SG 53/23
The US state of Indiana has approved measures to regulate PFAS in firefighting gear. The new law will become effective on June 30, 2024.
On April 20, 2023, the governor of Indiana signed HB 1341 into law to regulate the state fire department’s purchasing of firefighting gear that contains a PFAS chemical.
Under Indiana Code (IC) § 36-8-10.7-3, ‘PFAS chemical’ means any chemical of a class of fluorinated organic chemicals, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated atom.
According to the definitions in the new law, ‘firefighting gear’ is defined as any item of clothing designed, intended or marketed to be a structural firefighting protective ensemble or ensemble element. This includes coats, coveralls, footwear, gloves, helmets, interface components, trousers and other components to construct such clothing.
Highlights of the new law are summarized in Table 1.
| Substance | Scope | Requirement | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS chemical | Firefighting gear | State’s fire department is prohibited from purchasing unless the product contains a permanently affixed label indicating whether or not it contains a PFAS chemical | June 30, 2024 |
Table 1
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