Seeing Halon recycling as part of a larger picture

 

It is a well-known fact that minimising Halon emissions into the atmosphere and increasing the recycling of such substances contributes to the natural restoring process of the ozone layer.  Research has indicated that the majority of halon closed recovery systems in use today, as well as all recycling units currently sold in this sector, meet or exceed industry standards that require minimum recovery efficiencies of 98%. 

This is why HBS feels it is important to reaffirm the fact that by helping us protect the ozone layer and the  environment with all of its components, we are in fact protecting the economy.

 

That time of the year....

Yes, it is that time of the year again, the time when NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center releases the Antarctic Hemisphere yearly map of total ozone. Satellite instruments monitor the ozone layer, and they use their data to create the images that depict the amount of ozone.
It is a helpful reminder that constant efforts to phaseout and recyle Halons will result in substantial reductions of ozone depleting substance emissions in the atmosphere.

 

 

Of course we also know Thanksgiving is fast approaching and at this time of celebration our thoughts turn gratefully to you with warm appreciation. Happy Thanksgiving!

NFPA Conference in Las Vegas

Very happy about the NAFED Conference in New Orleans - such a beautiful city.


Now preparing for the NFPA Conference  and Expo in Las Vegas, don't forget to bring your lucky charms with you!

NAFED 2012 New Orleans

The National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors is fast approaching, we are excited about meeting you there.

NAFED Conference in Las Vegas - March 8, 2012

Halon Banking Systems' booth in Las Vegas.
Hope to see you in Atlantic City and New Orleans!

Who else wants to properly bank Halon?

    According to a 2010 Report of the Halons Technical Options Comitee, there are still countries in the world where because of a prohibition on halon exports, cross-contaminated halons are a financial liability and are reported to be vented to the atmosphere:

  "Global Halon 1211 and 1301 Banking

   Halon banking is a critical part of the management of halons.
Halon Bank Programmes must be accessible to all halon users or the risk of accelerated atmospheric emissions will escalate as users find themselves with redundant stock.

   Halon banking operations can play a significant role in ensuring the quality and availability of recycled halon, in managing the halon use down to zero, and in assisting with emission data by providing regional estimates that should be more accurate than global estimates. National or regional banking schemes that maintain good records offer the opportunity to minimise the uncertainty in stored inventory and stock availability.
   There are companies available globally that will purchase and “clean” cross-contaminated halons; however, in some countries, because of a prohibition on halon exports, cross-contaminated halons are a financial liability and are reported to be vented to the atmosphere."
 2010 REPORT OF THE
HALONS TECHNICAL OPTIONS COMMITTEE.

Halon phase-out

" Halon Phase-out:

The 1992 Meeting of the Parties in Copenhagen decided to phase out consumption and production of halons in developed countries by January 1^st, 1994. Parties operating under Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol have a 10-year grace period where production for basic domestic needs is still allowed. In addition, Parties can ask for an exemption on production and consumption for essential end users under certain conditions.

At the same meeting, the Parties decided to allow unrestricted trade of recycled halons provided that the relevant data are reported to the UNEP under the procedures of the Protocol. These decisions make an orderly transition to fire protection without halons possible.

Existing valuable or critical installations can be protected  by halons until other arrangements have been made. In addition, the decisions allow time to for alternative means of protection to be developed for installations where other fire extinguishing systems are not adequate.

The importance of halon banks:

These decisions have made it important to plan for the recycling and reuse of halons. This will:

·         Facilitate the transfer of available halon from one user to satisfy the need s of another;

·         Discourage emissions into the atmosphere ;and

·         Mitigate the need for consumption and production exemptions for  “essential users”

If global-banking can be made more productive it will mean that halon 1301 will be available for several decades and halon 1211 for at least 10 years. International cooperation is needed to ensure that one nation’s surplus halon is exported to meet the need s of another nation. This especially true for developing nations which have minimal internal banks due to their restricted number of installations.”

Halon Management: Banking for the Future - UNEP IE/PAC

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. 

Importance of Halon Recycling

“Guidance for the EPA Halon Emission Reduction Rule (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart H)

The aim of the  EPA’ Guidance for Halon Emission Reduction Rule is to ensure that technicians who service halon systems are trained to minimize unnecessary releases of halons, and to maximize their recovery and recycling. 

Halons are very effective fire and explosion suppression agents that are electrically non-conductive and leave no residue. As such, they are extremely valuable for certain applications. The halons covered by 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart H are Halon 1211 (CF2ClBr), Halon 1301 (CF3Br), and Halon 2402 (C2F4Br2).

Halons play an important role in stratospheric ozone (O3) depletion: 

The halons covered by 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart H contain the chemical element bromine (Br) and also, in the case of Halon 1211, chlorine (Cl). Br and Cl both contribute to stratospheric ozone destruction.

The earth's stratosphere is a layer of the atmosphere that begins between 5 and 11 miles above the earth’s surface and extends up to about 30 miles above the earth’s surface. Ninety percent of the ozone in the earth’s atmosphere is found in the stratosphere. The characteristics of halon and other human-made chemicals that can deplete ozone (e.g., chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs) enable them to reach the stratosphere, where they break down and the Cl and Br from them can destroy ozone. Halons are a major source of bromine in the stratosphere.

Stratospheric ozone destruction is a human health risk: 

Ozone in the earth’s stratosphere protects the earth from the penetration of harmful ultraviolet (primarily UV-B) solar radiation by absorbing most of this harmful UV-B, allowing only a small amount to reach the earth’s surface. Without the filtering action of the ozone layer, more of the Sun’s UV-B radiation would penetrate the atmosphere and reach the earth’s surface.

Increased UV-B radiation can lead to increased incidence of certain skin cancers and cataracts, as well as other human health and environmental consequences.

There is a limited supply of halon:

Due to concerns about stratospheric ozone layer destruction, many countries have, under the landmark international agreement known as the “Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,” ended or plan to end production of ozone-depleting substances. The Montreal Protocol was first negotiated in 1987 and now involves more than 162 countries. In the United States, halon production ended in 1994, and recycled halon and inventories produced before January 1, 1994, are now the only sources of supply.

 References 5 and 8 in Appendix B describe U.S. government and industry programs that were developed in response to the ban on halon production to store (“bank”) and trade halon. 

There are alternative agents for most current halon applications:

EPA has, under its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, listed several acceptable alternative agents and technologies for halon total-flooding and streaming applications. The SNAP program goal is to ensure that industry and consumers have ample alternatives to applications for which ozone-depleting substances, including halons, are currently used; and that these alternatives reduce the overall risk to human health and the environment.

References 14, 15, 18, 26 and 27, and Web site 1 in Appendix B describe halon alternatives and EPA’s SNAP program.”

New Website!

We are very happy to present our sparkling new website. You can check it out at www.halonbankingsystems.com and let us know what you think.

Halon What To Do!

    Halon 1301, 2402 and 1211 are Ozone Depleting Chemicals that are no longer produced but still have commercial value...we will pay top dollar for your used Halon. 
    Call 1-877-567-1607 or e-mail denisa.cojo@halonbankingsytems.us, for a price quote and check us out at:http://www.halonbankingsystems.com/

Halon Banking Systems starts blogging

Hello  everybody,
We at HBS are very excited about our first post on blogger.com;
We are very happy to present ourselves to the world and what we can offer.
For more information, please visit our website: www.halonbankingsystems.com