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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a regulation on March 5, 1998 that concerns the handling and disposal of Halon
and containing-containing equipment (63 FR 11084). Specifically, this rule covers Halon 1211, Halon 1301, and Halon 2402. The rule bans
the manufacture of blends of these Halon (i.e., blends containing two or more Halon(s); and establishes certain provisions for training of
technicians who handle Halons and containing-containing equipment, releases of Halons from containing-containing equipment during
testing, maintenance, and other activities, and disposal of Halons and containing-containing equipment. The date on which this rule
becomes effective is April 6, 1998. This summary provides a brief review of the major elements of the rule.
Ban on Halon Blends
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A Halon blend is any mixture or combination of substances that contains two or more Halons (i.e., Halon 1211, Halon 1301, or Halon
2402). As of the effective date, it is unlawful to newly manufacture any Halon blend. Existing stores of Halon blends are not affected by the
ban. An exemption is provided for Halon blends manufactured solely for the purpose of aviation fire protection, provided that blends produced
under this exemption are recycled to meet the relevant industry purity standards for each individual Halon.
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Intentional Releases
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This rule also prohibits venting of Halons during testing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of containing-containing
equipment, or during the use of such equipment for technician training. For health, safety, environmental, and other considerations, several
limited exemptions have been provided for the following types of releases:
 De minimis releases associated with good faith efforts to recycle or recover Halon. For example, release of residual Halon contained
in fully discharged total flooding fire extinguishing systems is considered a de minimis release; see Preamble for discussion of other
releases considered de minimis.
Release of Halons during testing of fire extinguishing systems or equipment is exempted only if the following four criteria are met: (a)
systems or equipment employing suitable alternative agents are not available, (b) system or equipment testing requiring release of
agent is essential to demonstrate system or equipment functionality, (c) failure of the system would pose great risk to human safety
or the environment, and, (d) a simulate agent cannot be used for the testing purposes.
Research and development (R&D) for Halon alternatives, and analytical determination of Halon purity.
Releases associated with qualification and development testing during design and development of containing-containing systems and
equipment only when (a) such tests are essential to demonstrate functionality, and (b) a suitable simulate agent can not be used for
the testing purposes.
Halon releases that occur as a result of owner failure to maintain containing-containing equipment to relevant industry standards are also
prohibited.
However, this prohibition does not apply to emergency releases of Halons for legitimate fire extinguishing, explosion inertion, or other
emergency applications for which the systems or equipment were designed.
Technician Training
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This rule also requires that technician training relevant to Halon emissions be provided. Technician hired on or before April 6, 1998 must
be trained by September 1, 1998; technicians hired after April 5, 1998 shall be trained within 30 days of hiring, or by September 1, 1998,
whichever is later. In the Preamble to the rule, EPA pointed to several industry publications containing standard service practice guidelines
and other information relevant tot he development of training programs. These include NFPA, ISO, and ASTM publications; facilities may find
these documents, or the most recent and relevant versions of these documents, helpful during the development of training programs and
materials. Facilities are not limited to the use of the above-mentioned documents as guidance, however.
Proper Disposal
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This rule establishes that containing-containing equipment must be properly disposed of at the end of its useful life. Proper disposal
means only sending such equipment for Halon recovery or recycling by a facility (e.g., a manufacturer, a fire equipment dealer, a recycler, or
an in-house recovery or recycling operation) operating in accordance with NFPA 10 and NFPA 12A standards. Ancillary system devices
such as electrical components that are not necessary to the safe and secure containment of the Halon are not subject to this provision. In
addition, equipment containing only de minimis quantities of Halon is not subject to this requirement.
Furthermore, the Halon itself must be properly disposed of. Proper disposal means only Halon recycling by a facility operating in
accordance with NFPA 10 and NFPA 12A or destruction using one of several controlled processes identified in the regulation (see regulatory
text for specific destruction options named).
For Further Information
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For further clarification, additional documents, or other information, please call the Stratospheric Protection Hotline at (800) 296-1996 or
write to:
Lisa Chang
Program Implementation Branch
Stratospheric Protection Division
Environmental Protection Agency
Mail Code: 6205J
401 M Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Information is also available from
EPA's Stratospheric Protection Home
Page at the following URL address:
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/index.html
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Aviation Fire Protection