Fire Safety Branch: Fire Safety Handbook

This section will provide links to updated versions of the Aircraft Materials Fire Test Handbook as well as the early versions. A segmented version is also available for those who are having trouble downloading the full version.

FAA Policy on Use of the Aircraft Materials Fire Test Handbook

Federal Register for Use of the Aircraft Materials Fire Test Handbook

Links for Regulatory Information

Individual Chapters and Appendixes (Latest Update)

09/29/09: In an effort to provide a constant for simplifying the calibration factor calculation in FAR 25, Appendix F, a long standing error was noted in Chapter 5 (Heat Release Rate Test for Cabin Materials) of the Handbook. The constant value located in the equation (Paragraph 5.6.6) is currently 23.55 and should actually be 25.31.

Last update to the Handbook was made on 5/18/06 in accordance with Policy Letter on use of Handbook above.

Chapter	Title
Chapter 1	Vertical Bunsen Burner Test for Cabin & Cargo Compartment Materials Burn Length Determination Lab Test Form - Bunsen Burner Test
Chapter 2	45-Degree Bunsen Burner Test for Cargo Compartment Liners and Waste Stowage Compartment Material Lab Test Form - Bunsen Burner Test
Chapter 3	Horizontal Bunsen Burner Test for Cabin, Cargo Compartment, and Miscellaneous Materials Lab Test Form - Bunsen Burner Test
Chapter 4	60-Degree Bunsen Burner Test for Electric Wire Lab Test Form - Bunsen Burner Test
Chapter 5	Heat Release Rate Test for Cabin Materials Lab Test Form - OSU Heat Release Test Heat Release Rate Calibration Factor
Chapter 6	Smoke Test for Cabin Materials Lab Test Form - NBS Smoke Burner Test Report on the Smoke Chamber Furnace New Furnace
Chapter 7 Updated	Oil Burner Test for Seat Cushions Advisory Circular on Flammability Requirements for Aircraft Seat Cushions. Lab Test Form - Oil Burner Seat Cushion Test
Chapter 8 Updated - revisions visible	Oil Burner Test for Cargo Liners Lab Test Form - Oil Burner Cargo Liner Test Cargo Liner Test Procedures Training Video: View Online \| Download
Chapter 9	Radiant Heat Testing of Evacuation Slides, Ramps, and Rafts
Chapter 10	Fire Containment Test of Waste Stowage Compartments
Chapter 11	Powerplant Hose Assemblies Test
Chapter 12	Powerplant Fire Penetration Test
Chapter 13	Test for Electrical Connectors used in Firewalls
Chapter 14	Test for Electrical Wire used in Designated Fire Zones
Chapter 15	Two Gallon per hour Oil Burner Certification Testing for Repaired Cargo Compartment Liners
Chapter 18	Recommended Procedure for the 4-Ply Horizontal Flammability Test for Aircraft Blankets Lab Test Form - Bunsen Burner Test
Chapter 19	Smoke test for Insulated Aircraft Wire
Chapter 20	Dry Arc Tracking Test Procedure
Chapter 21	Dry Arc-Propagation Resistance
Chapter 22	Cotton Swab Test for Thermal Acoustic Insulation Blankets
Chapter 23	Test Method To Determine the Flammability and Flame Propagation Characteristics of Thermal/Acoustic Insulation Materials Radiant Panel Procedures Training Video: View Online \| Download
Chapter 24	Test Method To Determine the Burnthrough Resistance of Thermal/Acoustic Insulation Materials
Chapter 25	Oil Burner Flammability Test for Magnesium Alloy Seat Structure
Appendix A	FAA Regulations
Appendix B	The Approval Process
Appendix C	Materials Used in Aircraft
Appendix D	Regulatory Methodology Used By Other Countries
Appendix E	Aircraft Industries Internal Test Methods and Guidelines
Appendix F Updated - revisions visible	Laboratories Actively Using Fire Test Procedures
Appendix G	Commercial Manufacturers of Fire Test Equipment

List & Archives of Changes to Handbook

Date of Changes	Archived Section
10/03/2016	Chapter 7
08/18/2016	Chapter 8
07/12/2016	Appendix F
07/12/2016	Chapter 8
01/29/2016	Chapter 7
11/18/2015	Appendix F
06/12/2015	Appendix F
04/28/2015	Chapter 5
03/30/2015	Chapter 8
03/27/2015	Appendix F
02/18/2015	Chapter 25
10/10/2014	Appendix F
10/10/2014	Appendix G
05/07/14	Appendix F
05/07/14	Appendix G
05/17/13	Chapter 6
05/17/13	Appendix F
01/21/13	Appendix G
01/21/13	Appendix F
10/05/12	Appendix F
09/10/12	Appendix F
07/20/12	Appendix F
02/09/12	Appendix F
02/09/12	Appendix G
10/21/11	Appendix F
02/25/11	Appendix F
07/13/10	Appendix F
02/17/10	Appendix F
12/17/09	Appendix F
09/29/09	Chapter 5
09/04/09	Appendix F
02/05/09	Appendix F
01/14/09	Appendix F
05/21/08	Appendix F
05/02/08	Appendix F
04/21/08	Appendix F
02/22/08	Appendix F
02/22/08	Appendix G
01/28/08	Appendix F
01/14/08	Chapter 7
05/04/07	Appendix G
05/04/07	Appendix F
05/04/07	Chapter 7
01/26/07	Appendix F
11/09/06	Chapter 8
10/2/06	Appendix F
05/18/06	Chapter 6
05/18/06	Chapter 7
05/18/06	Chapter 15