Alternative fire suppression agents for Halon 1211 have been identified and are being used in the services for some military applications. Halon 1211 is a widely used fire suppression and explosion protection agent applied as a streaming agent and has been the fire extinguishing agent of choice for portable fire extinguishers in many aircraft, including the C-130. However, there are still applications which do not have suitable Halon substitutes. These operations are currently supported through the DoD Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Reserve.

Halon has one of the higher ozone depletion potentials of any compound, and thus its production and use are being curtailed and eventually eliminated. The Montreal Protocol (1987 and subsequent) and the Clean Air Act Amendments (1990) identify Halon 1211 as a Class I ODS and established a ban on it’s domestic production effective 31 Dec 1993. Currently, halon use is restricted to recycled halon. It is estimated that recycled halon will be available until the end of Fiscal Year 2003.

In order for a substitute to be approved, it must pass certain requirements. These requirements are specific for each branch of the service. The requirements for the Army are: 1) SNAP approval and 2) Toxicology clearance from the Army Surgeon General. Both of these requirements must be approved for both the specific application as well as the specific alternative agent.

For the Air Force, the specific application and alternative agent must comply with AFI-32-7086 “Hazardous Materials Management”, and must not impose a greater environmental or safety risk than Halon 1211. If the application is questionable, it must undergo an Environmental Safety and Occupational Health evaluation.

The Navy’s requirements are: 1) SNAP approval and 2) An ozone depleting potential (ODP) for the alternative of 0.05 or less (OPNAVINST 5090.1B, Environmental and Natural Resources Program Manual” 1 Nov 94).

In addition to these requirements, the applicable program office (for a weapon system) or fire chief (for an installation) will have regulations and directives that must be satisfied before substitutions are made. Ultimately, it is up to the program office or fire chief to make the substitution, not the user.

There are several Halon 1211 substitutes approved by the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. Although none is an ideal replacement for Halon 1211, they may be considered candidates for substitution, subject to specific use conditions as cited in 40 CFR 82 Appendix A to Subpart G, "Substitutes Subject to Use Restrictions and Unacceptable Substitutes." The following substitutes are listed:

• HCFC-123, (banned in residential applications)
• HCFC-124 (FE-241), (banned in residential applications)
• HCFC Blend B (Halotron 1), (banned in residential applications)
• HCFC Blend C (NAF P-III), (banned in residential applications)
• HCFC Blend D (Blitz III), (for use in large outdoor application, banned in residential applications)
• Gelled Halocarbon/Dry Chemical Suspension (formerly Powdered Aerosol B)
• Surfactant Blend A
• Water Mist using potable water or natural sea water,
• Carbon Dioxide,
• Dry Chemical
• Water
• Foam.

The following are acceptable subject to Narrowed Use Limits

• CF₃I (banned in residential applications)
• HBFC-22B1 (due to high ozone-depletion potential this substitute has already been phased out of production),
• C₆F₁₄ (PFC-614 or CEA-614), (acceptable for nonresidential uses when other alternatives are not technically feasible)
• HFC-227ea (proposed acceptable in nonresidential uses only)

In addition, HFC-236fa (FE-36), HFC-227ea and water mist with additives are pending a decision from EPA

The majority of Halon 1211 portable fire extinguishers found inside buildings can be replaced with dry chemical extinguishers and/or carbon dioxide extinguishers. However, research and implementation is still ongoing to identify replacements for Halon 1211 extinguishers used in weapon system/specialty applications (fire and rescue vehicles on flight-lines and carrier decks, portable (wheeled) flight-line fire extinguishers, etc.)

A substitute compound may not be as effective in extinguishing a fire, and so a higher concentration or greater quantity of the extinguishing may be required. The alternative for any application should be carefully reviewed for applicability to the use conditions.

There are several steps that must be taken in order to provide a suitable substitute for Halon 1211:

1. The first step is to identify a need for fire suppression. Since the ban, many 5 lb. Halon 1211 fire extinguishers were pulled without replacements because of a lack of need.



2. The next step is to identify fire suppression requirements. The first requirement is to determine what types of fires are most prominent in the area (A, B, and/or C). The second is to identify where and how often these fires occur. The third requirement is to determine what kind of response is needed (manual or automatic). Once these requirements have been met, then a suitable substitute may be identified.



3. The third step is to find the cheapest and easiest solution. Most of these agents are already stock-listed. There are also commercial products which are acceptable, as long as they are a SNAP-approved agent and a FM/UL delivery system

Halon 1211 for use in mission critical applications is supplied by DLA from the Defense ODS Reserve. Procurement of Halon 1211 for any other uses requires a certification by an authorized technical representative (ATR) and approval by a senior acquisition official (SAO) at the flag/general officer or civilian SES level in accordance with the specific Service guidance implementing this law, Section 326 of the FY-93 Defense Authorization Act which is also identified as Public Law 102-484. Furthermore, excess Halon 1211 removed from non-mission-critical applications should be returned to the Defense ODS Reserve in accordance with Service procedures. Further information on return procedures can be obtained from Defense Supply Center, Richmond at (804) 279-4525/5203.

• Switching from Halon 1211 to an approved alternative will reduce the potential for an ozone depleting chemical going into the environment. The switch may also provide a non-global warming agent or one with a lower global warming potential. Careful consideration of the choices is necessary in order to select the optimal alternative.
• With the increasing cost of halon, many of the alternative systems present a cheaper operating cost.

  
  

• High initial retrofit cost for alternative systems.
• If unit or weapon system is listed as mission-critical, and is identified in the Service’s Authorized Users for Halon 1211, The Defense Supply Center Richmond will provide Halon 1211 free of charge. This availability provides a disincentive for substitution with an alternative system.

Use of pollution prevention funds for replacement of Halon fire extinguishing systems with non-Halon based systems is not authorized if the reason for conversion is that the existing system has reached the end of its life expectancy. The economic feasibility of each substitute is highly dependent on the application. The following provides some examples of alternative fire fighting equipment available from GSA and other sources.

CO2

IAW MIL-E-24269, class 1
For shipboard application, 15 lbs., carbon dioxide, hand operated, squeeze grip. 10B:C UL minimum fire fighting ability, no bracket provided. NSN: 4210-00-203-0217, $166.54

IAW CID A-A-1106
50 lbs., carbon dioxide, wheeled, squeeze-grip. 20B:C UL minimum fire fighting ability. NSN: 4210-00-134-0341, $740.39

Ansul Inc.
15 lbs., carbon dioxide, hand operated, squeeze-grip. 10B:C UL minimum fire fighting ability. USCG approved, size: 26.5" H x 10.875" W x 6.25" D, includes bracket. NSN: 4210-00-134-8958, $203.93

Dry Chemical