Cargo Compartment Halon Replacement Cargo compartment
fire testing is currently in progress as part of the overall
Halon Replacement Program of the FAA William J. Hughes Technical
Center, Fire Safety Section. The initial goal of the testing
is to quantify the current level of protection provided by the
Halon 1301 total flood suppressions systems currently used in
aircraft Class C cargo compartments. This will be done for several
fire threats including a surface burning fire, a deep-seated
smoldering fire, and a fire involving the release of hydrocarbon
propellant from a burst aerosol can. The testing is conducted
in a DC-10 test article cargo compartment with a volume of 2000
cubic feet. The compartment and cabin sections of the test article
are extensively instrumented to measure temperature, smoke levels,
concentrations of oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and
acid gas decomposition products from different extinguishing
agents. The current level of protection will be compared with
the results of testing of alternate agents and systems. Some
of the agents and systems that have been tested to date include
gaseous halocarbons (HFC-227ea and HFC-125), high pressure water
mist and pyrotechnically-generated aerosols. The results of the
testing are presented at International Halon Replacement Working
Group meetings as soon as they are available. The working group
members provide input for future testing of particular agents
and systems with properties that are desirable to the airlines
and aircraft manufacturers. The results of the testing can be
used by airlines and aircraft manufacturers to select the systems
that will eventually replace the current Halon systems. The results
will also be used by the Airworthiness Authorities for the certification
of these new systems. Minimum performance standards will be established
for the protection of cargo compartments. The program test schedule
is flexible and will test promising new agents or systems as
they are identified by the Halon Options Task Group.
This task group
was formed as part of the FAA sponsored International Halon Replacement
Working Group. The purpose is to develop performance standards
that can be used to certify cargo compartment suppression systems.
The current version of the MPS
was last updated in June, 2000. Any comments will be incorporated
into a new version of the MPS which will be distributed to the
task group members at a future date.
View the Halon
1301 Simulants for Cargo Compartments Report.
For additional
information on
the Working Group meeting, maps and directions, lodging, etc.
please contact April
Horner at 609-485-4471 or by FAX at 609-646-5229.
For additional
information
on the task group please contact John
Reinhardt at 609-485-5034 or by FAX at 609-485-5580
LAST
UPDATED 6/19/00
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