MONTEREY BAY UNIFIED AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT

RULE 1102 - HALON FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Adopted 2-17-93

CONTENTS
PART 1 GENERAL

1.1 Purpose
1.2 Applicability
1.3 Exemptions
1.4 Effective Dates
1.5 References

PART 2 DEFINITIONS

PART 3 REQUIREMENTS


PART 1 GENERAL

1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this rule is to reduce the emissions of halons to the atmosphere from portable halon fire extinguishers and nonportable or automatic halon fire suppression systems by requiring the use of recovery and recycling equipment for the testing and servicing of the systems and by restricting the sale of nonrefillable portable extinguishers which lack design features which facilitate the recapture of halons during service, repair and disposal of the extinguishers.

1.2 Applicability

1.2.1 Any person using, servicing or testing any portable or automatic halon fire extinguisher or system in a manner which may cause the release of halon to the environment is subject to this rule.

1.2.2 Any person dismantling or disposing of any portable or automatic halon extinguisher or system in a manner which may cause the release of halon to the environment is subject to this rule.

1.2.3 Any person who offers for sale or trade any nonrefillable portable halon fire extinguisher which lacks a servicing aperture or an equally effective design feature which facilitates the recovery of halons during service, repair, or disposal of the extinguisher is subject to this rule.

1.3 Exemptions

1.3.1 A person responding to an actual fire event shall be exempt from section 3.1 of this rule.

1.3.2 A person performing an authorized test of a total flooding system using recovery and recycling equipment according to the operating procedures of the equipment manufacturer so that incidental discharges of halon are reduced to the lowest achievable level, shall be exempt from section 3.1 of this rule.

1.4 Effective Dates

1.4.1 The requirements of sections 3.1 and 3.2 of this rule shall become effective May 1, 1993.

1.4.2 The requirements of section 3.3 of this rule shall become effective August 1, 1993.

1.5 References

1.5.1 Board Resolution # 92-06 states the intention of the District Board to develop rules to protect stratospheric ozone, including this rule regulating halon fire extinguishers.

1.5.2 Section 608 of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 requires the lowest achievable level of use and emissions, maximum recycling, and safe disposal of halon compounds.

1.5.3 Section 13190.2 of the California Health and Safety Code allows government agencies and districts which are operating in their areas of jurisdiction to enforce the regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal relating to care, maintenance, and testing of portable fire extinguishers.

1.5.4 Section 578.10 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations requires the use of a closed halon recovery system in compliance with UL Standard 2006 whenever extinguishing agents are removed from portable fire extinguishers.

PART 2 DEFINITIONS

2.1 Actual fire: a fire event that is not intentionally ignited for testing or training purposes.

2.2 Halons: the class of carbon compounds containing bromine and chlorine or/and fluorine, and which includes, without limitation, Halon 1211, Halon 1301, and Halon 2402.

2.3 Person: any firm, business establishment, association, partnership, corporation, or individual, whether acting as principal, agent, employee, or other capacity, including governmental entity or charitable organization.

2.4 Portable system: a transportable cylinder or cartridge containing halon used for extinguishing fires.

2.5 Recover: to capture halon from a portable or total flooding system container in a receiving container using recovery equipment so that incidental discharges of halon are reduced to the lowest achievable level.

2.6 Service: to inspect, install, maintain, replace or remove either a portable fire extinguishing system or a total flooding system, the result of which may cause the release of halon.

2.7 Total flooding system: a stationary, nonportable, automatic, or engineered halon fire suppression system which is designed to completely fill a protected space with a designed concentration of halon during an actual fire emergency.

PART 3 REQUIREMENTS

3.1 No person may discharge halons from any portable fire extinguisher or total flooding system, unless an exemption pursuant to Section 1.3 is applicable.

3.2 Any person servicing, dismantling, or disposing of any portable fire extinguisher or total flooding system which may result in the discharge of halons shall use recovery and recycling equipment in compliance with Underwriters Laboratory Standard 2006 and procedures specified by the equipment manufacturer so that incidental discharges of halon are reduced to the lowest achievable level.

3.3 No person may sell or trade a portable halon fire extinguisher for use in the District if the extinguisher lacks a servicing aperture or an equally effective design feature which facilitates the recapture of halons during service and repair or disposal of the extinguisher.

 
 

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