ASK Press Release

Mar 27, 2025

Arlington, VA
March 27, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sudina Shakya
media@auditsafetyknow.com

ASK Distribution Consulting Partners with The Vertex Companies to Launch New PFAS Fire Suppression Advisory Service

Arlington, VA — ASK Distribution Consulting, LLC (ASK), in partnership with The Vertex Companies, LLC (VERTEX), announced a new consulting service to help companies in the chemical distribution sector navigate the complex landscape of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compliance for fire suppression systems.

PFAS are widely used, long-lasting synthetic chemicals that break down very slowly over time. Commonly found in firefighting foams, these chemicals are persistent in the environment, posing health and environmental concerns. With increasing regulations, companies using PFAS-based systems must address these challenges to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.

ASK’s new offering, supported by VERTEX’s expertise, can help your company better understand the federal, state, and/or local requirements impacting your fire suppression system(s).

Service highlights include:

Initial site visit and assessment,
Review of all existing foam fire protection system facility documentation,
Evaluation of applicable regulations and good practices for the facility,
Evaluation of the appropriateness of fire protection provided,
Gap analysis and development of a pragmatic plan to reduce PFAS risk (if applicable),
Development of a report of findings and recommendations.

“We are pleased to partner with VERTEX on this offering. Companies in the chemical industry are facing complex challenges regarding their fire suppression systems, including high costs of replacement, lack of sufficient information around such replacements, and threats of regulatory non-compliance and insurance exclusions, making this service extremely important for the industry.”, said Joseph Donadoni, Executive Director, ASK.

“ASK’s industrial members often require firefighting foams for flammable liquids, and Vertex has successfully retrofitted these systems in over 50 locations with optimal solutions tailored to each client’s needs. This experience, combined with ASK’s reach and reputation, offers members a perfect path to achieve compliance with new regulations and standards for PFAS firefighting foams.” Steve Kowkabany, P.E., Executive Vice President, Fire Protection and Life Safet Services, VERTEX.

Evaluating your current suppressants against other options, examining insurance impacts, and collecting information to support your team’s assessment of replacement options, are important steps to take for your chemical distribution business, especially in cases where PFAS products are involved.

For more information on the PFAS Fire Suppression Advisory Service or to get started, please visit ASK’s website. To gain deeper insight into the challenges of PFAS in fire suppression and why this offering is critical for companies, listen to our latest podcast, featuring experts from VERTEX and Perimeter Solutions, available for free on Apple, iHeart, Radio, Pandora, and Spotify.

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ASK Distribution Consulting, LLC provides services to companies active in the distribution of complex chemicals that power our world, to support their safety, compliance, sustainability, and commercial success. As the official third-party verifier of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution's (ACD) Responsible Distribution^TM program, ASK provides a combination of EHS&S expertise, management systems, auditing capabilities, and training to support continuous improvement and performance across the chemical supply chain.