Halons

Halon 1211, Halon 1301, Halon 2402 and other Bromofluorocarbons

Halons are organic, synthetic (i.e., human-made) chemicals. They contain bromine, fluorine, carbon and in some cases chlorine in their structure. They do not leave a solid residue and are not a threat to people when used at the recommended concentrations. The combined characteristics of halons made them suitable for all types of fire-extinguishing equipment, ranging from industrial/commercial total-flooding equipment to the hand-held fire extinguishers popular for office and home use.

As halons were found to deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, they became subject to a global phase-out under an international agreement: the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

In Canada, halons are subject to the Ozone Depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations, which prohibits the production, import and export of halons. However, halon imported prior to 1994 and recycled halons are still used in aviation, military applications, nuclear power stations and the petrochemical industry.

There is more than one CAS number that applies to this group of substances.

Risk Assessment

• CEPA 1999 Schedule 1 - List of Toxic Substances - These substances have been added to the List of Toxic Substances.
  • 8. Bromochlorodifluoromethane that has the molecular formula CF₂BrCl (Halon 1211)
  • 9. Bromotrifluoromethane that has the molecular formula CF₃Br (Halon 1301)
  • 10. Dibromotetrafluoroethane that has the molecular formula C₂F₄Br₂ (Halon 2402)
  • 16. Bromofluorocarbons other than those set out in items 8 to 10
• Full life cycle management of the substance (Track 2) under the Toxic Substances Management Policy

Risk Management Tool(s)

Tool(s) developed to manage risks associated with the substance:

• Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2022
• Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations

International engagement

• Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

Other Information

• Ozone layer
• National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI)
• Environmental code of practice on Halons
• Halon in fire-extinguishing systems

Contact

Ozone Protection Programs
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau QC  K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-938-4228
Email: halocarbures-halocarbons@ec.gc.ca