Hidden fire program :Evaluation of materials located in inaccessible areas with the radiant panel

1. Hidden fire program :Evaluation of materials located in inaccessible areas with the radiant panel LISBONNE 15-18 November

2. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM CONTENTS • BACKGROUND • HIDDEN AREAS • TEST CONDITIONS • MATERIALS IN HIDDEN AREA • TESTS ON WIRES+CABLE TIES • TESTS ON COMBINATION OF MATERIALS • CONCLUSION • FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS

3. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM background Accident insulation blankets involved Investigation new regulations for insulation blankets July 2003 The FAA new objective new test requirements for materials in inacessible areas other than thermal and acoustical insulation

4. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM background European contribution • The DGAC has proposed a working program • which involves CEAT, Airbus and materials suppliers. • The objective of this research is twofold: • To identify the materials and combination of materials which have to be assessed, • To conduct some representative test in order to check their possible contribution to fire propagation.

5. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Hidden area

6. CEILING THREE PARTS 1 SIDE 2 floor 3 cargo CHEEK AREA FLOOR/CARGO HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Hidden area

7. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test conditions FIRST STEP • Radiant panel standard conditions : • Burner pilote applied 15 seconds • Flux 1,7 W/cm² combination of materials The aim : evaluate these materials and combinations of materials according to the new standards defined in the part VI of the appendix F of the FAR25

8. Materials Flame propagation After flame 14 bundled wires + 4 cable ties spaced at 1.5 cm 0 0 14 bundled wires + 4 cable ties spaced at 2 cm 0 1 min 40 seconds 10 bundled wires + 5 cable ties spaced at 2 cm 0 0 10 bundled wires + 3 cable ties spaced at 2 cm +insulation blanket 0 3 min 23 seconds 14 bundled wires + 2 cable ties spaced at 5 cm +insulation blanket 0 0 30 bundled wires + 2 cable ties spaced at 5 cm 0 0 HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test on wires Test results are not repeatable : after removing the pilot burner the cable ties melt with an after flame in some cases .

9. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test on wires 30 bundled wires + 5 cable ties separated every 1 cm and located on the insulation blanket

10. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test on wires During the test, pilot burner removed

11. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test on wires 3 tests carried out : • film melted • cable ties melted and flames remained after removing the pilot burner test results • test 1 after flame time : 6 minutes 53 secondes • test 2 after flame time : 4 minutes 32 secondes • test 3 after flame time : 6 minutes 35 secondes

12. pilot burner position HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM AIR DUCTING + INSULATION AIR DUCTING SAMPLES Test on Combination of materials 1-laminated + Hypalon + polyimide foam +insulation blanket Test results: No flame propagation - No after flame

13. pilot Burner position HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test on Combination of materials SAMPLES insulation blanket + wires and cable ties Test results: No flame propagation - after flame 144 seconds

14. pilot burner position HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test on Combination of materials 1-laminated + Hypalon + polyimide foam +insulation blanket +bundled wires+cable ties 2-PEI + Hypalon + polyimide foam +insulation blanket +bundled wires+cable ties Test results: No flame propagation - No after flame

15. pilot burner position HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test on Combination of materials Wires + PEEK bracket + standard insulation blanket Test results: No flame propagation - after flame 4 seconds

16. pilot burner position HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test on Combination of materials Polyamide bracket Bundled wires +cable tie At 1,5cm Polyamide bracket Bundled wires Test results: No flame propagation - after flame 153 seconds and 253 seconds

17. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test on Combination of materials Test Result: No flame propagation. The damages caused by the flame remained locally around the cable tie and the orange cable bracket

18. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Conclusion Tests on wires A large scattering appeared in the test results. As soon as the sample was placed under the radiant panel the cable ties melted and after removing the burner from the wires, we observed an after flame in two cases of more than 1 minute. • In the case of cable ties at a distance of 1 cm, the PVF film melted, the cable ties melted also. After removing the pilot burner, a flame remained and spread to the second clamp, then the third. • The cable ties pitch seems to be in certain cases a factor of risk • in flame propagation. However, all the series of tests carried out • with the radiant panel show that the wires themselves fitted on airplanes • contribute neither in after flame nor in flame propagation.

19. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Conclusion Tests on combination of materials we can observe that the flame remained locally around the cable ties but did not propagate onto the insulation blanket. In the case of development of after flame due to the polyamide brackets, the position or distance between two cable ties, could be a factor of risk. All the combinations tested did not show any flame propagation

20. HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Conclusion • The scenario which involved cable ties, bundled wires and insulation • is a good example of what we can do with the radiant panel. • Minimum distance criteria between two cable ties may be established • when this type of material is fitted in hidden areas on planes. • The flame only involved the cable ties but did not lead • to ignition of the materials located nearby Further developments Following step : • Pre-heating the samples • Igniting the samples with arcing instead of a pilot burner • carry out tests on materials/equipment located in the cheek area