Firefighting Foam Market

The global market for firefighting foam reached a value of USD 756 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 913 million by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8% from 2023 to 2030. The market is primarily driven by the increasing adoption of environmentally friendly products and the rising number of fire-related accidents resulting in casualties and property damage.

COVID-19 Impact on the global firefighting foam market
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected various aspects of the firefighting foam market's value chain, and its impacts are expected to be visible throughout the forecast period, particularly in 2020. The pandemic's influence can be observed as follows:
The global economy has faced severe disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the oil & gas industry. This sector experienced a sharp decline in revenue during the lockdown period due to the closure of manufacturing facilities, limited supply of raw materials, and a shortage of skilled labor. The production and supply chain activities have encountered obstacles due to the current pandemic situation.

Firefighting Foam Market Dynamics
Driver: Increasing fire-related accidents leading to casualties and property loss
The growing awareness among global firms about the importance of fire protection in their facilities has led to increased installations of fire protection systems. These systems often incorporate automatic suppression systems due to stringent regulations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards are being adopted worldwide, beyond the United States. The NFPA standards educate facility managers, business leaders, and fire professionals on best practices in diverse locations such as the Middle East, China, the European Union (EU), and South America.

Opportunity: Emerging technologies to address current firefighting foam challenges
Since 2002, perfluorinated surfactants used in firefighting foams have been produced using the telomerization process, containing perfluorinated carbon chains ranging from C4 to C24. Recent findings by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggest that some of the higher homologues can break down in the environment, producing substances like PFOA or other PFCAs. Traditional AFFF foam concentrates and older fluoro-protein foams are being replaced by SOLBERG RE-HEALING foam concentrates, which utilize a tested and approved high-performance synthetic foam technology. Additionally, ACAF Systems has partnered with the LASTFIRE group to explore new generation foams and demonstrate their effectiveness in CAF (Compressed Air Foam) applications.

Challenge: Ongoing lawsuits and litigations against major manufacturers
In January 2019, the state of Ohio in the United States filed a lawsuit against several manufacturers, including 3M affiliates, alleging PFOS and PFOA contamination caused by the use of firefighting foams at various locations in Ohio. The lawsuit seeks to recover damages and expenses related to the contamination of natural resources. This case has been transferred to multi-district litigation (MDL) from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

The market is categorized based on type into AFFF, AR-AFFF, PF, synthetic detergent foam, and others. AFFF, widely used in the oil & gas industry, had the highest demand in 2020 due to the industry's high risk of fires caused by flammable liquids.

In terms of end-use industry, the market is classified into oil & gas, aviation, marine, mining, and others. The oil & gas industry, being a major consumer of firefighting foam, accounted for the largest market share in 2020. The demand for firefighting foam in this industry is driven by the high risk of fire accidents and the effectiveness of foam in combating such fires.

Regionally, the APAC region was the largest market for firefighting foam in 2020. The region's countries are actively involved in downstream activities, such as refining and processing, due to the increasing demand for oil & gas. National oil companies in the APAC region are also investing in the growth of the oil & gas industry, contributing to the demand for firefighting foam.

Key players in the firefighting foam market include Johnson Controls (US), Perimeter Solutions (US), Dr. Sthamer (Germany), National Foam (US), Angus Fire (UK), Kerr Fire (UK), Eau&Feu (France), and SFFECO Global (UAE).

This research report classifies the firefighting foam market based on type, end-use, material type, expansion, and region.
Based on Type, the firefighting foam market has been segmented as follows:
• Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
• Alcohol Resistant Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AR-AFFF)
• Protein Foam (PF)
• Synthetic Detergent Foam (Medium and High Expansion)
• Others (Class A foams, fluorine-free foams, and other environmentally safe foam)

Based on Material Type, the firefighting foam market has been segmented as follows:
• Surfactant
• Fluorosurfactant
• Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
• Others (Fluorotelomers, Glycol And Gums)

Based on Expansion, the firefighting foam market has been segmented as follows:
• Low
• Medium
• High

Based on End-Use, the firefighting foam market has been segmented as follows:
• Oil & Gas
• Aviation
• Marine
• Mining
• Others (Heavy Industries, Pharmaceutical Industry, Utility Industry, Solvents & Coatings Industry, and Others)

Based on Region, the firefighting foam market has been segmented as follows:
• Asia Pacific
• North America
• Europe
• Middle East & Africa
• South America

Recent Developments
• In May 2023, NAFFCO entered into an agreement with Bee Development Authority (BDA) to establish its inaugural manufacturing facility in the United States at the Chase Field Industrial and Air Complex.
• In April 2023, Johnson Controls introduced Chemguard NFF 3×3 UL201 Foam Concentrate. This innovative foam concentrate utilizes a patented non-fluorinated (NFF) technology, delivering rapid and efficient fire suppression capabilities for class B hydrocarbon and polar solvent fuel fires.