A unique solution for fighting forest fires around the world
Controlling forest and wildfires with an environmentally-friendly solution
Finnish companies PPO-Elektroniikka Oy and Kiilto Oy have combined their expertise and developed an environmentally friendly, fluorine-free fire-fighting chemical for extinguishing forest fires and wildfires.
PPO® ForExt (patent pending) is mixed with water and applied to the outer edges of the fire area. This unique solution has a flame-retardant effect: it puts out the fire and prevents it from spreading.
Kiilto’s 103-year expertise in the chemical industry and PPO-Elektroniikka’s more than 30 years of experience in fire extinguishing technology made it possible to develop this unique solution. Kiilto is responsible for manufacturing the product and PPO-Elektroniikka for its marketing and developing the spreading technique.
Professional firefighting
Extinguishing forest fires and wildfires is a very demanding task. The area can be hard-to-reach and dangerous, requiring a large team of fire professionals 24/7 to control and shut down the fire. The fire can last up to weeks. That is why we developed an extinguishing agent PPO® ForExt, that is easy to apply and brings help to the fire area immediately.
Protecting home and garden
Wildfire structure losses have been increasing in the past years. Forest fires are constantly destroying homes, businesses and villages around the world. Therefore, innovative solutions are needed to protect people, animals, property and nature. When a fire begins to threaten residential areas, PPO® ForExt protects courtyards, properties and gardens.
Hot work and Camping
Hot work is a process that generates flames, sparks or heat. Before starting work, PPO® ForExt is mixed with a small amount of water and sprayed into the surrounding area – this procedure prevents sparks and fire from spreading to the environment. Similarly, Forext can be used around the campfire to ensure extinguishing it.
PPO® ForExt prevents the spread of fire
- Flame-retardant
- Fire suppressive
- Prevents new fires
- Mixes with water ( 1:100)
- It can be spread to the outer edges or directly at the fire.
- Application from any existing fire equipment into the area.
- Also suitable for extinguishing small fires.
PPO® ForExt is a sustainable solution
- SAVES human lives and those in the natural world
- SAVES forests – the lungs of the world
- SAVES wild animals and valuable vegetation
- LESS morbidity and mortality
- LESS damage to assets
- FLUORINE-FREE
PPO® ForExt materials
– PPO® ForExt customer value proposition –
With the unique PPO® FOREXT forest fire-extinguishing solution, we provide an environmentally friendly, sustainable, scalable and affordable way to prevent the spread of fire. We save lives and protect nature and valuable property.
Timo Ohtonen, CEO, PPO-Elektroniikka Oy
Elevating – Wildfires and climate change
Tackling the global threat
Climate change is now a real threat to human life and nature conservation. One of the main reasons for this are wildfires
The more the global average temperature rises, the more wildfires will intensify, and vice versa.
Referring to scientific and several comprehensive studies, wildfire GHG emissions amount to 5-8% (30-100tn Co2e/hectare) of total global emissions every year. On top of the emissions, we also lose millions of hectares of land, billions of dollars’ worth of property, not to mention thousands of different species of life. We also then suffer from black carbon fall-out.
So, what we can do about this? We cannot stop this phenomenon, but once it occurs, we can certainly limit possible impacts if we are prepared to do so, and that is what FOREXT is all about. We have a unique solution that is harmful neither to people nor the ecosystem.
CO² Emissions Comparisons
A practical example of the impact of forest fires
About 20 million hectares are lost in wildfires yearly, and their average emissions are about 40 tonnes/hectare.
An ordinary family car (petrol/diesel) emits 0.15 kg/km * 20,000 km = 3 tonnes per year.
So, emissions per hectare correspond to almost the entire life cycle of car use; 40/3 = 13 years or 260 000 km.
PPO® ForExt in action
“Forest fires are the biggest contributor to fine-particulate emissions in the world, and the situation is worsening with global warming. Using our green solution, we can quickly and cost-effectively stop forest fires.“
Juha Rinne, Kiilto Oy, Customer Service Manager
Test case: Hay fire extinguishing test with the PPO® ForExt
We will now show, with the help of dry hay, how forest fire extinguishing agent PPO® ForExt works.
Before we lit the fire, we treated the right side of the hay with the ForExt-water mixture (1:100). The left side was left untreated. We ignited both sides with a burning object. The left side burned completely, but the fire did not spread to the area treated with ForExt.
Test case: Extinguishing a forest fire with PPO® ForExt/ Niinisalo, Finland
10 July 2023
We tested the functionality of the PPO® ForExt in the Niinisalo garrison, Finland. Thanks to the teams of the Rescue Services of Satakunta and Pori Brigade.
Half of the area was treated with pure water and half with ForExt/water mixture 1:100. The weather was dry and hot; it hadn’t rained in a few weeks. We waited half an hour before lighting the fire. The water had evaporated, so the fire advanced at full speed in the water-treated area. When the fire reached the area treated with the ForExt/water mixture, the fire was put out immediately.
Pictures from Niinisalo
Videos from Niinisalo
PPO® ForExt is environmentally friendly and fluorine-free and does not cause damage to people, nature,
aquatic ecosystems, animals or firefighting equipment.
PPO® ForExt
Kiilto and PPO-Elektroniikka – a strong Finnish family businesses
with 145 years of experience
PPO-Elektroniikka Oy
The company has produced tailored technology solutions to improve safety and minimize damage for 42 years. PPO-Elektroniikka Oy specializes in safety technology. We have been solving our customers’ technical challenges and problems since 1981.
Our production also includes the unique MEV® insulation level monitoring system that Monitors the electrical safety of operating rooms 24/7. The fifth-generation MEV-8 system is already being exported to 27 countries.
Kiilto Oy
A growing Finnish family-owned company with over a hundred-year history. The company develops, manufactures and markets chemical industry solutions in four business areas: construction, industrial bonding, professional hygiene and consumer goods. Kiilto develops environmentally friendly fire retardants, for example, for the wood and paper and packaging industries.
Contact
Timo Ohtonen
CEO / Sales
PPO-Elektroniikka Oy
+358 9 566 09210
+358 400 420393
timo.ohtonen@ppo-elektroniikka.fi
Communications
Tiina Ohtonen
PPO-Elektroniikka Oy
+358 40 7400 959
tiina.ohtonen@ppo-elektroniikka.fi