Posted By Martin Halon 1011 banned, halons 1211 and 1301 systems to be decommissioned. Tough new controls on ozone depleting substances have been put in place, affecting various fire-fighting systems. The supply and use of Hydro-chloroflourocarbons, chlorofluoocar-bons, halons and other ozone depleting substances were subject to new controls through-out the EU as of 1 October 2000. EC Regulation 2037/2000 implements within the EU commitments agreed by the parties to the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer at both Montreal 1997 and Beijing 1999 meetings. The montreal protocol has now been ratified by over 170 countries including the UK, ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EU, HAS IMPLEMENTED THE PROTOCOL THROUGH AN EC REGULATION, WHICH IS DIRECTLY APPLICABLE IN UK LAW. Halons 1211 andv 1301 used in fire-fighting will remain available until 31 December 2002, however most of these systems must be decommisioned by 31 December 2003, excluding bromochloromethane (halon 1011), the sale and use of which is prohibited from 1 October 2000. Hope this helps Martin Knox TechSP. (North -East job seeker)

Posted By Kevin Minton Look at EC Regulation 2037/2000. Go to www.dti.gov.uk/access/ozone.htm for guidance. Halon fire extinguishers have to be decommissioned by end 2003. DTI intend to produce more specific guidance but it wasn't on their site when I last looked.