Categorisation of chemicals with an end use in firefighting

Have you checked if your chemical is on our Inventory? If your chemical is on our Inventory and your introduction meets any terms of the Inventory listing, it is categorised as a ‘listed’ introduction. Learn more about listed introductions. 

Who should read this?

Importers and manufacturers of industrial chemicals (and products that are designed to release industrial chemicals) who are working out if their introduction will be categorised as exempted, reported or assessed. You should read this information before the chemical is introduced in Australia together with our guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture.

What do we mean by '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

Chemicals with an end use in firefighting are often directly released to the environment as part of their normal use. They can be directly applied to soil when fighting bushfires or released to surface waters via storm water drains when fighting fires in urban or industrial areas. Gases used in firefighting products are directly released to the atmosphere.

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. 

Your introduction is a ‘specified class of introduction’ if it has an end use in firefighting.

Is this introduction exempted, reported or assessed?

You must work out if your introduction meets the criteria for the exempted or reported categories by going through steps 1–6 of our guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture. If your introduction does not meet the criteria for the exempted or reported category, it will be an assessed introduction (unless you meet the criteria for a commercial evaluation authorisation).

The additional or different requirements to be aware of when working out your category of introduction are at:

• Step 5.3: Work out your environment exposure band

What is the environment exposure band? (Step 5.3)

If your introduction is categorised as reported, you will need to do the following when you submit your pre-introduction report:

• identify that your introduction is a specified class of introduction
• select that 'it involves a designated kind of release into the environment'
• answer 'Yes' when asked, 'Does the chemical involve a designated release into the environment' and select the kind of designated release into the environment, which will be:
  • if the industrial chemical is introduced for an end use in fire fighting — release (intentional or otherwise) into the environment

If your introduction is categorised as assessed, you will need to do the following when applying for an assessment certificate:

• identify that your introduction is a specified class of introduction 
• provide any additional information that is required based on your introduction involving a designated kind of release into the environment

Additional record-keeping obligations

If you worked out your introduction category is exempted or reported by following steps 4–6 of our categorisation steps, and 

• your introduction is not internationally assessed for human health and the environment; or
• your introduction is internationally assessed for human health but not the environment 

then you must keep the following records:

• the kind of designated release into the environment — introduced for an end use in firefighting 
• information about the release into the environment, including:
  • the location of the release into the environment (including all receiving water bodies); and
  • the frequency of the release into the environment 

For all other record-keeping requirements that apply to your chemical introduction, see our guidance on reporting and record-keeping obligations.