Friday 10 February 2012

What everybody should know about Halon Prohibition

We have often stumbled upon the widely and incorrectly belief that Halon is banned from use. It is true that properly maintained Halon systems can be grandfathered and are still kept in use.
The 1989 Montreal Protocol required that all production of new Halon cease by January 1, 1994. Recycled Halon and inventories produced before January 1, 1994, are now the only sources of supply.
When the Montreal Protocol determined that Halon depletes the ozone layer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency subsequently banned its manufacture. It is indeed unlawful to newly manufacture any Halon blend. However, existing stores of Halon blends are not affected by the ban. This rule also prohibits the venting of Halons during testing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of Halon-containing equipment, or during the use of such equipment for technician training, only with few exceptions.
The rule of proper disposal establishes that Halon and Halon-containing equipment must be properly disposed of at the end of its useful life. Proper disposal is defined as sending such equipment for Halon recovery or recycling by a facility operating in accordance with NFPA 10 and NFPA 12A standards or destruction using one of several processes identified in the rule.
It is thus unlawful to produce new Halon blends or intentionally release Halon into the atmosphere. Plus, Halon and all Halon-containing equipment need to be properly disposed of. Halon Banking Systems possess a deep, moral commitment to protect the environment as we constantly try to reduce waste by re-using, recycling and by purchasing recycled, recyclable or re-furbished Halon and Halon-containing Equipment.


What it is important to know is that Halon is not banned from use. Critical End Users who have no alternative but to continue using Halons need access to supplies they can rely on, that is why banking procedures have to be strictly followed.