Most British companies are on course with phasing halon in fire extinguishers, according to an AIRMIC survey. Under the terms of the Montreal Protocol, all halon systems must be removed from service in EU member states by the end of 2003. No replenishment of existing halon systems will be allowed after the end of 2002. The Protocol decided to ban halon compounds from use in extinguishers because they are potent destroyers of the ozone layer.
The survey found that AIRMIC members’ companies had an average of 1.7 halon systems still in use, although 83% already had a decommissioning programme, and many systems had already been replaced. More than 90% of respondents said their companies had a budget for replacing halon systems; only one did not believe that the replacement programme would be completed within the specified timescale. Overall, about half the companies’ systems appear to have already been replaced.
