The Innovator – Perimeter Solutions

September 11, 2024

Rebecca Spayne of Fire Buyer speaks with Craig McDonnell, Vice President of the Americas Fire Suppression Business at Perimeter Solutions

The firefighting industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the need for more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. At the forefront of this shift is Perimeter Solutions, a company with over 60 years of experience in developing fire retardants, firefighting foams, and related products. One of their standout innovations is the Solberg line of fluorine-free foams, designed to meet rigorous environmental standards without compromising on performance.

had the opportunity to sit down with Craig McDonnell, Vice President of the Americas Fire Suppression Business at Perimeter Solutions. Craig brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, having been with the company since 2014. His insights into the development, challenges, and future of fluorine-free foams are invaluable for understanding the current trends and future directions in firefighting technology.

In this exclusive interview, Craig discusses the journey Perimeter Solutions has taken towards developing fluorine-free foams, the technical hurdles they have overcome, and the rigorous standards these new products meet. He also sheds light on the importance of third-party approvals, the global reach of different standards, and how Perimeter Solutions stays at the forefront of regulatory changes. Additionally, Craig addresses the industry’s initial hesitations towards new technologies and how they ensure firefighters are confident in using these innovative products.

Join us as we delve into the advancements and future prospects of fluorine-free firefighting foams with one of the industry’s leading experts. This conversation is essential for anyone interested in the sustainability and efficacy of modern firefighting solutions.

Before we start, could you introduce yourself and give us insight into who Perimeter Solutions are?

I’m Craig McDonnell. I’ve been with Perimeter Solutions since 2014. I’m the Vice President of the Americas Fire Suppression Business. Perimeter Solutions is a manufacturer of fire retardants, firefighting foams, firefighting foam hardware, gels, and various fire extinguishing additives. We’ve been around for over 60 years and are probably most well-known for our flagship brand, Phos-Chek. We also have other brands like Oxychemia in Europe, Solberg, which is our fluorine-free brand, and Fire-Trol. So, we have multiple brands and have been on the cutting edge of new product development for our industry.

And you mentioned Solberg, your fluorine-free brand. What instigated this journey into fluorine-free foams? What inspired this transition?

This transition has been in the works for over 20 years. The legacy foams contained persistent molecules, which has been the driving force for developing fluorine-free foams. These molecules, often referred to as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), have raised environmental and health concerns due to their persistence in the environment. The goal is to create more sustainable solutions that still provide excellent fire protection without the long-term environmental impact.

What have been the biggest challenges in creating these new fluorine-free foams?

The legacy foams had components that provided resistance to fuel pickup and used a different mechanism for extinguishment by forming an aqueous film on the fuel’s surface. This film helped to quickly extinguish the fire and prevent reignition. The new generation of foams, however, separates the fuel from the air with a foam blanket, which is more rigid and less mobile. The challenge has been to develop a foam that maintains a long-lasting blanket, can move around obstructions in a fire scenario, and still offers effective fire protection. Additionally, ensuring that these new foams perform as well as or better than their fluorinated counterparts under various fire conditions has been a significant hurdle.

The fire industry is notoriously slow to adopt new technologies due to the nature of the industry. How have you addressed the challenges of making these foams a necessity and training firefighters to use them confidently?

One of the key elements is designing these foams to meet rigorous third-party approvals, including the US MIL Spec 32725 for fluorine-free foams and the US Forest Service standards for our retardants and Class A foams. We also have approvals from Underwriters Laboratory, Factory Mutual, and specific segments like the International Civil Aviation Organization. These rigorous standards prove the efficacy of our foams. To build confidence, we conduct extensive training programs, demonstrations, and field tests with fire departments and other stakeholders. This hands-on experience helps firefighters understand how the new foams work and ensures they feel comfortable using them in real-world scenarios.

To read the full article, see our last issue here.