FAA orders airlines to install new fuel tank system to reduce chance of explosion
A cost-benefit analysis still must be done and airlines need time to plan for the change, so the requirement is not expected to take effect for at least two years. Once the rule is issued, the so-called fuel-tank inerting program will be phased in over seven years. During that time existing planes will have to be retrofitted with the device and new planes will have them as standard equipment.   The Cargo Pit is next !
WE are one valve away

International Aero Inc. fire lab, test the "FirePASS Preventive Mode", to prevent cargo bay fires,  using the FAA Halon Alternative suppression test method and test device
Test two


The below sequence of photos demonstrates the effectiveness of the "FirePASS Preventive" mode of Hypoxic Air and Low Pressure (LPDF) Water Mist System. This is the second test of phase II,  Prevention of fire in cargo bays. We feel it is easier not to have a fire, that to try to control one after it starts. In the below sequence the standard deep seated class A fire starter box from the FAA bulk load and containerized fire scenarios is put to the extreme test.

The Box is placed on a steel frame at the mid point of the 2000 CuFt aircraft cargo compartment test fixture. The air side of the misting system is activated driving the Oxygen content down to below the combustion level. When  the O2 content reached 14.0% inside the compartment 115 Volts 60Hz at ~13.0 amps is applied to a NiCrome wire wrapped around several paper towels. This ignition method is used in the FAA MPS test method and always produces a sustained fire in 60 seconds.  The airflow rates are the same use in previous bulk load and containerized fires using LPDF water mist.
In this second test of Phase II, after the temperatures inside the box indicated a no fire condition the O2 was increased until the temperature rise of 100 deg F inside the cardboard box was observed. This indicates combustion of the shredded paper is about to become sustained and the minimum oxygen for combustion has been reached. In this test case it is 15.2% at sea level.

IAI Fire labThe below test was run for 90 minutes (1.5 Hours) with a constant 12.90~13.10 amps fed to the NiCrome wire. This amount of damage is considered to be negligible. The internal temperatures were around 350 deg F from T+3 to T+20. Then the internal temperature dropped to around 200 F and stabilized (believed to be heat from the hot wire). At T+45 the inlet O2 was raised 1% at T+65, it was raised another 1%, at T+85 another 1% and the test terminated at T+90  Click on the photos of a larger photo. ( yes it's the same box as test one, Just new paper inside)

The first affordable Gate to Gate fire suppression system for comerical airliners, Swiss Air, ValuJet, TWA800 are soon to be a thing of the past.

10/31 90 minute test
 This is the second of the series and the last prior to the briefing to be given to the International Aircraft Systems Fire Protection Working Group, in Atlantic city NJ on Nov. 6, 2003. A copy of the presentation will be made available at a link below, after the meeting.


1031 90 minute test
 As in the last test hypoxic air was applied, after the atmosphere was reduced to 14.5% oxygen, the 115Vac was applied to the system (T+0) ,  This photo is T+90 minutes after application of the power to the NiCrome wire.  In this view the box appears normal.

(this is also the same box used in the previous test)
90 minute test botom burnthrough
 After the box internal temperatures stabilized and no apparent flames the O2 was increased every 20 minutes until a change in the temperature was observed.  At 15.2% a increase in temp was observed. Sparks and ash was observed starting at the T+43 minutes falling from the box. This hole was found on post test inspection.
bottom hole showing ignition wire
 As you can see here the igniter wire fell to the bottom and burned a hole in the bottom of the cardboard with no visible flames over a 90 minute test.


internal fuel load T+90 minutes In this photo the damage to the contents of the box is quite evident. Discoloration and scorching is apparent.  Total loss of weight of the box was around that 90 grams (1 gram per minute)


internal fuel load T+90
 Once again the Hypoxic air prevents the growth of the fire. Damage it limited to the paper being exposed to the radiant heat from the NiCrome wire. The internal temperatures exceeded 350 F
producing large quantities of smoke, but no flame.
total damage is a hole burned through the bottom
 T+90  damage is limited to 90 grams of weight loss and a hole burned through the bottom of the box. The holes appears to be caused by the wire dropping to the bottom of the ignition box.  The wire was touching the inner liner after the test.


Low Pressure Dual Fluid Water Mist (LPDF) and Hypoxic Air as a Viable HALON Alternative PDF copy available at this link