Risk Assessment Approach for Selecting a Replacement for Halon 1301 Fire Suppressant

摘要

Halon 1301 has been the primary gaseous fire suppressant for total flooding applications on naval vessels since the mid 1960s. The speed and assurance of extinguishment has made it the popular choice, but other factors also contribute to its suitability as a fire suppressant. These factors include the ease of which the agent is dispersed, the minimal residue after release, its electrical non-conductivity and the minimal risk associated with short-term human exposure. Halons however, are ozone depleting substances and under the Montreal Protocol, production of these substances have been be subjected to a controlled phase-out. A number of Halon 1301 alternatives have been assessed using a risk analysis approach. The analysis comprised identifying suppressant selection criteria and rating the suppressants against each criterion and each criterion was rated on the basis of its level of importance in different applications. Rating both suppressant behaviour and the importance of each of the criteria ensures that the end use is given due consideration in suppressant selection.