Nitrogen Fire Extinguishing System in Airplanes Cargo Compartments

In all large passenger transport airplanes, halon fire bottles are used to extinguish fire in the cargo compartments. Halon as a fireextinguishing agent, contributes to the destruction of stratospheric ozone in the atmosphere and it is banned in many countries. The European commission ruled that halon 1301 and 1211, must not be installed onboard new airplanes by 2018 and by 2040, halon must be removed and replaced in all operating aircraft. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adapted a resolution that requires a halon replacement agent for lavatory extinguishers and hand held halon extinguishers by 2011 and 2016, respectively [1]. There is, however an increasing concern, for aircraft manufacturers, to find an effective halon replacement before the deadline.