1. Czech Republic’s experience
on co-financing
opportunities and case study
on replacement of halon
1301 by inert gas IG 541
(N2, Ar, CO2)
Jana Borská
Jana.Borska@mzp.cz
Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic
Department of Air Protection

3. The Žižkov Tower
• Built in 1985 – 1992
• The highest construction in Prague
(216m)
• Broadcasting technology (digital
televisions, radios)
• Cell phone operator transmitters
• Army of the Czech Republic
• Joint rescue service
• Restaurant, Observatory cabin
• Owner České radiokomunikace a.s.

4. Contemporary fire protection system
• Installed in 1989 by Total Walter company
• Protection of 16 fire areas, pressure
vessels directly located in fire areas
• 2300 kg of refrigerant halon 1301 (CF3Br)
• ODP = 10
• GWP = 80
• Extinguishing concentration: 3,5%
• Highest installation: 190-216 m
• Lowest installation: - 10 m

5. Contemporary fire protection system

6. New fire protection system
• Project in 2011 - 2013
• LPG producer
• Extinguisher inert gas IG 541 (52% N2; 40% Ar; 8% CO2),
mixture of natural gases from atmosphere
• 3562 kg
• ODP = 0
• GWP = 0
• Extinguishing concentration: 35 – 47,5%
• Principle
– oxygen reduction under 14,5% (fire goes out)
– above 10,5% (not evacuated persons can survive)

7. New fire protection system
• Pressure vessels of 140l or 80l
volume
• Stored in a gaseous state at a
pressure of 300bar
• Extinguishing agent discharged
from all nozzles installed at a
time
• Protected areas must be
adequately sealed
• Right concentration for 20 min
ensures a perfect extinction

8. New fire protection system
• Trigger mechanism operated
electrically and pneumatically
• System is backed-up from and
independent source for 24 hours
• Placing on the position
of contemporary
vessels + new
installations in
reconstructed areas

9. Extinguisher Comparison
IG 541 Halon 1301
52% N2; 40% Ar; 8% CO2 Composition CF3Br
0 ODP 10
0 GWP 80
Life in the
0 years 80-150 years
atmosphere
• Fast extinguishment
• No adverse effects

10. Servicing company ESTO Cheb s.r.o.
• System installation + servicing
• Recovery of halon 1301 from old
fire protection system
• Recycling, reclamation and
vessels refilling (device
REACHANLAGE by Kidde-
Deugra), 12€/1kg
• Halon 1301 stored in vessels in
the Halon bank of the Czech
Republic (ESTO Cheb, s.r.o.)

11. Co-financing by
State Environmental Fund (SEF)
• Ozone Protection Programme by SEF in 2010 opened
• 4 areas of support
– 1. Recovery and collection of ODS
– 2. Destruction of ODS
– 3. Implementation of alternative technology with zero ODP
– 4. Measuring and monitoring of ozone layer
• Effectiveness analysis: ODP, GWP and TEWI
• Finance from fees payed by producers, importers of
substances that deplete the ozone layer (cca 16€/1kg)
• In the Žižkov tower areas 1 and 3 supported

12. Co-financing by
State Environmental Fund (SEF)
• Total cost of system installation and recovery: 576 360 €
• SEF support of 30%: 172 902 €
Contact persons:
Mr. Milan Kusbach, custodian of the Žižkov Tower
m.kusbach@radiokomunikace.cz
Ms. Jitka Brdková, ecologist
j.brdkova@radiokomunikace.cz

13. Thank you for your attention