FM-200™
Fire SuppressantMontreal Protocol Kigali HFC Amendment…
What Does It Mean for Fire Protection?

Regulations Overview
Brief Summary• The 2016 Montreal Protocol amendment agreed uponin Kigali, Rwanda, does not call for a complete phaseoutof hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), but a reduction of 15 to
20% of the baseline from 2036 to 2047, depending onthe group. This remaining production extends out
indefinitely, a recognition of the importance of HFC use
in many critical and/or non-emissive applications, suchas fire protection.
• FM-200™ has the largest installed base of any clean
agent fire extinguishant, including halon, and the added
benefit of a very large reservoir of material available tothe fire industry’s recyclers. The use and application ofthis recycled material is not incorporated in the Protocol’s
global warming potential (GWP)-weighted allocations.
• Chemours anticipates having sufficient GWP allocation
throughout the course of the phase down to support therequirements of key applications, including fireprotection. This confirms the viability and availability of
FM-200™ to protect the world’s infrastructures andcrucial facilities for decades to come.

BackgroundOn October 15 2016, in Kigali, 197 parties agreed toamend the Montreal Protocol phasing down theconsumption of high GWP HFCs. The Montreal Protocol wasoriginally created to reduce and eliminate the consumptionof ozone-depleting substances, including halons, and has
been hailed as the most successful international treaty for
global environmental action. HFCs were developed largely toreplace the ozone-depleting products regulated under theMontreal Protocol. While HFCs do not deplete the ozone,

they contribute to global warming, along with carbon dioxide(CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, and several other compounds

released from human activities.

The amendment creates four different groups of countries,
each with different baseline volumes and reduction schedules.
Unlike the original Montreal Protocol, the amendment does
not call for a complete phaseout of HFCs, but a reduction of
15 to 20% of the baseline from 2036 to 2047, dependingon the group. There will be a technical review every four to five
years to ensure that this is the appropriate level and timing forthe final phase down step-down. This remaining productionextends out indefinitely, a recognition of the importance ofHFC use in many critical and/or non-emissive applications,such as fire protection.
Like the original Montreal Protocol, this amendment will
provide countries an annual combined weighted target
volume to meet. For HFCs, however, it will be GWP-weighted
and not ozone depletion potential (ODP)-weighted. Theamendment does not regulate any specific products,
molecules, or applications, such as fire protection, but simply
aggregates all HFCs into a total GWP-weighted target
volume. The combined GWP-weighted target volume levels
for each country will be measured as:
Production + Imports - Exports = Consumption
Each country will enact its own regulations in order to meet
the target levels assigned by the Protocol. Due to its
success with chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), we anticipate
national regulatory structures similar to those used withthe original Protocol. In the United States, we expect theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to operateFM-200™

Fire Suppressantunder the Clean Air Act to allocate GWP volumes toprotection continues on, more than twenty years after thecommercial enterprises, consistent with their historical

Montreal Protocol phaseout. Today’s ongoing halon

requirements. Those firms will then each manage their mix

requirements are entirely met through the use of recycledof products within the GWP allocation to meet specificmaterial repositioned to support critical applications inmarket demands. With the significant transitions alreadycommercial aviation and military systems, as well as service

underway in the air conditioning, refrigeration, and foam

and recharge of installed systems. With the largest installed

expansion market segments, we would anticipate havingbase of any clean agent fire extinguishant, including halon,

sufficient GWP allocation throughout the course of theFM-200™ has the added benefit of a very large reservoir ofphase down to support the requirements of key

material available to the fire industry’s recyclers. The use

applications, such as fire protection, pharmaceuticaland application of this recycled material is not incorporated

metered dose inhalers, and aerosol propellants, as well as

in the Montreal Protocol GWP-weighted allocations.

some of the more challenging refrigeration applications andservice requirements.

While specific regulatory details still need to be established

Unlike most products included in the Montreal Protocol, fireProtocol amendment, there are still many factors

protection products are largely non-emissive. This means

confirming the viability and availability of FM-200™. Thesemost of the extinguishing agent produced to date remains

include the active transition programs in air conditioning,

contained within those systems and portable extinguishers

refrigeration, and foam blowing agents; the 15-20%

installed across the globe to protect critical facilities. The

ongoing allocation tail; and the large installed bank offire protection industry, as a result of the halon phaseout,

potential material for recycle.

for many of the 197 countries supporting this Montreal

has excellent experience with using recycled extinguishingmaterial to support ongoing demand. Halon consumption(as defined by the Protocol above: production + imports exports) ended in the 1990s; yet, the use of halon in fire

For more information on FM-200™, please visit cleanagents.chemours.com or call (800) 473-7790
The information set forth herein is furnished free of charge and based on technical data that Chemours believes to be reliable. It is intended for use by persons having technical skill, at theirown risk. Because conditions of use are outside our control, Chemours makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and assumes no liability in connection with any use of this information.
Nothing herein is to be taken as a license to operate under, or a recommendation to infringe, any patents or patent applications.
© 2016 The Chemours Company FC, LLC. FM-200™ is a trademark of The Chemours Company FC, LLC. Chemours™ and the Chemours Logo are trademarks of The Chemours Company.
C-11064 (11/16)