New guidance: Categorisation of chemicals with an end use in firefighting

Firefighting chemicals are used to extinguish or reduce the intensity and slow the spread of a fire.

Examples include:

• chemicals in handheld fire extinguishers
• fire-suppression gases
• fire-retarding foams and gels
• chemicals added to water for fighting fires

The way in which chemicals with an end use in firefighting are used can mean their release to the environment is not controlled. As a result, any chemical with an end use in firefighting has a designated kind of release into the environment. 

There may be additional or different requirements when working out your category of introduction, as well as additional record-keeping obligations.

Read our new guidance on how to categorise chemicals with an end use in firefighting