Choosing a long-term solution
In recent years, concerns about environmental issues - especially those relating to climate change - have led to increasing regulatory scrutiny of compounds with high global warming potentials. These so-called "greenhouse gases" include several conventional halon replacements, such as HFCs.
Under the Kyoto Protocol and other international agreements, more and more industrialized nations have committed to reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere. Although the use of HFCs in fire protection is allowed today, there is growing concern about their future viability, as regulators look for industries and applications (such as fire protection) where alternatives exist to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, without harming economic growth.
For example, abatement of HFCs of materials in fire protection applications is one strategy that companies can employ to reduce their overall emissions of materials in the "basket" of six greenhouse gases identified by the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, many forward-thinking companies are beginning to consider the potential costs of monitoring and reporting their use of greenhouse gases; and the cost and disruption to replace an HFC-based system in the near future, should new restrictions on HFCs, now being debated in the EU and other parts of the world, come into force. Ultimately, a growing number of end-users are concluding that long-term economics – as well as good stewardship – favor the use of sustainable technologies, such as Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid.
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