Eldon B. Nichols, Richard M. Johnson, Constantine P. Sarkos

Flammability tests specified in Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR’s) were conducted on used narrow-and wide-body jet aircraft cabin materials and unregulated airline-furnished items. Some previously certified seat fabrics and cushions exceeded the FAR flammability criteria; however, the carpet samples remain compliant. Loss in flame resistance was more pronounced for polyurethane foam seat cushions than their covers. The foam flammability characteristics were shown to depend on the sample cut taken through the cushion cross section. Some of the pillows, blankets, and headrest covers tested met the latest FAR flammability criteria, although these materials are currently unregulated.

Joe C. Spurgeon

The purpose of this report is to describe the correlations between animal response data and the yields of selected thermal decomposition products. Seventy-five aircraft interior materials, including panels, fabrics, foams, and thermoplastics were thermally decomposed under conditions of oxidative pyrolysis in a tube furnace. In one experiment performed at the Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI), the thermal I decomposition products were directed into an animal exposure chamber containing ma1el albino rats. Both times-to-incapacitation (ti) and times-to-death (td) were recorded. In a separate experiment performed at the National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center (NAFEC), the thermal decomposition products (TDP's) were collected and analyzed for CO, HCN, HZS, HC, HBr, NOZ, SOZ, HCHO, and HF yields. Multivariate linear regression analysis is used to correlate the times-to-incapacitation with the, yields of the nine TDP's. The coefficients of correlation (R) between TDP yields and 1/ti values exceed 0.95 for all usage categories except panels, for which R=0.80r in addition, the coefficients of correlation between observed and predicted 11ti wa1ues for four "unknown" materials in each of several usage categories are: panels = 0.393, foams = 0.948, fabrics = 0.968, and thermoplastics = 0.988. Timesto incapacitation are related primarily to the yields of systemic toxicants kHCN, CO, etc.) rather than the yields of irritant TDP_ In general, HCN is more important for describing 11ti values than CO, although CO is the predominant toxicant for thermoplastics and coated fabrics.

Babcock & Wilcox

Concern has been expressed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the protection of the circuit integrity of power and control cables in the event of a fire within a nuclear power generating station. Specifically, protection of the redundant control circuits is of interest. In the event of a fire, although control circuits may become inoperative, the protected redundant control circuits should retain their electrical integrity.

The purpose of this investigation was to obtain information on the performance of certain electrical raceway systems protected by ceramic fiber blanket insulation, and perlite-cement insulation, when subjected to a controlled fire exposure. The data obtained are intended for use only by Georgia Power and the Bechtel Corporation for submission only to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The investigation consisted of witnessing four fir tests at the facility of Babcock & Wilcox in Augusta, Georgia. Each test was conducted with one protected cable tray and one protected conduit system as shown in ILLS 5-8. Each tray was filled with various sizes and types of cables. However, only one size and type of cable was installed into each conduit. All cables were installed forming several circuits to which a low voltage, low current load was applied. Each cable circuit was monitored and the time at which failure (i.e., shorting between conductors, or ground) occurred for each circuit was recorded. Each test varied in fire exposure duration. Details of the installation and test observations and results are recorded herein.

This method is intended for use in determining the resistance of cloth to flame and glow propagation and tendency to char.

Kenneth J. Schutter, Davis M. Klinck

This program compared the effects of irline trash fires in lavoratories constructed of comtemporary and improved materials. Results of the tests are: The exposed animal subject survived without complications, A propagating fire did not develop in adjacent structures, The lab=voratories containing the fires remained structurally intact, Decomposition of portions of the lavoratory did occur.