Review of Handbook Chapters

1. Review ofHandbook Chapters Pat Cahill Patricia.Cahill@FAA.gov

2. Chapter 4: Aircraft Wire Test • Recommendation: Include the need for a special tool to test fiber optics. • FAA Response: We will look in to this matter. We have not conducted any (flammability) testing of fire optic wire/cable at the Tech Center.

3. Chapter 7: Seat Test (7.3.2.4) • Recommendation: Change pressure regulator tolerance from +/- 0.038 liter/hour to +/- 0.38 liter/hour. • FAA Response: Agree.

4. Chapter 7: Seat Test (7.7.3) • Recommendation: Delete “or greater” in the third sentence. • FAA Response: Sentence is incorrect as written in the handbook. It should read, “10 BTU’s/ft2 or greater.” This is based on response from labs and industry on the difficulty of achieving the specified flux even with a tolerance.

5. Chapter 7: Seat Test (7.7.4) • Recommendation: Add tolerances to the 7 thermocouple temperatures. • FAA Response: Two thermocouples are allowed to be equal to 1750°F (954 °C) or greater. No benefit would be derived from adding tolerance to this temperature and this also applies to the 5 thermocouples required to be 1800°F (982 °C) or greater. It is permissible to have temperature variation on all thermocouples as long as they have reached the minimum temperature requirements.

6. Chapter 7: Seat Test (7.7.4) • Recommendation: Use up to 8 wires to secure leather seat components. • FAA Response: From testing performed at the Tech Center on leather seat test samples, we agree that 1 wire is not adequate to restrain them. We are requesting input and guidance from industry on: • What is commonly used? • Is the data compromised based on the number of restraining wires used other than 1 wire?

7. Chapter 7: Seat Test (7.6.2) • Recommendation: Allow chamber air speed to be 60 feet/min (1 foot/sec) measured at any/all locations. This is a pre-test measurement. • FAA Response: Input from labs that have any experience with any differences in test outcome based on various air speeds would be greatly appreciated. We currently have no data evaluating this parameter.

8. Chapter 7: Seat Test (7.8.5) • Recommendation: Reduce the 2-minute warm up time due to excessive soot build up. • FAA Response: Testing would be needed to verify that the test results would not be compromised.

9. Round Robin 6 Pat Cahill Patricia.Cahill@FAA.gov

10. Round Robin 6 Results

11. Flame Propagation Test

12. Radiant Panel Angle • Angle of panel with the horizontal - 30 with no tolerance specified • ASTM E 648 Flooring Test calls out “nominal” angle of 30+/- 5 (25 to 35) • Unacceptable tolerance for flame propagation test

13. Internal Chimney • Air/propane internal chimney width is 4-½ inches board-to-board and 4 inches metal-to-metal (frame) • Electric panel internal chimney width is 4 inches board- to- board and is 3 ¾ inch metal-to-metal • Data from both the air/propane and electric radiant panel test chambers are similar. It does not appear that the ¼ inch difference in width has an effect • The dimensions (with appropriate tolerances) will be amended in the appendix of the Handbook

14. Construction Materials Metals, such as stainless steel used in the construction of the sliding platform (notably the top flange), and the retaining frame, should be painted black if the surface is shiny. High temperature paint, such as grill paint is acceptable.

15. Glass Viewing Window The high temperature glass-viewing window in the electric radiant panel test chamber is bigger than the viewing window in the air/propane test chamber. It consists of 2 pieces of glass opposed to the multiple rectangular pieces in the air/propane chamber. Based on testing in both chambers, the glass size does not appear to be a significant variable.

16. Thermocouple The thermocouple sheathing material is not specified in the Rule. Since it is not rigid, the thermocouple can be moved inadvertently. This will be addressed in the appendix of the Handbook.