I worked in the machine room for a large oil company from the mid-eighties to the mid-nineties where we had a halon system installed. I was thoroughly trained in how to shut it off if it was ever activated. There were two large red buttons about three feet apart that had to be pressed simultaneously to disable the dispersion of halon. I was warned to evacuate the room immediately if I could not disable the system and was told that I would suffocate within two minutes upon activation. I was also informed that the cost of recharging the halon system was approximately $25,000. Since I have retired, there have been safer and more environmentally friendly methods available for machine room fire control i.e. sprinklers, argon, etc. Personally, I would have an alarm system connected to the local fire department along with hand-held fire extinguishers available. You must calculate the risk with the cost of protection.
Slashdot Mirror
I worked in the machine room for a large oil company from the mid-eighties to the mid-nineties where we had a halon system installed. I was thoroughly trained in how to shut it off if it was ever activated. There were two large red buttons about three feet apart that had to be pressed simultaneously to disable the dispersion of halon. I was warned to evacuate the room immediately if I could not disable the system and was told that I would suffocate within two minutes upon activation. I was also informed that the cost of recharging the halon system was approximately $25,000. Since I have retired, there have been safer and more environmentally friendly methods available for machine room fire control i.e. sprinklers, argon, etc. Personally, I would have an alarm system connected to the local fire department along with hand-held fire extinguishers available. You must calculate the risk with the cost of protection.