Halon Fire Suppression Deaths

Between the 1920s and 1960s carbon dioxide was the only gaseous fire suppression agent used to any degree but halon based systems were used extensively beginning in the 1960s.

Halon fire suppression deaths.

A 300 pound halon tank from that system was. Environmental protection agency subsequently banned its manufacture in 1994 the search was on for. Halon 1211 also has low toxicity although it is more toxic than halon 1301 and thus considered unsuitable for flooding systems. However halon 1301 fire suppression is not completely non toxic.

What is halon and how does it work. Facilities worker man in blue shirt unknowingly triggered the halon fire suppression system in the old server room. Very high temperature flame or contact with red hot metal can cause decomposition of halon 1301 to toxic byproducts. Prior to the incident the company had decommissioned a system at an infirmary satellite facility that used high pressure halon gas to suppress fire.

For many years halon 1301 was the holy grail of fire suppressants for high value assets that would be damaged by traditional sprinkler systems. Halon is a liquefied compressed gas that stops the spread of fire by chemically disrupting combustion.