Hqalon Alternatives

In response to the ban on Halon 1301 manufacture, the fire suppression industry has responded with the development of alternative clean agents that pose less of a threat to the ozone layer.
Two classes of agents have emerged as suitable replacements: halocarbon-based agents and inert gas agents.



The halocarbon-based agents are carbon-based compounds and extinguish fire primarily via the absorption of heat. Inert gas agents are based on the inert gases (i.e., nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide) and extinguish fire via oxygen depletion.



Under its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to evaluate alternative chemicals and processes intended to be used in place of ozone-depleting substances to ensure that they are acceptable from a human health and environmental perspective.

Click here to download PDF files of tables that list all of the agents that are considered acceptable as Halon alternatives under EPA's SNAP program.



With the advent of the new clean agents, businesses worldwide will continue to have the ability to protect critical equipment and irreplaceable items, despite the ban and inevitable disappearance of Halon 1301 from the marketplace.

With the mandated decommissioning of Halon 1301 in the EC and the increasing pressure from governments worldwide to reduce dependency on ozone depleting substances, it is expected that the future will see an increased utilization of Halon alternative clean agents.