IAFF and NFPA File Joint Stipulation to Dismiss PPE PFAS Lawsuit
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have formally ended their legal dispute over firefighter protective gear standards related to PFAS.
The IAFF filed the suit in March 2023 in Norfolk County Superior Court, claiming that NFPA 1971 effectively required the use of PFAS in turnout gear. The complaint focused on a 40-hour ultraviolet light degradation test that the union alleged could only be met by PFAS-containing materials. The IAFF argued that the requirement forced manufacturers to rely on PFAS, which have been linked to cancer and other health risks.
In March 2024, the court dismissed parts of the case, including claims of conspiracy. The remaining counts continued into discovery. On October 7, 2025, both the IAFF and NFPA filed a joint motion to dismiss all remaining claims with prejudice, meaning the lawsuit cannot be refiled.
NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley said the discovery process showed the remaining claims had no basis and added that the outcome “underscores the strength and transparency” of NFPA’s consensus-based standards process.
Since the lawsuit was filed, NFPA adopted a new gear standard, NFPA 1970 (2025 edition), which took effect in September 2024. The new standard consolidates previous gear standards, adds a restricted substances list, and updates the ultraviolet light test procedure. NFPA said the changes were developed through the regular standards process and were not the result of the litigation.
On October 6, 2025, the parties filed a Stipulation of Dismissal in the Suffolk County Superior Court in Massachusetts, jointly agreeing to dismiss the case with prejudice. The filing states that the action “be dismissed, with prejudice, with each party to bear its own costs and attorneys’ fees.” The stipulation brings the two-and-a-half-year legal battle to a close, permanently ending the case. See the stipulation attached below.
