Removing a Halon FE for Inspection

[MYNantucket]

Halon

Your halon bottle should have a lockout pin. If you don’t have one in it then use a paper lip to keep the mechanical from firing . I have the same 10 lb bottle on my 40’ Mainship and could not find anyone in Texas that would service it so I had to buy a new bottle filled with Hailatron ( Spelling not sure) 10 lb is bigger bottle but same coverage

 

[MYNantucket]

One other note is Halon removes or displaces all oxygen in the area, you could die if she goes off get out of there !

 

[Larry M]

One other note is Halon removes or displaces all oxygen in the area, you could die if she goes off get out of there !

That’s what I thought also but it doesn’t remove the oxygen.

Halon ...stops the spread of fire by chemically disrupting combustion. ... Traditionally, to stop a fire you need to remove one side of the triangle - the ignition, the fuel or the oxygen. Halon adds a fourth dimension to fire fighting - breaking the chain reaction.

What is Halon and How Does it Work?

https://www.agas.com/us/resources/faqs-fire-protection/

https://www.h3rcleanagents.com/support_faq_2.htm

 

[rslifkin]

Halon and every other clean agent have 2 important concentration percentages to be aware of. The minimum concentration to be effective, and the max concentration before it's immediately harmful to humans. There's some spread between the 2, which is where you ideally want to end up after a system discharge.

 

[Northern Spy]

One other note is Halon removes or displaces all oxygen in the area, you could die if she goes off get out of there !

Myth.

You are thinking of CO2.

 

[MYNantucket]

That’s what I thought also but it doesn’t remove the oxygen.

Halon ...stops the spread of fire by chemically disrupting combustion. ... Traditionally, to stop a fire you need to remove one side of the triangle - the ignition, the fuel or the oxygen. Halon adds a fourth dimension to fire fighting - breaking the chain reaction.

What is Halon and How Does it Work?

https://www.agas.com/us/resources/faqs-fire-protection/

https://www.h3rcleanagents.com/support_faq_2.htm

So I stand corrected... Thanks Larry, I always thought it removes the oxygen as that is what the fire specialist at the flight simulation company I worked for had once said

 

[MYNantucket]

Thank you. I appreciate your time to guide me through the process. BTW the bottle is about as high as it physically go.

Hey great video Steve, Thanks

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Your halon bottle should have a lockout pin. If you don’t have one in it then use a paper lip to keep the mechanical from firing . I have the same 10 lb bottle on my 40’ Mainship and could not find anyone in Texas that would service it so I had to buy a new bottle filled with Hailatron ( Spelling not sure) 10 lb is bigger bottle but same coverage

It has a lock pin and a plastic lock thing a ma gig on it too.

 

[Steve DAntonio]

Thank you. I appreciate your time to guide me through the process. BTW the bottle is about as high as it physically go.

OK, wasn't sure from the photo, that's exactly what you want. And away from ventilation sources as well if possible.

 

[Steve DAntonio]

Your halon bottle should have a lockout pin. If you don’t have one in it then use a paper lip to keep the mechanical from firing . I have the same 10 lb bottle on my 40’ Mainship and could not find anyone in Texas that would service it so I had to buy a new bottle filled with Hailatron ( Spelling not sure) 10 lb is bigger bottle but same coverage

Many older bottles do not have lock out pins. If it has one it's attached to the bottle, I would not recommend using anything but that pin. If the pin is missing, get one from the manufacturer. If it is not designed to accept a pin, don't jury rig something, just be careful and cover the nozzle to prevent accidental discharge.

I did see a bottle accidentally discharged by a technician as it was being carried up a ladder, he bumped the nozzle on a rung and it discharged, he took it in the face. No safety glasses. Thankfully it made a clean line just below the bridge of his nose, causing mild frostbite, no eye damage. I mentioned wearing eye protection for this reason.

 

[Steve DAntonio]

One other note is Halon removes or displaces all oxygen in the area, you could die if she goes off get out of there !

That could not occur if the bottle is properly sized for the space, which ensures a non-lethal concentration. If properly sized the concentration in the space will support life. I occasionally encounter over-sized bottles (many think more is better for fire extinguishers, and usually that's true, this is an exception) and condemn them for this reason, it turns a people-safe system into a potentially deadly system.

Keep in mind, if you are transporting it in a car, and it discharges, the concentration could easily displace enough oxygen to cause injury or death.

Not all gaseous fixed fire extinguisher systems are people safe, even in the right concentration, FE241 for instance is not designed for use in occupied spaces. More details here https://stevedmarineconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/FixedFireEx125_03.pdf

 

[MYNantucket]

Just a thought, I’m not trying to say anyone here is wrong about Halon. This is from an article on Halon “Irritation can even occur without direct contact. High concentrations of halon can create an oxygen-deficient environment. This can cause people to suffocate. Large amounts of halon gas that are inhaled can interfere with the proper function of the central nervous system. ” So if your in a confined area and the Halon goes off, or any other gas, be aware that the level of oxygen can be displaced by the Halon Gas and you could suffer the consequence. Just saying

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

In the Air Force they told us halon was nasty stuff along with hydrazine. If see a pic of a fighter aircraft, the guy standing to the side next to the big red bottle is Halon

 

[slowgoesit]

Halons major health hazard is that when released, it can cause frostbite, or if released directly into your eyes, blindness, due to being EXTREMELY cold when released. Attached is the MSDS for Halon 1301, the kind used in most boat/aircraft applications. Halon 1211 is another matter.

 

[FoxtrotCharlie]

Shortly after we bought our boat I had it in Mobile for some work. There is a company in Mobile that is a marine fire safety company - name escapes me now, file is on the boat. All of my hand held units were very old/past due, so I bought all new ones (five I think) and he certified and tagged them. Then he got to the engine room system and said that we had a Halon system - he said it's the best extinguishing gas, but can't be purchased now. Luckily our tank/cylinder weighed correctly.