MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE Hidden fire program :Evaluation of materials located in inaccessible areas with the radiant panel LISBONNE November

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°2 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE 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

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°3 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Accident insulation blankets involved Investigationnew regulations for insulation blankets July 2003 The FAA new objective new test requirements for materials in inacessible areas other than thermal and acoustical insulation background

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°4 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM 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. European contribution background

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°5 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Hidden area

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°6 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM floor THREE PARTS 2 SIDE 3 CHEEK AREA FLOOR/CARGO 1 CEILING cargo Hidden area

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°7 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Radiant panel standard conditions : Burner pilote applied 15 seconds Flux 1,7 W/cm² FIRST STEP 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 Test conditions

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°8 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM MaterialsFlame propagation After flame 14 bundled wires + 4 cable ties spaced at 1.5 cm bundled wires + 4 cable ties spaced at 2 cm 01 min 40 seconds 10 bundled wires + 5 cable ties spaced at 2 cm bundled wires + 3 cable ties spaced at 2 cm +insulation blanket 03 min 23 seconds 14 bundled wires + 2 cable ties spaced at 5 cm +insulation blanket bundled wires + 2 cable ties spaced at 5 cm 00. Test results are not repeatable : after removing the pilot burner the cable ties melt with an after flame in some cases Test on wires

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°9 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test on wires 30 bundled wires + 5 cable ties separated every 1 cm and located on the insulation blanket

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°10 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM During the test, pilot burner removed Test on wires

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°11 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM 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 Test on wires

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°12 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM 1-laminated + Hypalon + polyimide foam +insulation blanket SAMPLES AIR DUCTING + INSULATION AIR DUCTING Test results: No flame propagation - No after flame pilot burner position Test on Combination of materials

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°13 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM SAMPLES insulation blanket + wires and cable ties Test results: No flame propagation - after flame 144 seconds pilot Burner position Test on Combination of materials

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°14 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM pilot burner position 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 Test on Combination of materials

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°15 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Wires + PEEK bracket + standard insulation blanket Test results: No flame propagation - after flame 4 seconds pilot burner position Test on Combination of materials

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°16 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Polyamide bracket Bundled wires Polyamide bracket Bundled wires +cable tie At 1,5cm Test results: No flame propagation - after flame 153 seconds and 253 seconds pilot burner position Test on Combination of materials

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°17 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM Test Result: No flame propagation. The damages caused by the flame remained locally around the cable tie and the orange cable bracket Test on Combination of materials

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°18 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM 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. Tests on wires 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. Conclusion

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°19 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM 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 Tests on combination of materials Conclusion

15-18-November 04Diapositive N°20 / 20 CEAT MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE HIDDEN FIRE PROGRAM 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 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. Conclusion