Message-ID: <364784A5.56DF@ibm.net>
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 1998 18:11:17 -0600
From: Snowbird <snbird@ibm.net>
Reply-To: snbird@ibm.net
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win95; I)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.student
Subject: Re: Basic Survival Gear (was Re: Tips for Organizing Cockpit for XC)
References: <727cd4$kc3$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com> <19981109145523.16253.00006154@ng128.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
NNTP-Posting-Host: 32.100.136.159
X-Trace: 10 Nov 1998 01:41:55 GMT, 32.100.136.159
Organization: IBM.NET
Lines: 50
X-Notice: Items posted that violate the IBM.NET Acceptable Use Policy
X-Notice: should be reported to postmaster@ibm.net
X-Complaints-To: postmaster@ibm.net
Path: news.jprc.com!newsfeed.sgi.net!feeder.qis.net!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.gtei.net!news-peer.gip.net!news.gsl.net!gip.net!newsm2.ibm.net!ibm.net!news1.ibm.net!32.100.136.159
Xref: news.jprc.com rec.aviation.student:38196

HLAviation wrote:

> >>>  Halon is VERY effective. It is also bad for you.  <<

> >Not really.... I mean the bad for you part. I've been in a 
> >number of Halon dumps  for certifying local fire codes when bringing > >new computer rooms on-line. It is a CFC and deemed bad for the 
> >environment but it's no problem breathing it...actuallly sorta funny: > > makes your voice very deeeeeeep!

Yep, it makes your voice deeeeeeeep.

Halon is not one uniform compound.  There are a number of chemical
formulations labeled all labeled "Halon xxxx" where xxxx is some
4 digit number indicating the actual composition to those with the
Halon Secret Decoder Ring.

Older Halons were CFC, very inert, and ozone depleting.  No health
effects that I know of; can produce hydrofluoric acid (very nasty)
in contact with burning materials it can't extinguish immediately. 
Usually this is short-lived and in minute quantity

Newer Halons are not ozone depleting, but something in there has
the nasty side effect of producing cardiac arrhythmias in some
susceptible people.   This may be the reason for the caution
Sam mentions regarding use of oxygen prior to Halon. 

One of the blessed features of Halon is that it works by reacting
with the burning materials (rather than by depriving the fire of
oxygen, as does CO2).  So a small percentage of Halon even not
directly sprayed on the source of the fire is very effective (2-4%
is the target concentration I believe).  These concentrations don't
interfere with respiration or cause any kind of acute toxicity of
which I'm aware.

> Kinda interesting thing.  When Halon first came out there was a demo 
> at conventions and sales shows where a rep was standing in a 
> plexiglass box wwith a cigarrette in one hand and a Zippo lighter in 
> the other and they turned on the Halon.  The lighter and cig went out > but the guy was just fine!  That man died of cancer a few years later. 
Lung cancer, no doubt, from smoking :).  While I wouldn't want to
be breathing the stuff day in and day out several times a day,
I don't think there's any good evidence that a one time low dose
exposure which can be immediately vented afterwards is harmful.

> But if I need a fire out in a confined situation
> and a reletively delicate environment  I'd pick Halon hands down.

Yep.

Snowbird


