ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE
FOR A FIRE
SUPPRESSION SYSTEM?
IF SO, FIRE PROTECTION TECHNICIANS
WORKING ON YOUR SYSTEM AND
EXTINGUISHERS MAY REQUIRE A LICENCE.
FIRE PROTECTION INDUSTRY
(ODS & SGG) BOARD
OZONE DEPLETING
SUBSTANCES & SYNTHETIC
GREENHOUSE GASES
WHY ARE LICENCES REQUIRED?
The ozone layer protects the earth from harmful
radiation from the sun. This radiation can significantly
increase skin cancers and harm plants and animals.
The legislation described in the Ozone Protection and
Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and
the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas
Management Regulations (1995) aims to protect the
ozone layer by preventing the unnecessary release of
these substances into the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases build up in the atmosphere causing
global warming and climate change.
The legislation also aims to reduce the effects of global
warming by preventing the unnecessary release of
synthetic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
GASEOUS FIRE
SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS
WHERE ARE THEY FOUND?
Gaseous fire suppression systems using scheduled
extinguishing agents are widely distributed across
Australia. These systems are used across various
sectors including:
• Building
• Marine
• Mining
• Aviation
• Defence
WHICH EXTINGUISHING AGENTS ARE
AFFECTED BY THE LEGISLATION?
Gaseous fire suppression systems and portable
extinguishers use different extinguishing agents.
Only some extinguishing agents are affected
by the legislation (scheduled), for example:
• Halon 1211 (BCF)
• Halon 1301 (BTM)
• NAF S-III
• NAF-P-III
• FM-200
• FE-13
Suppression systems and extinguishers using scheduled
extinguishing agents are permitted by the Regulations
however they must be serviced and maintained by fire
protection technicians who hold an Extinguishing Agent
Handling Licence (EAHL), as described in the legislation.
Before allowing any technician to work on a gaseous
fire suppression system or portable fire extinguishers
(containing scheduled extinguishing agents), check that
they hold an appropriate licence.
WHY ARE THEY USED?
Gaseous fire suppression systems are
typically installed so as to:
• Safeguard people and processes
• Protect high value assets
• Guarantee business continuity
LICENCES,
AUTHORISATIONS
& PERMITS
EXTINGUISHING AGENT
HANDLING LICENCES (EAHL)
Any person installing, servicing, maintaining or
decommissioning gaseous systems containing scheduled
extinguishing agents must hold an EAHL. Six types
of licence exist for fire protection technicians working
on gaseous fire suppression systems and portable fire
extinguishers that use scheduled (listed in the Regulations)
extinguishing agents. They are:
1
Portable Fire Extinguisher Maintenance
2
Fixed System Installation and Decommissioning
3
Fixed System Testing and Maintenance
4
Recovery Reclamation, Fill and Recycling
5
Warehouse Maintenance
6
Control Systems Installation, Commissioning
and Decommissioning
Depending upon the type of installation work, maintenance
or service activity being undertaken, your fire protection
technician may need to hold more than one type of licence.
NLY
O
E
L
SAMP
EXTINGUISHING AGENT
TRADING AUTHORISATION (EATA)
Any person or business acquiring, possessing,
distributing and/or disposing of scheduled extinguishing
agents must hold an EATA. An EATA is required to
undertake the following activities:
• buy/sell/store agent in bulk, or
• fill/recover agent.
To apply for an EATA, a person or business must
have a current EAHL holder within their business.
*A system owner does not require an EATA unless spare cylinders
or extinguishers are stored within the facility.
HALON SPECIAL PERMIT (HSP)
Any person or company possessing halon, which is
for use in fire protection equipment, must hold a HSP.
Under the regulations it is an offence of strict liability
to possess halon without the appropriate permit.
You must hold a HSP to possess any amount of halon.
HALON IS BANNED FOR
MOST USES IN AUSTRALIA
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE HALON?
Halon was widely found in portable fire extinguishers
used in cars, boats and domestic situations. These fire
extinguishers containing halon were colour coded yellow.
Two types of halon were commonly used:
•Halon 1211, also known as BCF – usually found
in aviation portable fire extinguishers; and
•Halon 1301, also known as BTM – used mainly in
flooding systems, for example, to protect military vehicles.
HOW DO I DISPOSE OF HALON?
The National Halon Bank operates a free-call service
to advise you on the disposal of halon.
Halon may also be disposed of by giving it to:
• The officer in charge of a fire station; or
• The holder of an EATA; or
HALON
•The operator of an approved
EXTINGUISHERS
SHOULD NOT BE
extinguishing agent
DISPOSED OF
destruction facility.
IN LANDFILL.
The Commonwealth Government
provides a free service for the general public and small
business to dispose of portable halon fire extinguishers.
Call 1800 658 084 to arrange for disposal.
WARNING LABELS
FIRE INDICATOR PANEL LABELS
Available free of charge, these labels remind fire
protection technicians that:
•An attached gaseous fire
suppression system contains
a scheduled (listed in the
Regulations) extinguishing
agent that, if released into
the atmosphere, may deplete
the ozone layer or add to
global warming.
•Those working on the system must hold a current EAHL
as issued by the Board and required by the Regulations.
WHY SHOULD I DISPOSE OF MY
HALON BASED SYSTEMS OR FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS?
It has been illegal to own or use halon
based fire suppression systems or portable
fire extinguishers in Australia since 1995.
A number of alternative extinguishing
agents are now available to replace most
applications of halon in fire suppression
systems and portable fire extinguishers.
WHAT IF THERE ARE NO
ALTERNATIVES TO HALON?
Gaseous fire suppression systems and
portable fire extinguishers that contain
halon may only be used if a HSP has
been issued by the Fire Protection Industry
(ODS & SGG) Board (the Board).
If your facility still uses halon extinguishing
agents, and a Halon Special Permit has
not been issued, please contact the Board.
Contact details can be found on the back
of this brochure.
EXTINGUISHING
AGENT CONTAINER LABELS
Remind fire protection technicians that:
•An extinguishing agent container holds a scheduled
(listed in the Regulations) extinguishing agent that if
released into the atmosphere, may deplete the ozone
layer or add to global warming.
•Those working with the container must hold a
current EAHL as issued by the Board and required
by the Regulations.
FURTHER
INFORMATION
ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGES
The Board recommends that any accidental discharge
of scheduled extinguishing agents from gaseous fire
suppression systems, portable fire extinguishers or
containers be reported.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A copy of the Regulations and additional information
can also be found on the Department of Environment
and Energy website at:
www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/ozone
CONTACT THE FIRE PROTECTION
INDUSTRY (ODS & SGG) BOARD
The Executive Officer
Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board
PO Box 1049
Box Hill VIC 3128
Phone: 03 8892 3131
Fax:
03 8892 3132
Email:[email protected]
Web:www.fpib.com.au
FIRE PROTECTION INDUSTRY
(ODS & SGG) BOARD