WO2022231504A1

WO2022231504A1 - A system and a method for cleaning firefighting equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2022231504A1
Application number: PCT/SE2022/050406
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan TEGLE
Original assignee: Rescue Intellitech Ab
Priority date: 2021-04-28
Filing date: 2022-04-27
Publication date: 2022-11-03
Also published as: JP2024522330A; AU2022268154A1; KR20240001227A; SE2150542A1; EP4329895A1

Abstract

A system for cleaning equipment (105), comprising a washing unit (110) connected to a filter unit (150) through a discharge tube (120). The washing unit (110) comprises a washing chamber (101) with at least one inlet for a cleaning liquid (CL), wherein the washing unit (110) is configured to clean the equipment (105) with the cleaning liquid (CL), whereby a contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL) comprising polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is obtained. The discharge tube (120) is configured to transport the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL) from the washing unit (110) to the filter unit (150). The filter unit (150) comprises a plurality of filters arranged to filter the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL), whereby a decontaminated cleaning liquid (DCL) is obtained and wherein the filter unit (150) further comprises a discharge outlet (170) to release the decontaminated cleaning liquid (DCL).

Description

A SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR CLEANING FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a system and a method for cleaning firefighting equipment, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) used for firefighting.

Background

Firefighters use a number of different protective garments and equipment in their service. When used during firefighting, the protective equipment, including the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCB A), helmet, face mask, boots and gloves, will become contaminated with soot particles and combustion gases. Some of these particles are hazardous toxins and/or carcinogens, e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) particles, and pose a real threat to human health.

Studies show that firefighters face a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with, and dying from, various forms of cancer than the general population. This is due to the hazardous chemicals and carcinogenic particles they are exposed to in the line of duty. To reduce this exposure and the resulting cancer risk, it is favorable to thoroughly, safely and efficiently clean and decontaminate all personal protective equipment after every use.

Decontamination of the personal protective equipment immediately upon return to the firefighting station is favorable. However, cleaning the equipment by hand may be both time consuming and hard work and also poses a health risk due to unprotected exposure to the toxins and/or carcinogens. Furthermore, cleaning the protective equipment may result in contaminated effluent water containing the hazardous chemical particles.

A device for purifying contaminated water which has been used for firefighting is disclosed in CA2208604. The device comprises several filters in order to remove soot accumulated in the water. However, even though CA2208604 discloses purifying contaminated water, there is a need for an improved and healthier method for decontaminating protective equipment used by firefighters. An object of the present invention is to overcome these problems.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, the above and other objects of the invention are achieved, in full or at least in part, by a system as defined by claim 1. According to this claim the above object is achieved by a system for cleaning firefighting equipment, such as personal protective equipment for firefighting, comprising a washing unit connected to a filter unit through a discharge tube. The washing unit comprises a washing chamber with at least one inlet for a cleaning liquid, and the washing unit is configured to clean the firefighting equipment with the cleaning liquid. A contaminated cleaning liquid comprising polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is thus obtained. The discharge tube is configured to transport the contaminated cleaning liquid from the washing unit to the filter unit, and the filter unit comprises a plurality of filters, such as at least a first filter and a second filter and optionally a third and/or more filters, arranged to filter the contaminated cleaning liquid so that a decontaminated cleaning liquid is obtained. At least one of said filters is a particle filter and at least one of said filters is arranged for filtering off polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the contaminated cleaning liquid. Further, the filter unit comprises a discharge outlet to release the decontaminated cleaning liquid.

This system is advantageous in that the release of chemicals in the drain and the environment is decreased, and that the firefighting equipment is decontaminated in an efficient manner. Decontaminated firefighting equipment results in lowered exposure of chemicals to staff. Further, the automatic cleaning system also results in lowered exposure of chemicals to staff, since the cleaning and decontamination need not be performed by hand. Hence, health dangers for staff using the personal protective equipment and optionally other firefighting equipment are decreased and health issues for such staff is prevented. For instance, cancer disease among staff using the personal protective equipment can be reduced. According to one embodiment, the equipment to be cleaned in the system is personal protective equipment used during firefighting. Firefighters are exposed to many hazardous chemicals and have an increased risk of being diagnosed with cancers due to the exposure to PAHs and other toxic chemicals.

According to another embodiment, the system further comprises a pump.

The pump may be arranged upstream from the filters or between the first filter and the second filter. A pump will facilitate the transportation of liquid through the filters in the filter unit. The pump may also be arranged to discharge the contaminated cleaning liquid from the washing unit.

According to yet another embodiment, the contaminated cleaning liquid further comprises contaminants selected from the group consisting of heavy metals, peril our- inated alkylated substances (PFAS), residuals from soot, other toxic or cancerous hydrocarbons or a combination thereof. For example, heavy metals include but are not limited to antimony, arsenic, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, silver, tin, zinc, compositions and/or ions thereof, or a combination thereof. According to one embodiment, the filters are particle filters, carbon filters, ion exchange filters or a combination thereof. Preferably, the first and second filters being particle filters and a third filter being a carbon filter. This combination results in a successful decontamination of the cleaning liquid, and removes both large particles and PAHs from the cleaning liquid, both non-dissolved and dissolved PAHs. According to one embodiment, the discharge outlet is in fluid communication with the washing unit, so that the decontaminated cleaning liquid can be recycled to the washing unit. This is beneficial since the water in the decontaminated cleaning liquid is reused. The recycling of water results in less water consumption, which is a sustainable solution and is environmentally friendly. According to a second aspect, there is provided a method for cleaning personal protective equipment comprising a washing unit comprising a washing chamber with at least one inlet. The washing unit is connected to a filter unit through a discharge tube. The method comprises the steps of cleaning the equipment in a washing unit with a cleaning liquid, thereby obtaining contaminated cleaning liquid, transporting the contaminated cleaning liquid from the washing unit to the filter unit through the discharge tube, and filtering the contaminated cleaning liquid through the filter unit comprising a plurality of filters, such as a first, second and optionally a third filter, wherein at least one of said filters is a particle filter and at least one of said filters is arranged for filtering off polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the contaminated cleaning liquid, thereby obtaining a decontaminated cleaning liquid. Optionally, the method includes the steps of filtering the contaminated cleaning liquid through one or more additional filters. Finally, the method comprises releasing the decontaminated cleaning liquid through a discharge outlet of the filter unit.

This method is advantageous since the release of chemicals in the drain and environment is decreased, and that the personal protective equipment and other firefighting equipment is decontaminated in an efficient manner. Decontaminated personal protective equipment results in lowered exposure of chemicals to staff. Further, the method is automatic and the cleaning and decontamination need not be performed by hand. Hence, health dangers for staff using the personal protective equipment are decreased and health issues for such staff is prevented. For instance, cancer disease among staff using the personal protective equipment can be reduced. Further, the method is efficient and simple without need for cumbersome processing steps.

According to a further embodiment, the step of releasing the decontaminated cleaning liquid is followed by a step of returning the decontaminated cleaning liquid to the washing unit by connecting the discharge outlet to the washing unit. This is beneficial since the water may be reused, resulting in less water consumption and thus a more environmentally friendly process.

According to a second embodiment, the method further comprises a step of pumping the contaminated cleaning liquid through at least one of the filters in the filtering unit using a pump. The use of a pump facilitates the transportation of the cleaning liquid through the system.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims, as well as from the drawings. It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. As used herein, the term “comprising” and variations of this term are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Brief description of the Drawings

By way of example, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure la is a schematic view of a system for cleaning firefighting equipment according to one embodiment;

Figure lb is a schematic view of a system for cleaning firefighting equipment according to another embodiment; Figure lc is a schematic view of a system for cleaning firefighting equipment according to yet another embodiment;

Figure 2 shows a washing unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 3 is a flow chart for a method for cleaning firefighting equipment.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the invention

The invention relates to a system and method for purification and decontamination of firefighting equipment, such as tools, hardware, hoses and personal protective equipment (PPE) used by firefighters. For example, the personal protective equipment includes protective clothing, boots, helmets, face masks, SCBAs and gloves. For example, the personal protective equipment, or part thereof, is arranged to provide protection against fires, fumes and gases. For example, the personal protective equipment includes protecting clothing in the form of an overall or trousers and jacket including at least a thermal barrier. For example, the protective clothing includes an outer shell, a moisture barrier, a thermal barrier and pockets of air. When cleaning firefighting equipment, toxic particles, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), heavy metals, perflourinated alkylated substances (PFAS) and other toxic hydrocarbons, are rinsed off from the equipment and dispersed and/or bound into the cleaning liquid used. Even though the cleaning results in that the firefighting equipment is decontaminated, the cleaning process also yield a contaminated cleaning liquid, which needs to be handled properly and safely to avoid pollution of the environment and to decrease the risk of exposure to humans.

In short, the system and method for cleaning firefighting equipment disclosed herein comprises cleaning the equipment in a washing unit and transporting the contaminated cleaning liquid obtained when washing the equipment into a filter unit. The filter unit in turn comprises a number of filters, which purify the cleaning liquid and remove contaminating particles from the cleaning liquid. A decontaminated cleaning liquid is obtained, which may be released in for instance the sewer.

The present inventors have surprisingly found that the combination of a washing unit for cleaning firefighting equipment with a filter unit as disclosed herein results in that the personal protective equipment as well as the cleaning liquid is decontaminated to protect fire fighters and other personnel from PAH, heavy metals, PFAS and/or other toxic hydrocarbons. To purify the contaminated cleaning liquid is important, since the contaminated cleaning liquid is polluted with toxic, sometimes cancerous, and hazardous chemicals and particles, which should not be released in the environment and from which fire fighters and other personnel should be protected from.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in relation to Figures la to 2. With reference to Fig. la, an embodiment of a system 100 for cleaning firefighting equipment, such as personal protective equipment, disclosed herein is shown. The system 100 comprises a washing unit 110 and a filter unit 150. The washing unit 110 is connected to the filter unit 150 through a discharge tube 120 and the filter unit 150 comprises a discharge outlet 170. Personal protective equipment 105 or other firefighting equipment is placed inside the washing unit 110. To clean the equipment 105, a cleaning liquid CL is provided to the washing unit 110. The cleaning liquid CL used in the washing unit 110 may comprise for instance water (which may be reverse osmosis (RO) water or ultrapure water), a detergent, or a liquid solvent, or a combination thereof.

The discharge tube 120 transports contaminated cleaning liquid CCL to the filter unit 150. Decontaminated cleaning liquid DCL exits the filter unit 150 through the discharge outlet 170 and is released in the sewer S, as shown in Figs la-lc. Alternatively, the decontaminated cleaning liquid is discharged to the environment, e.g. if there is no access to a drain, sewer or similar.

The washing unit 110 is adapted for decontaminating and cleaning firefighting equipment 105, such as personal protective equipment for firefighters. The washing unit 110 may use fixed or movable inlets, such as nozzles, (shown in Fig. 2) inside the washing unit 110 to rinse and clean the personal protective equipment placed therein. Further, the washing unit 110 may comprise one or more mechanical cleaning devices, such as brushes or the like, in combination with irrigation to remove contaminants from the protective equipment 105.

Ultrasonic cleaning may also be used in the washing unit 110. In such case, the washing unit 110 comprises an ultrasonic generating transducer, which generates ultrasonic waves causing vibrations in the cleaning liquid CL to clean the protective equipment 105. In addition, the washing unit 110 may comprise a rotating basket configured to hold the protective equipment 105 and a motor configured to rotate said basket. The washing unit 110 may further be equipped with for instance a holder for SCBA single/double cylinders, a holder for SCBA jumbo cylinders, a gear holder for face masks, helmets, gloves and/or boots. Yet another alternative to achieve satisfying cleaning of the equipment is to use a soaking step followed by brushing and/or irrigation and/or to use ultrasonic cleaning in the washing unit 110. Moreover, the equipment 105 may be stationary arranged in the washing unit 110 or may be in motion inside the washing unit 110 to achieve efficient cleaning. An embodiment example of a washing unit 110 will be more thoroughly explained with references to Fig. 2. The filter unit 150 in Fig. la-lc has a first, a second and a third filter Fi, F2, F3 arranged in sequence after one another. According to the present invention, the filter unit 150 comprises at least the first filter and the second filter, wherein the third filter and additional filters are optional. The filters Fi, F2, F3 may be particle filters, chemical filters (such as carbon filters), ion exchange filters or a combination thereof. Two or more of the filters Fi, F2, F3 may be combined as one filter device with different filtering functions. Optionally, the filter unit 150 can use flocculation as a filtering technique.

Preferably, the first filter Fi is a particle filter. For example, the first and second filters Fi, F2 are particle filters Fi, F2, The third filter F3 is, e.g. a carbon filter. The first filter Fi is arranged upstream of the second filter F2 and the second filter F2 is arranged upstream of the third filter F3. Hence, the contaminated cleaning liquid CCL will encounter and pass through the first filter Fi followed by the second filter F2 and the third filter F3. Preferably, the first particle filter Fi is a more coarse filter than the second particle filter F2. According to one embodiment the first particle filter Fi is a particle filter 100-300 pm for filtering off debris and protect subsequent filters F2, F3 and/or other equipment. For example, the first filter Fi is a replaceable bag filter. According to one embodiment, the second filter F2 is a particle filter 1-5 pm. Alternatively, the second filter is a carbon filter. The second filter F2 is, e.g. arranged for filtering off particles from fire-fighting activities, including undissolved particles, undissolved hydrocarbons, soot and similar. The third filter F3 is arranged for filtering off hydrocarbons, such as PAH, solved in the cleaning liquid CL. In addition, the filter unit 150 may comprise a fourth filter (not illustrated), and optionally also a fifth and further filters (not illustrated). The fourth filter is, e.g. arranged for filtering off heavy metals, wherein the fifth filter is a PFAS filter. Alternatively, the fourth filter is a PFAS filter. According to one embodiment, the filter unit 150, or e.g. the third filter F3 thereof, is arranged for filtering off one or more of benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene and dibenzo(ah)anthracene. For example, one of the filters, such as the fourth or fifth filter is arranged for filtering off one or more heavy metals, including but not limited to antimony, arsenic, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, silver, tin, zinc, compositions and/or ions thereof, or a combination thereof.

As shown in Figs lb and lc, the filter unit 150 comprises a pump 130. The pump 130 in Fig. lb is placed upstream from the first particle filter Fi and the pump 130 in Fig. lc is arranged between the first particle filter Fi and the second particle filter F2. The pump 130 will facilitate the transportation of liquid through the filters Fi, F2, F3 in the filter unit 150. Optionally, the pump 130 may be arranged outside the filter unit 150 or between the second and third filter F2, F3 (not shown). According to one embodiment, the pump 130 is a diaphragm pump. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a washing unit 110 according to one embodiment. The washing unit 110 is specifically designed for washing of personal protective equipment for fire fighters. Alternatively, the washing unit 110 is designed for washing firefighting equipment. The washing unit 110 in Fig. 2 has a washing chamber 101 equipped with inlets, such as nozzles 102 for cleaning liquid CL, and a control panel 103. Further, the washing unit 110 comprises a door 104 for closing the washing chamber 101. For example, the door 104 is an upper door, wherein the washing unit further comprises a lower door 106 having a handle 107. The discharge tube 120 is connected to the back of the washing unit 110. Moreover, the washing unit 110 in Fig. 2 features a rotating basket (not shown) that enables the inlets or nozzles 102 ejecting cleaning liquid CL to reach and decontaminate even tight and sometimes hard to reach spaces of the protective equipment.

The system 100 and method 300 disclosed herein are specifically efficient for decontaminating firefighting protective equipment 105 and contaminated cleaning liquid CCL obtained when cleaning firefighting protective equipment 105. PAHs are one of the group of toxic compounds present during firefighting.

PAHs are hydrocarbons, chemical compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen, whose molecule comprise of multiple aromatic rings. A polyaromatic hydrocarbon can have a varying number of rings, and rings of various sizes, including some that are not aromatic. The compounds within the PAH family thus vary in size. Larger PAHs are generally insoluble in water, although some smaller PAHs are water soluble and known contaminants in drinking water. The larger members of the PAH group are also poorly soluble in organic solvents and in lipids. Many of the PAHs are found in coal and in oil deposits, and are also produced by the thermal decomposition of organic matter. Cancer is a primary human health risk of exposure to PAHs.

Exposure to PAHs has also been linked with cardiovascular disease and poor fetal development.

To operate the system 100, contaminated personal protective equipment 105 is placed, preferably in a basket, in the washing unit 110, which is closed (using the doors 104, 106) and started. When the protective equipment 105 is cleaned, the washing unit 110 will release the contaminating particles and/or molecules from the protective equipment 105, and bind the contaminants in the cleaning liquid CL. Hence, the protective equipment 105 will be decontaminated and a contaminated cleaning liquid CCL comprising the toxic contaminants is obtained, which exits the washing unit 110 through the discharge tube 120.

Thus, the contaminated cleaning liquid CCL is discharged from the washing unit 110 through the discharge tube 120 and transported into the filter unit 150. Inside the filter unit 150, the contaminated cleaning liquid CCL will pass each of the filters Fi, F2, F3.

The first particle filter Fi and the second particle filter F2 will mechanically trap particles contained in the contaminated cleaning liquid CCL, while the carbon filter F3 will purify the contaminated cleaning liquid CCL chemically through chemical bonding of unwanted contaminating particles and molecules. The coarsest particle filter Fi will remove particles larger than a threshold size, followed by the less coarse particle filter F2, which removes even smaller particles. Hence, the first particle filter Fi will remove coarse pollutants, such as gravel, sand and the like, while the second particle filter F2 will remove non-dissolved particles, such as soot or non-dissolved PAHs, from the cleaning liquid CL. Finally, the chemical carbon filter F3 reduces the amount of the remaining hazardous particles, dissolved in the cleaning liquid CL. For instance, PAHs dissolved in the cleaning liquid, which are thus not separated from the cleaning liquid CL when passing the second particle filter F2. The combination of both mechanical and chemical filtration achieves an efficient and satisfying purification of the contaminated cleaning liquid CCL. When the contaminated cleaning liquid CCL has passed the three filters Fi, F2, F3, it has been decontaminated and a decontaminated cleaning liquid DCL is obtained. The decontaminated cleaning liquid DCL exits the filter unit 150 through the discharge outlet 170, which may lead to and release the decontaminated cleaning liquid DCL in a sewer S (alternatively into the nature or into storm water).

Optionally, as indicated by the dashed line in Figs la-lc, the discharge outlet 170 may continuously or intermittently return the decontaminated cleaning liquid DCL to the washing unit 110, such that the decontaminated cleaning liquid DCL may be reused. In this way, the decontaminated cleaning liquid DCL is recycled and less e.g. water needs to be used in the subsequent cleaning cycle.

With reference to Fig. 3, a flowchart of a method 300 for cleaning firefighting equipment, such as personal protective equipment 105, is shown. The method 300 comprises a first step of cleaning 310 the equipment 105 in a washing unit 110 using a cleaning liquid CL. Further, the step of cleaning 310 the equipment 105 may comprise soaking the equipment 105. Optionally, the cleaning 310 may further comprise brushing the equipment 105 and/or spraying the equipment 105 with cleaning liquid CL, preferably by using nozzles/jets 102 arranged inside the washing unit 110, and/or rotating/moving the equipment 105 inside the washing unit 110. Furthermore, the cleaning 310 may be conducted using ultrasonic cleaning. In a second step, the method 300 comprises transporting 320 contaminated cleaning liquid CCL obtained when cleaning 310 the equipment 105 from the washing unit 110 to a filter unit 150. Optionally, the method 300 further comprises a step of pumping 330 the contaminated cleaning liquid CCL through at least one of the filters Fi, F2, F3 in the filtering unit 150 using a pump 130. The optional pumping step 330 is indicated in Fig. 3 by the dashed lines.

Next, the method 300 comprises filtering 340 the contaminated cleaning liquid CCL in the filter unit 150 comprising at least a first particle filter Fi, a second particle filter F2 and a carbon filter F3. The filtering 340 occurs when the contaminated cleaning liquid CCL passes through one filter after the other in the filtering unit 150. Alternatively, the method comprises filtering through at least the first filter and the second filter and optionally through the third and additional filters, wherein the first filter may be a particle filter and the second filter may be a particle filter for smaller particles, a carbon filter or a PFAS filter. For example, the method comprises filtering through a fourth filter an optionally also through a fifth and additional filters, wherein one of the fourth filter and the fifth filter is a heavy metal filter and the other is a PFAS filter. For example, the method comprises the step of filtering off one or more heavy metals, including but not limited to, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, silver, tin, zinc, compositions and/or ions thereof, or a combination thereof.

Subsequently, the method 300 comprises a step of releasing 350 decontamin- ated cleaning liquid DCL from the filter unit 150 through the discharge outlet 170.

The method 300 further comprises an optional step of returning 360 the de contaminated cleaning liquid DCL to the washing unit 110 by connecting the discharge outlet 170 to the washing unit 110.

In the claims, the term “comprises/comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms “a”, “an”, “first”, “second” etc. do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.

Claims

1. A system for cleaning firefighting equipment (105), comprising a washing unit (110) connected to a filter unit (150) through a discharge tube (120), wherein the washing unit (110) comprises a washing chamber (101) with at least one inlet for a cleaning liquid (CL), wherein the washing unit (110) is configured to clean the firefighting equipment (105) with the cleaning liquid (CL), whereby a contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL) comprising polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is obtained; the discharge tube (120) is configured to transport the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL) from the washing unit (110) to the filter unit (150); the filter unit (150) comprises a plurality of filters (Fi, F2, F3) arranged to filter the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL), wherein at least one of said filters is a particle filter and at least one of said filters is arranged for filtering off polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL), whereby a decontaminated cleaning liquid (DCL) is obtained; and wherein the filter unit (150) further comprises a discharge outlet (170) to release the decontaminated cleaning liquid (DCL).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the firefighting equipment (105) to be cleaned in the system (100) is personal protective equipment used for firefighting.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the system further comprises a pump (130) for pumping contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL) through at least one of the filters (Fi, F2, F3).

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said pump (130) is arranged upstream from first and second filters (Fi, F2) or between the first filter (Fi) and the second filter (F2).

5. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL) comprises contaminants selected from the group consisting of heavy metals, peril ourinated alkylated substances (PFAS), residuals from soot, other toxic or cancerous hydrocarbons or a combination thereof.

6. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filters (Fi, F2, F3) are particle filters, carbon filters, ion exchange filters or a combination thereof.

7. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a first filter (Fi) is a particle filter 100-300 pm.

8. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a first filter (Fi) is a replaceable bag filter.

9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second filter (F2) is a particle filter 1-5 pm.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter unit (150) comprises a third filter (F3) arranged after the first and second filters.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the third filter is a carbon filter.

12. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the filter unit (150) comprises a filter for filtering off heavy metals.

13. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the filter unit (150) comprises a filter for filtering off PFAS.

14. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge outlet (170) is in fluid communication with the washing unit (110), so that the decontaminated cleaning liquid (DCL) may be recycled to the washing unit (110).

15. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter unit (150) further comprises a flocculation means to induce flocculation in the cleaning liquid (CL).

16. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the washing unit (110) further comprises at least one of a brush, a gear holding basket, a rotating basket and a motor to rotate said basket, or an ultrasonic generating transducer.

17. A method for cleaning firefighting equipment (105) with a washing unit (110), the washing unit comprising a washing chamber (101) with at least one inlet, and wherein the washing unit (110) is connected to a filter unit (150) through a discharge tube (120), the method (300) comprising the steps of: cleaning (310) the firefighting equipment (105) in the washing unit (110) with a cleaning liquid (CL), thereby obtaining contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL); transporting (320) the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL) from the washing unit (110) to the filter unit (150) through the discharge tube (120); filtering (340) the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL) through the filter unit (150) comprising a plurality of filters (Fi, F2, F3), wherein at least one of said filters is a particle filter and at least one of said filters is arranged for filtering off polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL), whereby a decontaminated cleaning liquid (DCL) is obtained; and releasing (350) the decontaminated cleaning liquid (DCL) through a discharge outlet (170) of the filter unit (150).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of releasing (350) the decontaminated cleaning liquid (DCL) is followed by a step of returning (360) the decontaminated cleaning liquid (DCL) to the washing unit (110) by connecting the discharge outlet (170) to the washing unit (110).

19. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 18, further comprising a step of pumping (330) the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL) through at least one of the filters (Fi, F2) in the filtering unit (150) using a pump (130).

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the step of cleaning (310) comprises soaking the protective equipment before the cleaning (310) begins, rotating the protective equipment (105) and/or spraying the protective equipment (105) with cleaning liquid (CL), brushing the protective equipment (105), or a combination thereof.

21. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the cleaning (310) is conducted using ultrasonic cleaning.

22. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the firefighting equipment is personal protection equipment used for firefighting.

23. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 22, comprising the step(s) of filtering off from the contaminated cleaning liquid (CCL) contaminants selected from the group consisting of heavy metals, peril ourinated alkylated substances (PFAS), residuals from soot, other toxic or cancerous hydrocarbons or a combination thereof.