John A. Parker

This paper presents an overview of certain aspects of the evaluation of the fire worthiness of air transport interiors. First, it addresses the key materials question concerning the effect of interior system on the survival of passengers and crew in the ,case of al1 uncontrolled transport aircraft fire. Second, it examines some technical opportunities that are available today through the modification of aircraft interior subsystem components, modifications that may reasonably be expected to provide improvements in aircraft fire safety. Cost and risk benefits still remain to be determined.

Space permits only the discussion of three specific subsystem components: interior panels, seats, and windows. By virtue of their role in real fire situations and as indicated by the results of large:-scale simulation tests, these components appear to offer the most immediate and highest payoff possible by modifying interior materials of existing aircraft. These modifications have the potential of reducing the rate of fire growth, with a consequent reduction of heat, toxic gas, and smoke emission throughput the habitable interior of an aircraft, whatever the initial source of the fire. . It will be shown that these new materials modifications reduce the fire hazard hot only because of their unique ablative properties which help to contain or isolate the fire source, but also because there is a significant reduction in their characteristic flame spread, heat release, and smoke and toxic gas emissions.

This method is intended for use in determining he resistance of cloth to flame and glow propagation and tendency to char. It is designed primarily for cellulosic fabrics treated with a flame retardant, but my be utilized in other applications as specified in applicable procurement documents.

National Fire Protection Association

This 1969 edition supersedes the 1968 edition of the Standard and differs from that edition due to the following amendments which were developed by the National Fire Protection Association Annual Meeting on May 15, 1969. Entire Section 50 was revised and new test, entitled "Field Test", was added to the Appendix.

W.S. Perkowski, Dr. R.G. Cheatham

The aircraft industry, like the building industry, and industries which manufacture such items as household appliances, office equipment, marine pleasure crafts and automotive products is interested in the safety of the people using their products. There is an ever increasing emphasis on the use of plastic materials in all these fields and one common major safety considerations is the flammability properties of these materials. The test methods used to best determine the fire safety provided by plastic materials creates quite a problem for the Materials Engineer. It is likewise a tremendous task for those agencies charged with establishing and enforcing the fire safety requirements and regulations for these materials used in each of the many industries. In the aircraft manufacturing industry plastic materials are used for a large variety of items in the fabrication and assembly of a large variety of items in the fabrication and assembly of an airplane. They are used for structural purposes, in mechanical and electrical subsystems, electrical terminal boards and wire coatings, air ducting, water tanks and tubing, seals and sealants. The most widespread use, however, is for the interior sidewall and ceiling linings, and the many other furnishing of the areas used for cargo storage. The flammability properties of the materials used for these purposes and the fire safety provided by such properties are of the greatest concern.

E. Nichols

A recent request form the program manager ARD-520 to initiate a test program to conduct flammability and smoke density test on a material has been completed.