C.M. Middlesworth

IN RECENT YEARS CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN .TO THE POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF PRESENTLY USED' CABIN INTERIOR .MA TERIALS TO THE AIRCRAFT FIRE HAZARD AND TO THE EFFECTS V/HICH COMBUSTION OF THESE MATERIALS MAY HA VE ON PASSENGER SURVIVAL SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN :MADE BY GOVERN:MENT AGENCIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TEST METHODS LEADING TO QUANTITATIVE CLASSIFICATION OF MATERIALS WITH RESPECT TO THEIR FLAMlv1ABILITY AND TI-IE MATERIALS INDUSTRY HAS PRODUCED NEW PRODUCTS WHOSE USE IN PASSENGER AIRCRAFT WILL RESULT IN APPRECIABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE SAFETY. THESE MATERIALS ARE SAID TO HAVE INCREASED FLAME RETARDANCE.

Fenwal Incorp.

The Fenwal FIREPAC system includes one or more self-contained light weight rugged, portable fire protection units, each containing detection and Halon 1301 extinguishment.

Thermo-System Inc.

The Heat Flux System measures nearly instantaneous heat transfer rates between an internally cooled senor and its external environment.

Richard Hill

This paper will summarize a number of fire-related accidents and incidents that have occurred during the present decade. The selection of accidents/incidents was based on information availability and perceived importance of those chosen. A brief summary of accident data for the past ten years is presented. A methodology is shown for logically calculating the effects of cabin fire safety improvements on survivability utilizing past accidents. Eight accidents and four incidents for are discussed and their link to safety improvements is described. The paper concludes with a call for better information from accident investigations.

Richard W. Bricker

The thermo chemical and flammability characteristics of to polymeric composites currently in use and seven others being considered for use as aircraft interior panels are described. The properties studied included: (1) limiting oxygen index of the composite constituents; (2) fire containment capability of the composite; (3) smoke evolution from the composite; (4) thermo gravimetric analysis; (5) composition of the volatile products of thermal degradation; and (6) relative toxicity of the volatile products of paralysis. The performance of high-temperature laminating resins such s bismaleimides is compared with the performance of phenolics and epoxies. The relationship of increased fire safety with the use of polymers with high anaerobic char yield is shown. Processing parameters of the state-f-the-art and the advanced composites are detailed