FAA orders airlines to install new fuel tank inerting 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 !
This system is 90% of what is required for the cargo system, WE are one valve away

Water mist  and  Hypoxic Air Suppression test
MPS Test device
 IAI Faa Halon Replacement Agent MPS test fixture  Container load fires are located inside this device,

Minimum Performance Standard for Aircraft Cargo Compartment Halon Replacement Fire Suppression Systems
DOT/FAA/AR-TN03/36

Test method and fixture
 2000 CuFt representation of a wide body cargo bay. LD3 containers are placed in one corner.

LD3 Cargo container
 LD3 Cargo container used for the test.



Post fire test The access panel is removed revealing damage to the contents from the fire.  All right wall boxes are in tact

Row 3 and 4 no damage
 Row 2 outside boxes removed. Note the row one boxes are still intact. Row 2 center and top boxed have fallen into the fire during the test. They blocked in inlet slit and forced the mist into the igniter and right lower box. This is probably due to thermal currents created by the fire. This prevented the fire from spreading to the Row 3


Note no damage to row three and four. Although these show some heat discolor and smoke stains there is no char

You can do this with a gas, fire was out
 Reassembled fuel load. Note the shredded paper in the row one right lower box. The mist was able to extinguish this before it migrated into the deep seated fuel pile. Boxes not shown were relatively undamaged, other than some staining.


International Aircraft Systems Fire Protection Working GroupIAI Fire Protection Laboratory
 This test series, considered to be one of  the hardest to suppress is typical of the efficiency of the Low Pressure Dual Fluid water mist and Hypoxic air.  With a small amount of water to control the flame and the Hypoxic atmosphere to attain extinguishment levels. 
Reduced flammability of airliners is our goal, At IAI Fire lab we are getting there