H3R Aviation

WHAT IS HALON?

Halon is a liquefied, compressed gas that stops the spread of fire by chemically disrupting combustion. Halon 1211 does not leave a residue and is rated for class "A" (common combustibles), class "B" (flammable liquids) and "C" (electrical) fires. Halon 1211 is a low-toxicity, chemically stable compound that, is easily recyclable. Halon has been used for fire and explosion protection throughout the 20th century, and remains an integral part of the safety plans in many of today's manufacturing, electronic and aviation companies. Halon protects computer and communication rooms throughout the electronics industry; it has numerous military applications on ships, aircraft and tanks and helps ensure safety on all commercial aircraft. Because Halon is a CFC, production of new Halon ceased in 1994 as required by the Montreal Protocol. There is no cost effective means of safely and effectively disposing of the Halon. Therefore, recycling and reusing the existing supply intelligently and responsibly to protect lives and property is the wisest solution.

WHY IS HALON THE BEST CHOICE?

Fire needs fuel, oxygen and heat to propagate. The most common extinguishing agents like water, carbon dioxide, dry chemical and foams attack the fire physically to deprive the fire of one or more of these three three elements. Halon differs in the way it puts out the fire. It offers some of water's cooling effect and some of carbon dioxide's smothering action, but its essential extinguishing technique lies in its capacity to chemically react with the fire's components. It actually interrupts the chain reaction of fire. Water is very effective on class A fires (common combustibles like wood and paper). Halon is effective on common combustibles (although not as effective as water), but Halon is also effective on class B (flammable liquids), and it does not conduct electricity back to the extinguisher operator (class C). Halon is similar to CO2 in that it is suitable for use in cold weather and leaves no residue. Unlike CO2, however, Halon does not displace the air from the area where it is dispensed. Even for the toughest fires, less than an 8% concentration of Halon by volume is required, leaving plenty of air to use in the evacuation process. Also, unlike CO2, there is no danger of "cold shock to avionics or other sensitive electrical equipment. Dry chemical fire extinguishers are effective on A, B and C class fires. However, they are highly corrosive, and create billowing clouds of choking dust. Dry chemical extinguishers should not be used in an aviation environment. Foam extinguishers are effective on class A and B fires, and are particularly useful for preventing ignition of flammable liquid spills. However, foams are inferior to Halon in that they do require cleanup and in that they are not for use on electrical fires. Halon 1211 is a liquefied gas which, when discharged, leaves the nozzle in a stream that is about 85% liquid and 15% gas. This gives the agent a range of 9 to 15 feet and offers significant advantages in fighting fires in large aircraft cabins.

HOW SAFE IS HALON?

Halons are low-toxicity, chemically stable compounds that have been used for fire and explosion protection from early in the last century. Halon has proven to be an extremely effective fire suppressant. Halon is clean (i.e., leaves no residue) and is remarkably safe for human exposure. Halon is a highly effective agent for firefighting in closed passenger carrying areas. Due to its effectiveness and relatively low toxicity, the FAA continues to recommend or require Halon extinguishers for use on commercial aircraft. Extensive toxicity evaluations have been compiled by nationally recognized United States medical laboratories and institutions on Halon 1301 (used in fire suppression systems) and Halon 1211 (used in portable fire extinguishers)These evaluations have shown that Halon 1301 is the safest extinguishing agent available, and that Halon 1211 is the second safest.

DO I NEED AN FAA FORM 8130-3 FOR THIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER?

No, not in North America. A factory-new Halon fire extinguisher does not require an 8130-3 because it is not considered an aircraft part. The FAA does not provide a list of authorized fire extinguishers for aircraft. The FAA does specify the following regulations. According to AC 20-42C, "Hand Fire Extinguishers for Use in Aircraft:" "The FAA accepts hand fire extinguishers approved by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc." "For occupied spaces on aircraft, Halon 1211 extinguishers should not be less than 2½ pounds (1.2kg) capacity. These extinguishers should have a minimum 5B:C rating; not less than 8 seconds effective discharge time; not less than a 10 ft. (3 meter) range, and may be equipped with a discharge hose."