Are these safe to use? Legal to possess?

[JDgreen227]

My brother recently went to an auction at a storage center, the type where you bid on the contents of one that is being sold for unpaid storage fees. The one he bid and won had four of these extinguishers (see attachments) brand new and still in the cartons. No date on either box or extinguisher.

He has no use for them so I am planning to put one in each of my outbuildings and am aware they should not be used in any confined space because they are halon type. Or maybe I should sell them on Ebay, if that is legal?

 

[dusty3030]

Legal to possess, AFAIK legal for you to sell.

Halon kicks ***** as a fire fighting tool. Just don't use it inside unless you can scoot out for a breath of air.

Would be great to keep on your tractor, would put out a fire without screwing up anything, leaves no residue and not conductive.

 

[KubotainNH]

You may want to contact a supplier, they may be worth something. From what I understand, what is out there can be used but no more can be manufactured. I work in a large data center that has Halon for fire suppression. It costs a ton to refill now so may be worth something to someone for legacy equipment usage.

 

[k0ua]

Yep a high dollar chlorofluorocarbon. I remember being gassed by one of the imbedded systems about 25 years ago. No residue. I don't know about the legality or anything, but I know they were supposed to be the best, at least back in the day.

Here is what wikipedia has to say about it.

The production of bromochlorodifluoromethane and similar chlorofluorocarbons has been banned in most countries since January 1, 1994 as part of the Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances. However, recycling of halon 1211 allows it to remain in use, although parts availability is limited to a few manufacturers and can be an issue. Halon 1211 is still widely used in the United States, despite its high cost, with the US Military being the biggest user, but Europe and Australia have banned its use for all but "critical applications" such as aviation, military, and police use.
The manufacture of UL Listed halon 1211 extinguishers was supposed to cease on October, 2009. The future listing is still in discussion. Halotron I is the replacement extinguishing agent. It takes a larger volume to get the same ratings as 1211 has.
This is a volatile extinguishing agent that should be used only with a breathing apparatus.

James K0UA

 

[dusty3030]

Halon 1301 is only effective as a fire suppressent if it is contained, such as a room that becomes sealed when or before the tank is discharged. You will notice doors with magnetic locks that will close automatically when a detector is actuated in rooms that were protected with this system.
The gas is much heavier than air and will purge the air from the room and starve the fire. No oxygen, no fire.
If you can't figure out a cheap way to contain the gas (hold it like a cup holds water), it's completely ineffective.
Because the price rose dramitcally after it ws taken off the market, and the gas has a negative impact on the environment, most systems have been upgraded to FM 200 or preaction double interlocked wet systems with supplemental detection systems incorproated into them to prevent accidental discharge of water.
Put the item on ebay and get rid of it, as it's becoming more difficult to find buyers.

Yeah, but he has 1211. It will work well in open spaces.
Watch this clip, at around 1:50 you will see the crew using it and it is suppressing the fire, unfortunately for them there wasn't anyone putting water on ordnance on the other side of the deck and a secondary explosion took them out.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chuiyXQKw3I]USS Forrestal Mishap July 29, 1967 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[steviep]

the last time I watched that movie was November 1981 All sailor get to watch it in bootcamp. The navy changed a lot of thier training and tecniques after that fire. The ship I was on had a major engine rm fire while in port. due to good training the ship was saved.

 

[monckywrench]

Weren't those extinguishers on Forrestal Purple K? I recall it being mentioned in the film when the first fire crew were wiped out.

USS FORRESTAL nearly destroyed by Faulty Rocket - World Naval Ships Forums

The "Training' film utilizing the lessons learned from Forrestal's fire is aptly titled "Trial by Fire". Even with a modern Naval Fire Fighting mockup on each coast, the Canadian Navy continues to show Trial by Fire for everyone's Fire Fighting refresher courses. Whenever a trainee would screw up during training, we would use the byline "Remember the Chief with the purple K"

The USAF didn't get Halon for aircraft firefighting on the flightline until around the late 80s/early 90s (I don't recall precisely).

 

[rsewill]

Yeah, but he has 1211. It will work well in open spaces.
Watch this clip, at around 1:50 you will see the crew using it and it is suppressing the fire, unfortunately for them there wasn't anyone putting water on ordnance on the other side of the deck and a secondary explosion took them out.
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chuiyXQKw3I

Don't bother clicking if you're on a mobile because it is not available.

 

[NHmitch]

Thats a crazy video. I trained for years with the large rolling Halon Extinguishers in the Air Force. I was in a bunker this last summer on base that was two stories underground. They had originally had the entire facility rigged with a Halon suppression system, however the problem is that when you use this system, it removes the oxygen from the air, and you die, so the military does not use this in enclosed spaces anymore, and I am sure that this was by a very bad trial and error, as with most unfortunate discoveries. I personally would get rid of it, and get either a good ABC, or a purple K extinguisher if you need it. The way to tell a good extinguisher, is if the handle, and the gauge are metal. These are the serviceable extinguishers, and they hold the pressure better. I have put out a lot of fires over the years in the military, and as a police officer with extinguishers, and regardless of what chemical they contain, besides water, you never want to inhale it. Trust me, it is bad for your lungs. It can cause silicosis, that can scar your lungs. I would probably bring it to a local fire department, and ask them to dispose of it. If you really want to keep the bottle, they may spray the chemical out for you, and you can have it refilled with a better substance, and relabeled, but I would just get rid of it. Selling it may lead to someone inadvertently getting hurt. Just a thought.