Use of halon and alternatives for fire protection in control rooms

The impact of current regulations, both international and domestic, on the cost and availability of halon fire protection is discussed. Continuing adequate fire protection in control rooms requires changes in the method previously used to design and use halon systems. Programs undertaken to keep using the current halon agents, including design changes, modification of the NFPA standards and initiation of halon recycling, are described. The new extinguishing agents coming to market that provide additional options for the fire protection professional are also described. It is argued that the combination of halon initiatives and new agent development will allow ample time for conversion of existing halon systems to the next generation of fire protection technology.<>