Businesses Scramble as EU PFAS Foam Ban Takes Effect, Fire Safety Experts Warn of Compliance Gap
11.06.2026 - 00:24:00 | boerse-global.de
Since April 10, 2026, a European Union-wide prohibition on fluorinated foam extinguishing agents (PFAS) has been in force, forcing countless companies to overhaul their inventories and fire-protection concepts on short notice. The ban, which targets substances linked to persistent environmental contamination, has added urgency to an already strained fire-safety landscape in Germany.
The strain is especially visible in North Rhine-Westphalia, where a revision of the state building code has drawn sharp criticism from the German Institute for Preventive Fire Protection (DIvB). The removal of a key paragraph, the institute argues, threatens to sideline many experienced fire-safety experts from planning and inspection processes. According to the DIvB, only about 150 state-recognised experts will remain eligible to conduct planning, with merely 41 inspection experts authorised to perform final approvals. Given that the region handles 10,000 to 12,000 building applications annually, the institute warns of months-long waiting times and new bureaucratic bottlenecks.
While Germany tightens its approval procedures, Vietnam is moving in the opposite direction. A draft proposal from the country’s Ministry of Public Security would scrap separate state fire-safety acceptance tests for buildings and vehicles. Instead, only the fire-protection concept would be reviewed; full responsibility for correct implementation would rest with the investor. State checks would occur only after the facility becomes operational. Interested parties have until June 24, 2026 to submit comments on the plan.
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Back in Germany, knowledge gaps among private residents remain a concern. A spring 2024 Innofact study of over 2,000 participants found that one in five respondents was unaware of the legal requirement for smoke detectors in private homes. Most German states mandate detectors in bedrooms, children's rooms, and hallways; Berlin and Brandenburg extend the obligation to all living spaces. Experts recommend ceiling mounting at least 50 centimetres from walls.
Commercial premises face their own set of strict rules. In Austria, a fire extinguisher is required from the moment a company employs a single worker. The number of units depends on floor area and specific fire hazards, and inspections must be carried out every two years.
The importance of all these measures was underscored on Tuesday, when a trial opened at the Essen Regional Court. A plaintiff is seeking damages after a break-in at a bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, where perpetrators entered the vault area through a manipulated fire door. Lawyers represent roughly 650 victims, and total claims exceed €50 million. The case illustrates that fire-protection closures must be maintained not only for fire-safety purposes but also with security considerations in mind.
Solutions to such challenges will be on display at the Feuertutz 2026 trade fair, held June 24–25 in Nuremberg. Exhibitors such as Assa Abloy and Geze will present door systems capable of withstanding high pre-loads while maintaining accessibility via modern drive technology. Dehn will showcase surge-protection enclosures that passed fire tests at over 900°C for more than 30 minutes, systems designed specifically for fire-alarm and voice-alarm installations where functionality during an emergency is critical.
