Alternative to Fire-Fighting Halons

Abstract

Summary The commercial development and availability of halocarbons, particularly halons in the 1960s, as fire fighting agents was seen as an ideal means of reducing fire losses. The fire protection industry was at last able to apply an electrically non conductive, residue free and relatively non-toxic agent for extinguishing fires in most classes of combustible products. The ease of handling and applying the product led to its widespread application in the militaryand industry, particularly in the upstream (E&P) sector of the oil and gas industry. The discovery that CFCs, including halons, could damage the earth’s ozone layer has, however, ledto policies to phase out their use. This paper explores the response taken by E&P, particularly Shell companies to find alternative approaches to the use of halocarbons for fire fighting.