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This article discusses the relationship between active and passive fire protection means in aircraft lavatories, focusing on the design requirements and criticality assumptions. Test results are also presented to highlight the effectiveness of these protection measures.
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Presented by Dr. André Freiling Fire Protection Systems Airbus GmbH 28199 Bremen / Germany Tel.: +49 (0) 421 – 538 2762 Fax: +49 (0) 421 – 538 5031 E-mail: andre.freiling@airbus.com Relation between active and passive Fire Protection Means by the example of Aircraft Lavatories THE FOURTH AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE Lisbon, Portugal November 15-18 2004 AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Fire Protection Means in Lavatories Active Fire Protection Means: • Smoke Detector • Automatic receptacle fire extinguisher Passive Fire Protection Means • Materials, linings AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Criticality assumptions System Layout of the Fire / Smoke Detection system depends on the risk to be protected Is an undetected Lavatory Fire to be regarded to have a • HAZARDOUS • allowed probability p=10E-7/FH –> passenger injuries or • CATASTROPHIC • allowed probability p=10E-9/FH –> fatalities / loss of aircraft • shall not result from a single failure impact on the aircraft? AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Design requirements Top Level Requirements for Lavatory Design • The Materials used shall have high burnthrough resistance • A fire shall be contained within the lavatory compartment • Small amounts of Smoke may be leaking out of the lavatory, so that the Crew / Pax get aware of the situation AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Assumptions Assumptions for criticality determination • Worst case conditions: • The waste bin fire extinguisher and the smoke detector are out of function • The waste bin is the fire source • The flap is open (Newspaper stuck inside) • A fire in the waste bin ignites also the towel dispenser (Newspaper could act as fire bridge). AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Test setup Test setup • The receptacle was filled with paper towels according to MPS „Lavatory Disposal Receptacle Built-In ExtinguisherMinimum Performance Standard“ • An A320 lavatory was used for the test • The layout of the lavatory was such that the dispenser was located directly above the receptacle (worst case) • The flap of the receptacle was opened and fixed by means of a metal device to assure that it would not close during the test • The towel dispensers were totally filled • A Newspaper was arranged in a way that it dealt as fire bridge between the waste bin and the dispenser AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Test setup Filled receptacle Fire Bridge AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Data Recording 2 b/w video cameras inside the lavatory 1 b/w video camera outside the lavatory 1 infrared thermal imaging camera outside the lavatory (monitoring of waste bin area) AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Screenshot / Video Smoke Generation inside the lavatory Receptacle is getting hot AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Screenshot / Video Camera above the receptacle broken Open fire inside the lavatory Dispenser has caught fire AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Screenshot / Video ...after the test The outside wall temperature exceeded 274°C (max thermal imaging camera temperature range) AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Events during the test Time Event 0min Test Start 5min40sec On the image of the Thermal Camera, the position where the receptacle is located becomes visible on the outer wall (Temperature slightly above room temperature) 8min First smoke becomes visible (inside the lavatory) 13min Smoke emerges visibly out of the lavatory door 14min30sec Open flames from the receptacle 25min The main fire scenario is over, some Elastomers from the dispenser are still burning with a small flame on the basin 30min The fire has extinguished itself AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Test results Test Results • Floor: No obvious damages (Dispense fell off the wall) • Walls: No burnthrough occurred. On the outside, a small color damage was noted (30x30cm) • Ceiling: No severe damage, just burn marks occurred. • Receptacle: The flap showed burn marks but did not start to melt. • Installations: The mirror broke due to thermal stress. The basin area had some burn marks but did not start to melt. • Air extraction duct (intake): The thermoplast of the air intake grid was deformed, but the outlet opening was partially still intact, so that air extraction was assured until the end of the test. AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Conclusions Conclusions The test was performed with inoperative extinguishing and fire/smoke detection system Lavatory integrity was still given after the fire test due to properties of the lining materials If the lavatory lining materials and layout assure that an undetected fire has a HAZARDOUS impact, the fire/smoke detection system design can be simplified compared to fulfilment of requirements for CATASTROPHIC failure conditions (e.g. no redundancy necessary). AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
Questions Thank you. AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2004 - Dr. A. Freiling - Ref. X26PR0407223 - Issue 1
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