EPA acts to safeguard Halon-1301 supply for fire suppression
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has acted under its Clean Air Act authority to protect Halon-1301, a critical fire suppression agent.
The agency said the chemical is essential for aviation, defence and energy, where it is used to extinguish fires in confined spaces.
EPA explained that it is issuing statutory Section 114 information requests to the American Carbon Registry, Wesco and Tradewater.
The requests seek details on projects involving the destruction of Halon-1301 in exchange for carbon offset credits.
The letters were issued on Tuesday 23 September 2025, and the companies have 21 days to respond.
Concerns over destruction of existing stocks
EPA stated that Halon-1301 is no longer produced in the US, with new manufacture banned under the Montreal Protocol since 1994.
Stocks have been preserved through recycling and reclamation, and these have supported aviation and other critical users for more than three decades.
In July 2025, an entity attempted to destroy 30,000 pounds of US-owned Halon-1301 in France for carbon credits.
EPA confirmed that the Office of Air and Radiation intervened after learning the material was reclaimable and prevented its destruction.
The agency warned that if domestic stocks were depleted, the US could be forced to buy Halon-1301 from China or other countries that still produce it.
EPA issues warning on public safety risks
Aaron Szabo, EPA Assistant Administrator, said: “EPA is deeply concerned that companies are destroying critical lifesaving fire suppression products for carbon credits.
“Doing so not only deprives our country of this critical chemical, needlessly putting public safety at risk, but could also make the United States dependent on other countries like China.
“This is yet another example of companies prioritising short term financial gains over real, lifesaving products.”
EPA added that Halon-1301’s unique ability to extinguish fires without leaving corrosive residues means it remains indispensable for confined-space applications.
The agency said it is also exploring alternative chemicals while protecting existing supplies.
What is Halon-1301?
Halon-1301, also known as bromotrifluoromethane (CBrF₃), is a gaseous fire suppression agent widely adopted from the 1960s onwards.
It became valued for its ability to extinguish fires rapidly in enclosed spaces without leaving residues that could damage sensitive equipment.
Common applications included civil and military aviation, energy facilities, computer centres and defence systems.
The chemical is effective at very low concentrations and works by disrupting the chemical chain reactions involved in combustion.
Its properties made it indispensable in settings where water, foam or dry chemicals could not be used safely.
Despite its effectiveness, Halon-1301 is classified as a Class I ozone-depleting substance under the Montreal Protocol.
Production was phased out in most countries in 1994 due to its high ozone depletion potential and very long atmospheric lifetime, estimated at around 65 years. It also has a very high global warming potential relative to carbon dioxide.
In normal fire suppression concentrations, Halon-1301 presents low acute toxicity, but exposure to higher levels can affect the central nervous system or cause suffocation through oxygen displacement.
Because no single substitute matches its performance in all critical uses, aviation, defence and energy sectors still rely on recycled and reclaimed stocks, closely regulated to balance safety and environmental concerns.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The EPA’s decision to restrict the destruction of Halon-1301 has practical consequences for sectors where the chemical remains in use.
For aviation facility managers, it secures the availability of a suppression agent approved for on-board aircraft fire systems.
For defence and energy safety officers, it maintains supply for environments where confined-space fire events cannot be controlled by other means.
Procurement officers and system installers must account for regulatory protection of Halon-1301 in planning and equipment servicing.
Consultants and engineers should also note EPA’s parallel efforts to evaluate alternative suppression agents, which may eventually influence design and specification standards.
EPA acts to safeguard Halon-1301 supply: Summary
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Tuesday 23 September 2025 that it has acted under the Clean Air Act to protect Halon-1301.
The agency issued statutory Section 114 requests to the American Carbon Registry, Wesco and Tradewater regarding projects destroying Halon-1301 in exchange for carbon offset credits.
EPA highlighted that Halon-1301 is critical for aviation, defence and energy, with no new production permitted since 1994 under the Montreal Protocol.
In July 2025, EPA intervened to prevent the destruction of 30,000 pounds of reclaimable Halon-1301 in France.
EPA Assistant Administrator Aaron Szabo said destroying usable stockpiles places public safety at risk and could make the US dependent on foreign supply.
The companies involved have 21 days to respond to EPA’s requests.
This article contains information from the following source: the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
