Introduction.
Introduction.
(1995 K)
Grosshandler, W. L.; Gann, R. G.; Pitts, W. M.
NIST SP 861; April 1994.
Evaluation of Alternative In-Flight Fire Suppressants
for Full-Scale Testing in Simulated Aircraft Engine
Nacelles and Dry Bays. Section 1, Grosshandler, W. L.;
Gann, R. G.; Pitts, W. M., Editor(s)(s), 1-12 pp, 1994.
Available from:
Government Printing Office
Order number: SN003-003-03268-9
Keywords:
halons; ozone; aircraft engines; nacelle fires;
simulation; fire suppression; effectiveness;
compatibility; fire extinguishing agents; halon
alternatives; ultraviolet radiation
Abstract:
The Montreal Protocol of 1987 identified halon 1301
(CF3Br) as one of a number of halogenated chemicals that
were sufficiently deleterious to stratospheric ozone
that their continued production and use required
limitation. An amendment to the Protocol caused
commercial halon production to cease at the beginning of
1994. The focus of concern is that the halon molecule
is sufficiently stable in the lower atmosphere that it
will eventually be transported to the stratosphere
unaltered. There the carbon-bromine bond is vulnerable
to photodissociation by solar ultraviolet radiation.
The liberated bromine atom then enters into a catalytic
cycle which has the net effect of consuming the
shielding ozone.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899