# Presentation: 841531

## Halon Replacement for Airplane Cargo CompartmentsWhat it Takes

- Fourth Triennial International Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference
- Lisbon, Portugal
- November 17, 2004
- Daniel Lewinski
- The Boeing Company

## Cargo Fire SuppressionHalon Replacement

- Objective
- Overview
- Typical Halon System
- Strategies
- Alternative Agent/System Summary
- Requirements
- Agent
- Regulatory
- System
- Component
- Maintenance
- Conclusion

## Cargo Fire SuppressionHalon Replacement

**Objective:**** **
- 	Provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges for installing and certifying a safe, reliable, and economic cargo fire suppression system onto a large commercial airplane.

## Cargo Fire SuppressionHalon Replacement

- Overview
- Halon Production Ceased in 1994
- Critical Use Exemption only for Halon use
- Technical and Regulatory Challenges for finding cargo fire suppression replacement agent.
- Agent Performance
- Regulatory Requirements
- System Design and Performance

## Cargo Fire SuppressionTypical Airplane Cargo Fire Suppression System

## Cargo Fire SuppressionSystem RequirementsTypical Decay Analysis

## Halon Replacement Strategy forCargo Fire Suppression Systems

- Drop-in Replacement
- Phased Development with Agent and Systems Manufacturers

## Slide 8

##                   Table 1 - Cargo Fire Suppression - Halon AlternativesAgent          Type       MPS Status          Technical Issues

|  Halon 1301  |  Gas |  Baseline |   High Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP).  Production  
  Ceased. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  Agent A |  Solid  Aerosol |  Not tested |   Failed corrosion testing.  High temperature discharge onto 
  cargo.  Light residue requiring clean-up.  Less weight than 
  Halon. |
|  Agent B  |  Solid  Aerosol |  Not tested |   Failed corrosion testing.  Less weight than Halon.  Light 
  residue requiring clean-up. |
|  Agent/System  C |  Water 
 mist/ 
 nitrogen |  Passed MPS |   Complex temperature feedback system.
  MPS used long version of aerosol can test – Boeing
  accepts only short version of test.
  Development of new delivery system.
  Approximately 3 times weight of Halon system with temp 
  feedback system, approximately 4+ times weight of Halon
  system with programmed discharge.
  Low temperature discharge issues. |
|  Agent/System  D |  Water            mist/  nitrogen |  Not tested |  |
|  Agent E |  Gas |  Not tested |   HCFC’s may be banned soon.  High Global Warming  
  Potential (GWP).  4 times weight of Halon system. |

##                 Table 1 - Cargo Fire Suppression - Halon AlternativesAgent         Type         MPS Status          Technical Issues

|   Agent F |   Gas |   Not tested |   Tests demonstrate significant weight penalty
  (2x weight had no effect on fire).  4 times
  weight of Halon system.  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|   Agent G
 |   Gas 
  (liquid at
   room
  temp –
  but
  vaporizes
  quickly) |  Failed
 Preliminary 
 MPS Tests  |   Failed Aerosol Can Explosion Test.  Approx. 
  1.75 times the weight of a Halon 1301 system.  |
|   Agent H
 |   Foam |  Not tested |   Clean-up required. Low Temp Discharge not
  demonstrated.  More than 10 times the weight
  of Halon. |
|   HFC-125 |   Gas |  MPS Tests
 Suspended  |   Lots of HF gas generated during fire
  suppression.  At lower concentrations, acted as
  fuel for fire.  High GWP.  Approximately 4 times
  weight of Halon 1301.  |
|   CF3I |   Gas |  Not tested |   Minor corrosion concerns as gas.  ODP at
  altitude.  Cold temperature not as effective.
  Toxic after combustion at 2 ppm.  |

## Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementAgent Requirements

- Minimum Performance Standard
- Bulk-Load Fire
- Containerized Fire
- Surface Burning Fire
- Aerosol Can Explosion
- Short Version
- Long Version

## Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Replacement Agent Requirements

- SNAP Approved
- Corrosion Resistant
- Health and Safety
- Toxicity
- Other

## Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Replacement Regulatory Requirements

- FARs, JARs, and Certification Specifications
- Specific Regulations
- FAR/JAR/CS 25.851 – System will be sized appropriately
- FAR/JAR/CS 25.855 – Flight Tests to Show Performance
- FAR/JAR/CS 25.857 – Approved Fire Suppression System
- Other Non – System Specific Regulations
- Advisory Circulars
- AC 25.1309-1A – Systems Design
- AC 120-42A - ETOPS

## Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementSystem Requirements

- A Cargo Fire Suppression System Must
- Provide a specific extinguishing agent quantity discharge for knockdown capability
- Provide a minimum extinguishing agent concentration for a specified duration
- Perform within parameters when exposed to life cycle and fatigue testing
- Distribute agent within a cargo compartment
- Control particle size distribution of a non-gaseous agent

## Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementSystem Requirements

- System Test Demonstrations
- Failure Modes and Effects Analysis
- Safety Analysis
- Catastrophic Fire is Extremely Improbable
- Flight Test Demonstrations
- Component Qualifications

## Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementComponent Requirements

- Environmental Requirements
- Operating and Non-operating Environment Temperature Limits

|  Low temperature: survival (non-operating) |  - 55o C |
| --- | --- |
|  Low temperature: short-term operation |  - 40o C |
|  Low temperature: continuous operation |  - 15o C |
|  High temperature: survival (non-operating) |  85o C |
|  High temperature: continuous operation |  70o C |

## Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementComponent Requirements

- Pressure Altitude Requirements
- Structural
- Shock and Handling
- Vibration
- Electrical
- AC/DC Power Characteristics
- Steady State and Transient Characteristics
- Voltage Transients and Spikes
- Electromagnetic Induction
- Et al

## Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementComponent Requirements

- BIT (Built In Test)
- Software
- Component Reliability

## Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementMaintenance Requirements

- No predetermined (scheduled) maintenance intervals on components.
- No piece parts or assemblies with definite life limits.
- No on-airplane adjustments.
- No more than one mechanic for on-airplane maintenance and servicing.
- Only "common" tools for on-airplane maintenance.

## Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementConclusion

- Identified Alternate Agents Need Development
- Solution Requires Concerted Effort by
- Regulatory Agencies
- Agent Manufacturers
- System Manufacturers
- Airplane Manufacturers

## The Fourth Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety 

**The Fourth Triennial ****International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety **
**Research Conference**

**The Fourth Triennial ****International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety **
**Research Conference**