Extinguishing Agents and Portable Fire Extinguishers for Aircraft
- Halogenated Hydrocarbons For over 45 years, halogenated hydrocarbons (Halons) have been practically the only fire extinguishing agents used in civil transport aircraft. ...
- Inert Cold Gases Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an effective extinguishing agent. ...
- Dry Powders Class A, B, or C fires can be controlled by dry chemical extinguishing agents. ...
- Water ...
- Cockpit and Cabin Interiors fire extinguishers ...
What are the different types of portable fire extinguishers?
In case of a fire, several types of portable fire extinguishers are available to fight the fire. The most common types are Halon 1211 and water. Portable fire extinguishers are used to extinguish fires in the cabin or flight deck. Figure 2 shows a Halon fire extinguisher used in a general aviation aircraft.
What type of fire extinguishing agent is used in aircraft?
For over 45 years, halogenated hydrocarbons (Halons) have been practically the only fire extinguishing agents used in civil transport aircraft. However, Halon is an ozone depleting and global warming chemical, and its production has been banned by international agreement.
What are the regulations for fire extinguishers on an airplane?
The FAA does specify the following regulations. According to AC 20-42C, “Hand Fire Extinguishers for Use in Aircraft:”. “The FAA accepts hand fire extinguishers approved by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. “For occupied spaces on aircraft, Halon 1211 extinguishers should not be less than 2½ pounds (1.2kg) capacity.
What halocarbons are used in fire extinguishers?
Halon replacement agents found to be compliant to date include the halocarbons HCFC Blend B, HFC-227ea, and HFC-236fa. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an effective extinguishing agent. It is most often used in fire extinguishers that are available on the ramp to fight fires on the exterior of the aircraft, such as engine or APU fires.
What is the best fire extinguisher for aircraft?
HalonsHalons are electrically non-conducting and have been acknowledged as the most effective universal extinguishing agent for aircraft use. They work mainly by chemically interrupting the reaction described as the 'Fire Triangle' (Fuel-Oxygen-Heat) which must be sustained for a fire to continue.
What are the 4 most common fire extinguishers?
It's important to keep the following portable fire extinguishers in and around your workplace to ensure the safety of your employees and office building.Air-pressurized Water Fire Extinguisher (APW) ... Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher. ... Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher. ... Foam Fire Extinguishers.
What is the 2 main system on fire extinguishers in aircraft?
In the modern and general aviation the fire suppression systems is divided into two subsystems – the Fire Detection System and the Fire Extinguish System. The aircraft systems that have fire detection are: Engines (Turbines) APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) – this is a small engine installed generally in the aircraft tail.
What are the 5 most common types of fire extinguishers?
5 Types of Fire ExtinguishersClass A Fire Extinguishers. Class A fire extinguishers are safe for use on ordinary combustible fires, like those fueled by paper or wood. ... Class B Fire Extinguishers. ... Class C Fire Extinguishers. ... Class D Fire Extinguishers. ... Class K Fire Extinguishers.
What is the most commonly used fire extinguisher?
Dry Chemical extinguishersDry Chemical extinguishers: Dry chemical extinguishers are the most common and available in few types. These extinguishers will be marked for the classes they are designed to extinguish (e.g., ABC type extinguisher will put out Class A, B and C fires).
Are there fire extinguishers on airplanes?
Fire extinguishers are located throughout the passenger cabin with locations designed for easy access in an emergency. The number of handheld fire extinguishers on passenger airplanes is determined by the airplane's passenger capacity.
What are the 3 most common types of fire extinguishers?
According to OSHA, air pressurized water, carbon dioxide (CO2) and dry chemical are the three most common types of fire extinguishers, with wet chemical extinguishers also used often.
What is the most common type of fire?
Class A firesClass A fires are the most common of the 5 different classes of fires. They occur when common combustible materials like wood, paper, fabric, trash, and light plastics catch fire.
Why fire extinguisher is important at aircraft?
Fire extinguishers are part of your aircraft safety measures, so it's key to keep them in proper working condition. Doing so can ensure safety on your aircraft and for your passengers and cargo.
What are the types of fire protection system in aircraft?
Kind of Protection Required:Fire Alarm & Detection System.Sprinkler System.Foam Suppression Systems.Clean Agent Fire Suppression System.Portable Fire Extinguishers.Mobile Fire Extinguishers.
What type of fire extinguisher is commonly used for fixed fire protection system in aircraft?
CO2 Fire Extinguishing Systems Older aircraft with reciprocating engines used CO2 as an extinguishing agent, but all newer aircraft designs with turbine engines use Halon or equivalent extinguishing agent, such as halocarbon clean agents.
What is a CO2 fire extinguisher used for?
CO2 fire extinguishers are mainly aimed at electrical fires but are also suitable for Class B liquid fires and are used in different ways depending on the type of fire they are being used on. Do not use CO2 extinguishers in small rooms as CO2 gas is poisonous at only 4% concentration and can kill at just 8%.
What is ABC type fire extinguisher?
An extinguisher with an ABC rating is suitable for use with fires involving ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids and energized electrical equipment. An extinguisher that is rated for use with multiple hazards should include a symbol for each hazard type.
Which is the best type of fire extinguisher?
Carbon dioxide extinguishers (also called CO2 extinguishers) work best for Class B fires and Class C fires (flammable liquid and electrical equipment) because they smother the fire and cool it very quickly with a cold discharge.
Which 2 types of fire extinguishers are used for electrical fires?
CO2 extinguishers are mainly used for electrical fire risks and are usually the main fire extinguisher type provided in computer server rooms. They also put out Class B fires. CO2 extinguishers suffocate fires by displacing the oxygen the fire needs to burn.
What is the most common cause of fire on an aircraft?
Inflight fire incidents are typically caused by electrical failures, overheated equipment, or improper cargo. In the United States the vast majority of fatalities attributable to fire have occurred in post-crash fire accidents (1).
Which dry chemical extinguisher is recommended for fighting aircraft engine fires?
Dry chemical agents are also extremely corrosive to aircraft components, so they should be avoided for use on the ground as well. That leaves two main options for aircraft use: Halon 1211 or Halotron 1. Halon has been, and remains, the recommended agent for aircraft use.
Why halon is used in aircraft?
The agent, a class of chemicals known as halon, extinguishes and suppresses a wide variety of fires, including flammable liquids, electronics, and common combustibles. Halon is ideal for use around airplane structure and equipment because it is noncorrosive and nonconductive, and it leaves no residue.
What are the 4 types of fire extinguishers PDF?
There are five main types of fire extinguishers:Water.Powder.Foam.Carbon Dioxide (CO2).Wet chemical.
What is a CO2 fire extinguisher used for?
CO2 fire extinguishers are mainly aimed at electrical fires but are also suitable for Class B liquid fires and are used in different ways depending on the type of fire they are being used on. Do not use CO2 extinguishers in small rooms as CO2 gas is poisonous at only 4% concentration and can kill at just 8%.
What is ABC type fire extinguisher?
An extinguisher with an ABC rating is suitable for use with fires involving ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids and energized electrical equipment. An extinguisher that is rated for use with multiple hazards should include a symbol for each hazard type.
What is the difference between ABC and CO2 fire extinguisher?
The most common types are Classes A, B and C, and the classic red fire extinguisher (ABC dry chemical) that you've probably seen in most commercial and retail businesses can handle all three types. CO2 extinguishers work primarily for Class B fires, but can also fight Class C fires.
Where to use fire extinguisher in aircraft?
There must be at least one hand held, portable fire extinguisher for use in the pilot compartment that is located within easy access of the pilot while seated. There must be at least one hand held fire extinguisher located conveniently in ...
What type of fire extinguisher is used in a cabin?
In case of a fire, several types of portable fire extinguishers are available to fight the fire. The most common types are Halon 1211 and water.
What is the class A fire extinguisher?
Class A, B, or C fires can be controlled by dry chemical extinguishing agents. The only all purpose (Class A, B, C rating) dry chemical powder extinguishers contain monoammonium phosphate. All other dry chemical powders have a Class B, C U.S – UL fire rating only. Dry powder chemical extinguishers best control class A, B, and C fire but their use is limited due to residual residue and clean up after deployment.
What is CO2 used for?
It is most often used in fire extinguishers that are available on the ramp to fight fires on the exterior of the aircraft, such as engine or APU fires. CO2 has been used for many years to extinguish flammable fluid fires and fires involving electrical equipment. It is noncombustible and does not react with most substances. It provides its own pressure for discharge from the storage vessel, except in extremely cold climates where a booster charge of nitrogen may be added to winterize the system. Normally, CO2 is a gas, but it is easily liquefied by compression and cooling. After liquification, CO2 remains in a closed container as both liquid and gas. When CO2 is then discharged to the atmosphere, most of the liquid expands to gas. Heat absorbed by the gas during vaporization cools the remaining liquid to –110 °F, and it becomes a finely divided white solid, dry ice snow.
What are the different types of halon?
Two types of Halons are employed in aviation: Halon 1301 (CBrF3) a total flooding agent, and Halon 1211 (CBrClF2) a streaming agent. Class A, B, or C fires are appropriately controlled with Halons. However, do not use Halons on a class D fire. Halon agents may react vigorously with the burning metal.
Why is CO2 used as an extinguishing agent?
CO2 is effective as an extinguishing agent primarily because it dilutes the air and reduces the oxygen content so that combustion is no longer supported.
What is halogenated hydrocarbon?
Halogenated Hydrocarbons. For over 45 years, halogenated hydrocarbons (Halons) have been practically the only fire extinguishing agents used in civil transport aircraft. However, Halon is an ozone depleting and global warming chemical, and its production has been banned by international agreement. Although Halon usage has been banned in some parts ...
What is required for a one shot fire extinguisher?
Commuter aircraft certificated under 14 CFR part 23 are required to have, at a minimum, a one-shot fire extinguishing system. All transport category aircraft certificated under 14 CFR part 25 are required to have two discharges, each of which produces adequate agent concentration. An individual one-shot system may be used for APUs, fuel burning heaters, and other combustion equipment. For each “other” designated fire zone, two discharges (two-shot system) must be provided, each of which produces adequate agent concentration. [Figure 1]
What type of switch does an aircraft use?
Some aircraft use fire switches that need to be pulled and turned to activate the system, while others use a push-type switch with a guard. To prevent accidental activation of the fire switch, a lock is installed that releases the fire switch only when a fire has been detected.
How long does it take for an extinguisher to be delivered?
High rate of discharge (HRD) systems use open-end tubes to deliver a quantity of extinguishing agent in 1 to 2 seconds.
What happens if a fire is in the tailpipe?
It should be remembered that excessive use of CO2, or other agents that have a cooling effect, can shrink the turbine housing on the turbine and cause the engine to disintegrate.
What is a pop out door on an aircraft?
Many aircraft systems are equipped with spring-loaded or pop-out access doors in the skin of the various compartments.
Where are fire switches installed?
Fire switches are typically installed on the center overhead panel or center console in the flight deck. [Figure 5] When the fire switch is activated, the following happens: the engine stops because the fuel control shuts off, the engine is isolated from the aircraft systems, and the fire extinguishing system is activated. Some aircraft use fire switches that need to be pulled and turned to activate the system, while others use a push-type switch with a guard. To prevent accidental activation of the fire switch, a lock is installed that releases the fire switch only when a fire has been detected. This lock can be manually released by the flight crew if the fire detection system malfunctions. [Figure 6]
Can a tailpipe fire be blown out?
Internal engine tailpipe fires that take place during engine shutdown or false starts can be blown out by motoring the engine with the starter. A running engine can be accelerated to rated speed to achieve the same result. If such a fire persists, a fire extinguishing agent can be directed into the tailpipe.
What is portable fire extinguisher?
In the hands of a trained person, portable fire extinguishers are great tools to protect people and property from fire during early stages. When using an extinguisher or selecting an extinguisher to install, it’s important to know the characteristics of different fire extinguishers. This blog will address the different types of fire extinguishers by breaking them down by their extinguishing agent, which is the material inside the extinguisher that gets applied to the fire.
What is a water mist extinguisher?
Water mist extinguishers are a type of water fire extinguisher that uses distilled water and discharges it as a fine spray instead of a solid stream. Water mist extinguishers are used where contaminants in unregulated water sources can cause excessive damage to personnel or equipment. Typical applications include operating rooms, museums, and book collections.
What are the properties of a clean agent?
There are several clean agents that are similar to halon agents in that they are nonconductive, noncorrosive, and evaporate after use, leaving no residue. Larger models of these fire extinguishers are listed for Class A as well as Class B and Class C fires, which makes them quite suitable for use on fires in electronic equipment. When discharged, these agents are in the combined form of a gas/mist or a liquid, which rapidly evaporates after discharge with about twice the range of carbon dioxide. To some extent, windy conditions or strong air currents could make extinguishing difficult by causing a rapid dispersal of agent. Clean agent type extinguishers don’t have a detrimental effect on the earth’s ozone so these are more widely available than Halon type extinguishers.
Do you need to know the rating of a fire extinguisher?
While there are many different types of fire extinguishers used for different applications it is also important to know the rating of each extinguisher which will let you know the types of fires it is meant to be applied to. For more information on portable fire extinguishers take a look at the following blogs, as well as our portable fire extinguisher fact sheet.
Can you use water in a fire extinguisher?
Water is the primary liquid used in these extinguishers, although sometimes other additives are also included. A drawback for pure water fire extinguishers is that it is not suitable for use in freezing conditions since the water inside will freeze and render the extinguisher unusable. Certain types of water fire extinguishers contain antifreeze which will allow the extinguisher to be used in freezing conditions. Water type fire extinguishers can also sometimes contain wetting agents which are designed to help increase its effectiveness against fire. These extinguishers are intended primarily for use on Class A fires.
What temperature should a fire extinguisher be tested at?
NFPA 10 “Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers” does call for aluminum-shelled fire extinguishers to be removed from service and hydrostatically tested if they are exposed to temperatures in excess of 350 degrees F.
How much weight can a 1211 fire extinguisher hold?
“For occupied spaces on aircraft, Halon 1211 extinguishers should not be less than 2½ pounds (1.2kg) capacity.
What class is Halon 1301?
Halon 1301 offers limited Class A capability when used in portable fire extinguishers.”. “In accordance with Section 21.305 (d) of the FAR, the FAA accepts handheld extinguishers approved by Underwriters Laboratories…”.
Can you use an all purpose extinguisher on aluminum?
All-purpose (ABC) dry chemical-type extinguishers should not be used in situations where aluminum corrosion is a problem.
Can you use a fire extinguisher in an aircraft?
In AC20-42C, “Hand Held Fire Extinguishers for use in Aircraft,” the FAA recommends “approved” (such as by UL) fire extinguishers for use in aircraft, but mentions nothing about removing a fire extinguisher from an aircraft due to temperature.
Is a gauge required for an aircraft extinguisher?
A fax received from the FAA along with excerpts from AC 20-42C and 25.851 clearly indicate that a gauge is not a requirement on any type of aircraft. The fax response states: “There should be no problem with an extinguisher that is UL-approved and has no gauge for extinguishing capacity, provided that the weight tolerance for the extinguishant is known.”
Do you need an 8130-3 for a fire extinguisher?
No, not in North America. A factory-new Halon fire extinguisher does not require an 8130-3 because it is not considered an aircraft part. The FAA does not provide a list of authorized fire extinguishers for aircraft. The FAA does specify the following regulations.
