Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/03/30/2012-7732/special-conditions-airbus-a350-900-series-airplane-crew-rest-compartments
Timestamp: 2016-02-10 02:44:16
Document Index: 701068084

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 21', 'art 25', '§ 21', 'art 34', 'art 36', '§ 611', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', 'art 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25', '§ 25']

Federal Register | Special Conditions: Airbus, A350-900 Series Airplane; Crew Rest Compartments
Dates: We must receive your comments by May 14, 2012.
-19153 (6 pages)
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/2012-7732 Related Topics
Notice of proposed special condition for Airbus A350 airplane; Crew Rest Compartments
Crew rest compartments have been previously installed and certificated on several Airbus airplane models (as well as those of other manufacturers) in various locations including the main passenger seating area, and the overhead space above the main passenger cabin seating area. In each case, the FAA determined that the applicable Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) sections did not provide all of the necessary requirements because each installation had unique features by virtue of its design, location, and use on the airplane. When the FAA finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of § 21.16. The special conditions contain safety standards that the FAA considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the A350-900 series airplane because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under § 21.16.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special conditions, the A350-900 series must comply with the fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the noise certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36. The FAA must also issue a finding of regulatory adequacy under § 611 of 92, the “Noise Control Act of 1972.”
(a) At least one exit sign meeting the requirements of § 25.812(b)(1)(i) must be located near each exit. One allowable exception is utilization of a sign with reduced background area of no less than 5.3 square inches (excluding the letters), provided that it is installed such that the material surrounding the exit sign is light in color (e.g., white, cream, light beige). If the material surrounding the exit sign is not light in color, a sign with a minimum of a one-inch wide background border around the letters would also be acceptable. Another allowable exception is a sign with a symbol that the FAA has determined to be equivalent for use as an exit sign in an overhead crew rest compartment.
6. There must be means for two-way voice communications between crewmembers on the flight deck and occupants of the overhead crew rest compartment. There must also be two-way communications between the occupants of the overhead crew rest compartment and each flight attendant station required to have a public address system microphone per § 25.1423(g) in the passenger cabin. In addition, the public address system must include provisions to provide only the relevant information to the flight crewmembers in the overhead crew rest compartment (e.g., fire in flight, aircraft depressurization, preparation of the compartment occupants for landing.).
9. In lieu of the requirements specified in § 25.1439(a) that pertain to isolated compartments and to providing a level of safety equivalent to that for occupants of an isolated galley, the following equipment must be provided in the overhead crew rest compartment:
(g) The supplemental oxygen system for the crew rest shall meet the same 14 CFR part 25 regulations as the supplemental oxygen system for the passenger cabin occupants except for the 10 percent additional masks requirement of § 25.1447(c)(1).
(c) Overhead crew rest compartments visually divided to the extent that evacuation could be affected must have exit signs that direct occupants to the primary stairway exit. The exit signs must be provided in each separate section of the overhead crew rest compartment, except for curtained bunks, and must meet the requirements of § 25.812(b)(1)(i). An exit sign with reduced background area or a symbolic exit sign as described in Special Condition No. 4(a) may be used to meet this requirement.
(4) There must be exit signs in each section meeting the requirements of § 25.812(b)(1)(i), or shown to have an Equivalent Level of Safety, that direct occupants to the primary stairway exit. An exit sign with reduced background area or a symbolic exit sign as described in Special Condition No. 4(a) may be used to meet this requirement.
16. Where a waste disposal receptacle is fitted, it must be equipped with an automatic fire extinguisher that meets the performance requirements of § 25.854(b).
17. Materials (including finishes or decorative surfaces applied to the materials) must comply with the flammability requirements of § 25.853(a) as amended by Amendment 25-116. Mattresses must comply with the flammability requirements of § 25.853(c), as amended by Amendment 25-116.
19. Each stowage compartment in the crew rest compartment, except for underseat compartments for occupant convenience, must be completely enclosed. All enclosed stowage compartments within the overhead crew rest compartment that are not limited to stowage of emergency equipment or airplane supplied equipment such as bedding must meet the design criteria given in the table below. Enclosed stowage compartments greater than 200 ft
in interior volume are not addressed by this special condition. The in-flight accessibility of very large enclosed stowage compartments and the subsequent impact on the crewmembers' ability to effectively reach any part of the compartment with the contents of a hand fire extinguisher will require additional fire protection considerations similar to those required for inaccessible compartments such as Class C cargo compartments.
Material—The material used to construct each enclosed stowage compartment must at least be fire resistant and must meet the flammability standards established for interior components of§ 25.853. For compartments less than 25 ft3in interior volume, the design must ensure the ability to contain a fire likely to occur within the compartment under normal use.
Detectors—Enclosed stowage compartments equal to or exceeding 25 ft3in interior volume must be provided with a smoke or fire detection system to ensure that a fire can be detected within a one-minute detection time. Flight tests must be conducted to show compliance with this requirement.
Liner—If it can be shown that the material used to construct the stowage compartment meets the flammability requirements of a liner for a Class B cargo compartment (i.e., § 25.855 at Amendment 25-116, and Appendix F, part I, paragraph (a)(2)(ii)), then no liner is required for enclosed stowage compartments equal to or greater than 25 ft3in interior volume but less than 57 ft3in interior volume. For all enclosed stowage compartments equal to or greater than 57 ft3in interior volume but less than or equal to 200 ft3, a liner must be provided that meets the requirements of § 25.855 for a Class B cargo compartment.
Locating Device—Overhead crew rest compartments which contain enclosed stowage compartments exceeding 25 ft3interior volume and which are located away from the entry to the overhead crew rest compartment require additional fire protection features and/or devices to assist the firefighter in determining the location of a fire.
Locating Device4