Halon Replacement for Halon Replacement for Airplane Cargo Airplane Cargo CompartmentsCompartmentsWhat it TakesWhat it Takes

Fourth Triennial International Fire and Cabin Safety Research Fourth Triennial International Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceConference

Lisbon, PortugalLisbon, PortugalNovember 17, 2004November 17, 2004

Daniel LewinskiDaniel LewinskiThe Boeing CompanyThe Boeing Company

Cargo Fire SuppressionCargo Fire SuppressionHalon ReplacementHalon Replacement

• ObjectiveObjective• OverviewOverview• Typical Halon SystemTypical Halon System• StrategiesStrategies• Alternative Agent/System SummaryAlternative Agent/System Summary• RequirementsRequirements

– AgentAgent– RegulatoryRegulatory– SystemSystem– ComponentComponent– MaintenanceMaintenance

• ConclusionConclusion

Cargo Fire SuppressionCargo Fire SuppressionHalon ReplacementHalon Replacement

• Objective:Objective:

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

Cargo Fire SuppressionCargo Fire SuppressionHalon ReplacementHalon Replacement

Overview Overview • Halon Production Ceased in 1994Halon Production Ceased in 1994• Critical Use Exemption only for Halon useCritical Use Exemption only for Halon use• Technical and Regulatory Challenges for Technical and Regulatory Challenges for

finding cargo fire suppression replacement finding cargo fire suppression replacement agent.agent.– Agent PerformanceAgent Performance– Regulatory RequirementsRegulatory Requirements– System Design and PerformanceSystem Design and Performance

Cargo Fire SuppressionCargo Fire SuppressionTypical Airplane Cargo Fire Suppression Typical Airplane Cargo Fire Suppression

SystemSystem

Cargo Fire SuppressionCargo Fire SuppressionSystem RequirementsSystem Requirements

Typical Decay AnalysisTypical Decay Analysis

Typical Halon Decay Analysis

0

3

6

9

12

15

18

21

24

27

1 9 17 25 33 41 49 57 65 73 81 89 97 105 113 121 129 137 145 153 161 169 177 185 193

Time (Minutes)

Con

cent

ratio

n (%

Hal

on)

Loaded CompartmentEmpty Compartment

Halon Replacement Strategy forHalon Replacement Strategy forCargo Fire Suppression SystemsCargo Fire Suppression Systems

• Drop-in ReplacementDrop-in Replacement• Phased Development with Agent and Phased Development with Agent and

Systems ManufacturersSystems Manufacturers

Phase 1 - Request for Industry Proposals on Halon Replacement Agents forAirplane Fire Protection Systems

Phase 2 - Request for Industry Proposals on How a Halon Replacement Agentand System would be installed onto an airplane.

Phase 3 - Request for Industry to show agents would extinguish cargo fire threatsthrough proof-of-concept tests.

Phased Request for Information from Industry on HalonReplacement

Table 1 - Cargo Fire Suppression - Halon AlternativesTable 1 - Cargo Fire Suppression - Halon Alternatives

Agent Type MPS Status Technical IssuesAgent 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 AlternativesTable 1 - Cargo Fire Suppression - Halon Alternatives

Agent Type MPS Status Technical IssuesAgent 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 Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementReplacement

Agent RequirementsAgent Requirements• Minimum Performance StandardMinimum Performance Standard

– Bulk-Load FireBulk-Load Fire– Containerized FireContainerized Fire– Surface Burning FireSurface Burning Fire– Aerosol Can ExplosionAerosol Can Explosion

•Short VersionShort Version•Long VersionLong Version

Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Replacement Agent RequirementsReplacement Agent Requirements

• SNAP ApprovedSNAP Approved• Corrosion ResistantCorrosion Resistant• Health and SafetyHealth and Safety

– ToxicityToxicity– OtherOther

Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Replacement Regulatory RequirementsReplacement Regulatory Requirements• FARs, JARs, and Certification SpecificationsFARs, JARs, and Certification Specifications

– Specific RegulationsSpecific Regulations• FAR/JAR/CS 25.851 – System will be sized appropriatelyFAR/JAR/CS 25.851 – System will be sized appropriately• FAR/JAR/CS 25.855 – Flight Tests to Show PerformanceFAR/JAR/CS 25.855 – Flight Tests to Show Performance• FAR/JAR/CS 25.857 – Approved Fire Suppression SystemFAR/JAR/CS 25.857 – Approved Fire Suppression System

– Other Non – System Specific RegulationsOther Non – System Specific Regulations– Advisory CircularsAdvisory Circulars

• AC 25.1309-1A – Systems DesignAC 25.1309-1A – Systems Design• AC 120-42A - ETOPSAC 120-42A - ETOPS

Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementReplacement

System RequirementsSystem Requirements• A Cargo Fire Suppression System MustA Cargo Fire Suppression System Must

– Provide a specific extinguishing agent quantity Provide a specific extinguishing agent quantity discharge for knockdown capabilitydischarge for knockdown capability

– Provide a minimum extinguishing agent concentration Provide a minimum extinguishing agent concentration for a specified durationfor a specified duration

– Perform within parameters when exposed to life cycle Perform within parameters when exposed to life cycle and fatigue testingand fatigue testing

– Distribute agent within a cargo compartmentDistribute agent within a cargo compartment– Control particle size distribution of a non-gaseous agentControl particle size distribution of a non-gaseous agent

Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementReplacement

System RequirementsSystem Requirements• System Test DemonstrationsSystem Test Demonstrations• Failure Modes and Effects AnalysisFailure Modes and Effects Analysis• Safety AnalysisSafety Analysis

Catastrophic Fire is Extremely ImprobableCatastrophic Fire is Extremely Improbable• Flight Test DemonstrationsFlight Test Demonstrations• Component QualificationsComponent Qualifications

Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementReplacement

Component RequirementsComponent Requirements• Environmental RequirementsEnvironmental Requirements

– Operating and Non-operating Environment Operating and Non-operating Environment Temperature LimitsTemperature Limits

Low temperature: survival (non-operating)Low temperature: survival (non-operating) - 55- 55o o CC

Low temperature: short-term operationLow temperature: short-term operation - 40- 40o o CC

Low temperature: continuous operationLow temperature: continuous operation - 15- 15o o CC

High temperature: survival (non-operating)High temperature: survival (non-operating) 8585o o CC

High temperature: continuous operationHigh temperature: continuous operation 7070o o CC

Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementReplacement

Component RequirementsComponent Requirements• Pressure Altitude RequirementsPressure Altitude Requirements• StructuralStructural

– Shock and HandlingShock and Handling– VibrationVibration

• ElectricalElectrical– AC/DC Power CharacteristicsAC/DC Power Characteristics– Steady State and Transient CharacteristicsSteady State and Transient Characteristics– Voltage Transients and SpikesVoltage Transients and Spikes– Electromagnetic InductionElectromagnetic Induction– Et alEt al

Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementReplacement

Component RequirementsComponent Requirements• BIT (Built In Test)BIT (Built In Test)• SoftwareSoftware• Component ReliabilityComponent Reliability

Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementReplacement

Maintenance RequirementsMaintenance Requirements• No predetermined (scheduled) No predetermined (scheduled)

maintenance intervals on components. maintenance intervals on components. • No piece parts or assemblies with definite No piece parts or assemblies with definite

life limits.life limits.• No on-airplane adjustments. No on-airplane adjustments. • No more than one mechanic for on-No more than one mechanic for on-

airplane maintenance and servicing.airplane maintenance and servicing.• Only "common" tools for on-airplane Only "common" tools for on-airplane

maintenance.maintenance.

Cargo Fire Suppression Halon Cargo Fire Suppression Halon ReplacementReplacementConclusionConclusion

• Identified Alternate Agents Need Identified Alternate Agents Need DevelopmentDevelopment

• Solution Requires Concerted Effort bySolution Requires Concerted Effort by– Regulatory AgenciesRegulatory Agencies– Agent ManufacturersAgent Manufacturers– System ManufacturersSystem Manufacturers– Airplane ManufacturersAirplane Manufacturers

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

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