CLIENT OVERVIEW
- ORGANISATION Canberra Airport
- OPERATIONS International airport
- RELATIONSHIP SINCE 2024
THE CHALLENGE
Canberra Airport is required to maintain and regularly test its on-site fire suppression systems as part of aviation safety compliance. These systems use AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) — a highly effective fire suppressant that generates large volumes of persistent, stable foam during testing and discharge events.
After each test or activation, residual AFFF foam remains in containment areas, drainage systems and water management infrastructure across the airport precinct. This foam is engineered to resist breakdown — which is exactly what makes it effective against fire, but creates a significant
cleanup and operational challenge once testing is complete.
The airport’s plumbing and facilities team needed a way to rapidly knock down and suppress this residual foam to restore normal operations, clear drainage pathways and maintain the presentation standard expected of a major international airport — without introducing additional hazardous chemicals into an already tightly regulated environment.
OUR SOLUTION
Canberra Airport’s plumbing team implemented Chemron’s Anti Foam to rapidly suppress residual AFFF foam following fire suppression system testing and discharge events.
Anti Foam is an aqueous emulsion of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fluids engineered for fast foam knockdown. It disperses quickly on contact with foam, collapsing the stable film structure that makes AFFF so persistent — restoring containment areas and drainage systems to normal operating condition without prolonged manual intervention.
The product’s broad pH tolerance is particularly relevant in this application, as AFFF residues can create variable water chemistry depending on the foam concentrate used and the dilution conditions. Chemron’s Anti Foam performs consistently regardless of these variations, and its simple dosing approach — typically 100 to 500 parts per million, adjusted incrementally — allows the facilities team to calibrate their response to each event.
Critically, Anti Foam is classified as non-hazardous, nonflammable and non-corrosive, which simplified its approval for use in an airport environment where chemical handling, storage and environmental compliance are subject to heightened scrutiny. The product is stocked on-site in 15L packs, ready for deployment as needed after each system test.
RESULTS & OUTCOMES
- Non-Haz Non-hazardous, non-flammable — approved for airside use without additional WHS controls
- AFFF Effective against persistent Aqueous Film Forming Foam residues
- On-Site 15L packs stocked for immediate deployment after each system test
After an initial trial confirmed Anti Foam’s effectiveness against residual AFFF foam, Canberra Airport placed a full order for 15L packs to maintain on-site stock for ongoing fire suppression system testing. The product has become a standard part of their post-test cleanup procedure, enabling the plumbing team to knock down persistent foam quickly and restore drainage and containment systems to normal operation.
The non-hazardous classification has been a practical advantage in the airport’s regulated environment, allowing the product to be stored and handled without additional WHS controls or specialist training. Nathan Koenig, Plumbing Manager, confirmed the product worked well after the initial deployment, leading directly to the reorder of bulk stock.
The Canberra Airport deployment demonstrates a differentiated use case for Anti Foam beyond traditional water treatment — suppressing residual firefighting foam in aviation, defence, industrial and emergency services environments where AFFF systems are regularly tested. This application is equally relevant to military bases, fire training facilities, fuel depots and any site operating foam-based fire suppression systems.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
"Anti Foam worked well for us — it knocked down the residual AFFF foam quickly after our fire suppression system testing. The non-hazardous classification made it easy to get approved for use on-site, and the 15-litre packs are a practical size for keeping stock on hand."
Nathan Koenig
Plumbing Manager, Canberra Airport
