Halons are the substances which are most harmful to the ozone layer, their potential to destroy ozone being three to ten times higher than that of CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons). Under the Montreal Protocol, halon production in the developed countries was banned from 1st. January 1994, since technically and economically feasible alternatives for the majority of uses of halons were available. EU Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer controlled marketing and use of halons (1211, 1301 and 2402). Exceptions were made for a list of uses of halons in areas defined in annex 7 as critical uses. This report contains information on current areas of use of halon in the Nordic countries, Denmark, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The information was gathered by using contacts in the fire, security and defence fields, together with communications by mail and e-mail to other contacts and potential contacts as well as extensive Internet searching.
What is good for fighting fires is not always good for the environment. In the case of halons, their long atmospheric lifetimes and high ozone destruction potential makes them extremely damaging to the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects humans, animals and plants from the damaging effects of ultraviolet solar radiation. Developing countries face the challenge of ensuring effective fire protection while at the same time eliminating their reliance on halons. This publication presents case studies that show how different organizations and countries have successfully approached and addressed various aspects of halon management.