Margaret Harkleroad, James Quintiere, William Walton

The purpose of this study is to develop a fire-testing method that relates materialignitability and flame spread in the creeping mode. The analytical approach involves parameters and solutions arising from transient heat condition to a semi-infinite solid. Experimental data are generated on an appratus employing a radiant panel to provide a varying heat flux to test specimens. Flame-spread rates and ignition events are measured against incident and exposure time. The flame-spread data for given materials are correlated for varying exposure conditions by plotting the inverse square root of the flame-spread velocity against a product of the heat flux and a time function. The test and analysis results are shown for six diverse materials representative of aircraft (interior panels, carpeting and seat cushions) and building (plywood, polymethyl methacrylate and rigid foam).

Nick Engler

Nick Engler Presentation

Robert Filipvzak

Technical note DOT/FAA/CT-TN83-01 provides acquisition and plotting software documentation to the Ohio State Rate of Heat Release Calorimeter with chemical analysis system. Hewlett Packard 9825 Computer programs provide for real-time data collection, instrument calibration, data storage, retrieval, and output for release of heat, smoke, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons. Graphical representation for bith release rates or total output versus time is possible. Computer language is HPL>

Louis J. Brown, Jr., Richard M. Johnson

An interlaboratory study was conducted to determine the adaptability of various laboratory fire test devices to measure aircraft seat cushion b1ocking layer effectiveness. Full-scale tests conducted by the FAA have shown blocking layers to be an effective means of delaying aircraft seat cushion fire involvement when exposed to a large external fuel fire. Large-scale tests conducted in the Douglas Aircraft Company Cabin Fire Simulator (CFS) have also shown similar findings. Such findings are fostering development of new candidate materials. However, it is more practical to evaluate these materials in a suitable laboratory test. device rather than continuously performing expensive full- or large-scale tests. Several such devices were determined to be satisfactory when operated under specific conditions and when certain parameters are measured. The satisfactory devices are the Ohio State University (OSU) Rate of Heat Release Apparatus operated at 5.0 Watts/centimeter squared, the FAA Standard Two Gallon/Hour Burner operated for a two minute exposure, and the Lockheed Aircraft Company Meeker Burner. For a series of blocking layer material candidates, test measurements obtained with the above devices exhibit comparable rankings with weight loss or percent weight loss from larger scale GFS tests.

Transport Airworthiness Requirements Committee

Several events and programs in 1977 through 1980 emphasized the likelihood of significant contribution by the urethane seat cushions to airplane cabin fires. In 1979 the SAFER (Special Aviation Fire and Explosion Reduction) Advisory Committee to the FAA formulated the short term recommendation to develop fire blocking layers for urethane cushions and the long term recommendation to develop low smoking, fire resistant aircraft seat cushion foam. The recommendations were formalized in 1980 with the final SAFER report. The AIA- T ARC Project 210-9, Fire Resistant Seat Cushions, was established to provide cohesive support by airplane manufacturers to the FAA to define guidelines for seat cushion constructions with improved fire performance.

The Alas effort has been part of a closely coordinated program with the FAA and, NASA including testing, data analysis and cost benefit evaluation. The analysis of laboratory fire test data and full scale fire test results on candidate seat cushion configurations has led the 210-9 project to technical conclusions and recommendations for improving and evaluating the fire resistance of airplane seat cushions.
Although specific, quantitative test values could not be established for seat cushion fire resistance, an available seat cushion fire blocking layer has been defined as exhibiting a desirable level of fire performance, and test methods have been identified for screening and validating candidates for comparative performance.