Deadline 31st December 2002
The last day that existing Halon systems may be recharged with recycled or reclaimed Halon. After this date, if a Halon fire suppression system discharges it is effectively useless. The equipment it is designed to protect will be vulnerable until a new system can be purchased, installed and commissioned.
Deadline 31st December 2003
By this date all existing Halon systems must have been decommissioned and the Halon itself must have been disposed of by an approved contractor. Halon portable extinguishers must also be taken out of service by this date. Although Halon systems are still permitted in certain specialist applications (mainly military*) the export of Halon is severely restricted. Halon therefore now has a negative value, requiring certified disposal.
Halon - The Facts
By its nature, Halon is used to protect highly sensitive and valuable equipment. From the end of 2002 these assets will be vulnerable. Should any system discharge either by accident or to deal with a fire incident it will be illegal to recharge it. Until a new system can be purchased, installed and commissioned your most valuable equipment will be unprotected.
There is no true 'drop in' replacement for Halon currently available, so selecting an alternative will require careful planning, including a review of practical alternatives and acomplete redesign of the existing system.
Where protection of vital equipment is reliant upon a Halon system, it is unlikely that insurance cover will be obtained after 2002 since this protection cannot be regarded as a permanent solution. Insurance cover may be dependent upon an agreed timetable for the replacement of the Halon system.
Responsibilities
Users of Halon are responsible for its safe disposal under waste management controls included in Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 & The Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The effect of these regulations is to require holders of waste to take all reasonable steps to keep the waste safe and ensure it is treated legally. Anyone concerned with controlled waste must ensure it is managed properly, recovered and disposed of safely. It must only be transferred to someone who is authorised to receive it.
Proof may be required, so it is essential that the decommissioning of a Halon system is accompanied by an audit trail which provides a standard certification procedure to confirm that the Halon has been disposed of in a properly authorised fashion.
Halon replacement must be planned to include the effect on staff and ensure that they are protected from toxic effects. The system should be selected to provide the least possible risk to staff.
Storage, handling and maintenance of any suppression system may also have implications under the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations 1990. Full COSHH guidance should be provided with the system.
Replacement Systems
Fire Systems Ltd is can offer comprehensive advice and expertise on the decommissioning and replacement of Halon systems.
With many years experience in providing Fire Safety products and services, Fire Systems Ltd has always been at the forefront of product development and implementation.
Fire Systems Ltd supplies the full range of fire detection and extinguishing systems, allowing us to to design the most appropriate solution for any situation. The company covers every step of the design, selection and installation process from the initial risk assessment through to maintenance and support.
Additional Information
Halon Users National Consortium Ltd Website: www.hunc.org
Environment Agency Head Office Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
DETR Global Atmosphere Division Website: www.detr.gov.uk
DTI Environmental Publications: Website: www.dti.gov.uk
Existing Systems
Fire Systems Ltd can maintain any type of existing system, providing on-site and workshop repairs to any make of systems. With a large stockholding of spare parts we can turn around repairs rapidly. We are also able to upgrade your existing equipment to incorporate some of your existing equipment and providing the necessary equipment to provide you with a instant solution to your every increasing safety needs - cost effectively.
