam was replaced with TEXASECOPOL. The $35,000 MOLECULARspent on new, more environmentallyfriendly foam is included in the overall $170,000 project price. VLS/Texas Molecular removed the AFFF-tainted waste that was produced during the cleaning and changeover process. Frank Marine, PFAS business development manager for Texas Molecular, reportsFRANK MARINEthat roughly 1,100 gallons of AFFF, the same amount of rinse water and one 55-gallon drum of impacted solid debris were securely transferred according to local, state and federal environmental regulations.In compliance with EPA guidelines, the company hauled the waste products to its hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal facility in Texas, where they were managed as if hazardous. Liquids were injected into deep underground EPA-permitted hazardous water wells. AirportImprovement.comNovember | December 2024'