Under existing Federal Government regulations, fire systems and extinguishers using ozone depleting substances or synthetic greenhouse gases (ODS & SGG ) are permitted; however they must be serviced and maintained by technicians who hold an Extinguishing Agent Handling Licence (EAHL).

What does this mean for vessel owners and operators?

This means that vessel owners and operators, while having some obligations with respect to the unncessary prevention of ODS & SGG emissions, do not need to be licensed. However technicians working with these extinguishing agents in such a way that their duties involve the potential to cause an ODS & SGG emission must be licensed. Therefore builders/owners/operators of vessels with ODS & SGG fixed fire systems do need to ensure that the installation and maintenance of these systems are carried out by appropriately licensed persons.

Company requirements - Extinguishing Agent Trading Authorisations (EATA) / Halon Special Permits (HSP)

Any company that buys, sells, stores or disposes of bulk Ozone Depleting and Synthetic Greenhouse Gases (ODS & SGG) extinguishing agents, must hold an Extinguishing Agent Trading Authorisation (EATA). This is an enterprise (business) level permit. A technician uses the company's authorisation to acquire the extinguishing agent for a particular task. Bulk extinguishing agents are any extinguishing agents other than agents that are already contained in fire protection equipment. This includes the extinguishing agents used in marine gaseous fixed fire systems.

If a company or technician is engaged to maintain a fire protection system, they will only require an EATA if they purchase an extinguishing agent to fill, refill or top-up an existing system, or to install a new system. This requirement applies even where the company subcontracts the filling, refilling or topping up of the cylinder.

Holding or warehousing spare-charged system cylinders for use at a future date, constitutes possessing the extinguishing agent, and as such, requires a Trading Authorisation, for instance where the owner of a system warehouse has spare cylinders which are not connected to the fire protection system.

Similarly, companies or individuals storing or working with halon for use in specific places (e.g., enclosed machinery places in some vessels) as described in Regulation 304(4) of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995 (as amended in 2005) must hold a Halon Special Permit.

Additional Information

A Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board has been established to manage the implementation of those parts of the Ozone Protection and Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and the amended “Regulations 1995” that relate to the fire protection industry. The Board is managed by Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia).

For more information about the Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board and applicable regulations go to http://fpaa.com.au/licencing/licencing=ozone&register=ozone

For more information about Ozone Depleting and Synthetic Greenhouse Gases (ODS & SGG), Qualified Persons Licensing and owners responsibilities— go to http://fpaa.com.au/licencing/?licencing=factsheets&register=ozone  or contact the Executive Officer - Ozone Protection on [03] 9890 1544

For a list of licensed companies under the requirements— go to http://fpaa.com.au/licencing/?licencing=licensedcompanies&register=ozone  or contact the Executive Officer - Ozone Protection on [03] 9890 1544