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Mitigation Strategy: Fire Resistant Containers
A Fire Resistant Container (FRC) is a type of Unit Load Device (ULD) whose panels and door are made out of a fire resistant material. The FRC is designed to suppress fires through oxygen starvation. The FRCs are held to a minimum performance standard set by SAE AS8992.
Several tests have been conducted at the William J. Hughes Technical Center to help determine the effectiveness of FRCs against Class-A fires. Class-A fires are fires that consist of ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and fabric. The results from these tests were presented at the 8th Triennial Conference. Lithium battery fires have also been investigated at the William J. Hughes Technical Center. The capability of a FRC to contain a lithium battery fire might be dependent on the number of batteries and their capacity. The results from the tests were presented at the 8th Triennial Conference.
A Fire Resistant Container are currently being used on a voluntary basis as an extra layer of fire protection by freight forwarders and airline operators. FRCs are mainly used on the main deck since the lower cargo compartments have smoke detectors and a fire suppression system.