Newest fire extinguishing methods

Newest fire extinguishing media and methods developed during the last few years as replacements or alternatives to halons are reviewed in this study. No perfect replacement has been found yet but it is being looked for widely around the world. Even though the motivation of most of the research has been to replace halons, the use of which will be almost totally banned in the near future, the research has forwarded the development of all the areas of suppression technology. New suppression agents and methods have appeared in the market which - without the ban of halons - probably would never have been discovered. The whole basis of fire safety engineering has had to be reconsidered, and it may be concluded that many old but especially new extinguishing methods together with a modern fire detection system form an efficient fire protection system in almost any building and construction. (orig.) (13 refs., 4 tabs.)