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TABLE OF CONTENT
LEGAL CAUTION .............................................................................................................................................................2
FIRE PROTECTION ...........................................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................................2
ENGINE FIRE PROTECTION .............................................................................................................................................2
ENGINE FIRE AND OVERHEAT DETECTION .........................................................................................................................2
ENGINE FIRE EXTINGUISHING ...............................................................................................................................................4
ENGINE FIRE CONTROLS AND INDICATIONS .....................................................................................................................4
ENGINE FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES .....................................................................................................................5
APU FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM......................................................................................................................................5
APU FIRE AND OVERHEAT DETECTION ...............................................................................................................................5
APU FIRE EXTINGUISHING .....................................................................................................................................................6
APU FIRE CONTROLS AND INDICATIONS ...........................................................................................................................6
APU FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ...........................................................................................................................7
AVIONICS COMPARTMENT SMOKE DETECTION ..........................................................................................................7
LAVATORY SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEM .......................................................................................................................8
CARGO COMPARTMENTS FIRE PROTECTION ...............................................................................................................9
CARGO COMPARTMENTS SMOKE DETECTION ................................................................................................................9
CARGO COMPARTMENTS FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM ..............................................................................................10
CARGO SMOKE PROCEDURES ....................................................................................................................................10
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS TESTS ................................................................................................................................11
ENGINE FIRE DETECTION AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM TEST .........................................................................................11
APU FIRE DETECTION AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM TEST ...............................................................................................11
CARGO SMOKE DETECTION AND FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM TEST ..........................................................................12

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LEGAL CAUTION
The material contained in this training program is based on the information obtained from
current national, international and company regulations and it is to be used for training
purposes only. At the time of designing this program contained then current information.
In the event of conflict between data provided herein and that in publications issued by
the authority, the authority shall take precedence.

2
FIRE PROTECTION
This chapter describes the aircraft fire protection systems. Here is the chapter outline:
 Overview
 Engine fire protection
 Engine fire abnormal procedures
 APU fire protection
 APU fire abnormal procedures
 Avionics compartment smoke detection system
 Lavatory smoke detection
 Cargo compartments fire protection
 Cargo smoke abnormal procedures
 Fire protection systems test
3
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the fire protection systems is to monitor the airplane for fire, smoke and
overheat conditions. A complete fire protection system may consist of any or all of the
subsystems: overheat detection, fire detection, smoke detection and fire extinguishing.
4
The A320 fire protection system consists of a fire detection and extinguishing systems for
the engines and APU, smoke detection in the avionics compartment, smoke detection
and fire extinguishing systems in the cargo compartments and lavatories, and portable fire
extinguishers for the flight compartment and the cabin.
5
ENGINE FIRE PROTECTION
The engine fire protection system is made up of the engine overheat and fire detection
system, and the engine fire extinguishing system.
6
The controls and indications for engine fire protection system are on the FIRE panel that is
located on the overhead panel
7
ENGINE FIRE AND OVERHEAT DETECTION
Each engine overheat and fire detection system incorporates two identical detection
loops, denoted as loop A and loop B, and a fire detection unit.

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The detection loops on each engine are connected in parallel and have three sensing
elements.
9
The sensor in the engine fan section is installed near the accessory gear box and mainly
detects fire due to failure of equipment, such as the IDG, or a fuel or oil leak.
10
The sensor in the engine core detects hot air leakage.
11
The sensor located in the pylon nacelle primarily detects leaks from the bleed air duct.
12
When a detection loop senses a temperature at a preset limit, it sends a signal to the fire
detection unit.
13
The fire detection unit normally works with the AND logic and both loops must sense the
temperature at preset limit to trigger an engine fire warning.
14
However, if a fault occurs in one loop, the system configures for single loop operation and
the unaffected loop still provides fire warning whenever it senses an overheat condition.
15
When the unaffected loop fails within 5 seconds of first loop failure, the fire detection unit
takes it as flame affect and triggers the fire warning although there is no overheat signal
from the loops.
16
When one loop is inoperative, the engine fire loop fault message shows on the ECAM.
17
When both loops are faulty or the fire detection unit fails, both master caution lights
illuminate, a single chime sounds and the engine fire detection fault message shows on
the ECAM.
18
When a fire condition is detected in an engine, say engine number 1, both MASTER
WARNING lights illuminate, continuous repetitive chime sounds, and ENGINE FIRE warning
message with the affected engine number and list of corrective actions appear on ECAM.
19
In addition to the central system fire warnings, the related engine fire pushbutton light
illuminates on the fire panel. The respective fire light on the engine panel located on the
pedestal also comes on to show which engine must be shut down.
20
You can stop the aural fire warning by pushing either master warning pushbutton, or
pushing and releasing the related engine fire pushbutton.

21

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ENGINE FIRE EXTINGUISHING

The purpose of engine fire extinguishing system is to put out fire in the engine
compartments.
22
Each engine has two fire extinguisher bottles.
23
Each fire bottle is pressurised by nitrogen to ensure complete discharge of the
extinguishing agent.
24
A cartridge at the bottom contains explosive powder which is fired by heating up a wire,
called a squib, electrically. Explosion of cartridge ruptures a thin disk at the bottom of the
bottle and discharges the agent.
25
The discharge of the bottles is controlled by an associated pushbutton switch on the FIRE
panel. Now, we will look at the engine fire controls and indications on FIRE panel
26
ENGINE FIRE CONTROLS AND INDICATIONS
The FIRE panel incorporates two identical, guarded engine fire pushbuttons.
27
A red light inside the pushbutton comes on whenever the fire warning for the
corresponding engine is activated. The light stays illuminated until the engine fire is no
longer detected.
28
When an engine fire warning is activated, open the guard of related engine fire
pushbutton and push the switch to release it. This stops the aural fire warning and causes
following to happen.
29
With the fire switch pushed and released out, the low pressure fuel shut-off valve closes.
The hydraulic fire shut off valve closes. The engine bleed valve closes. The pack flow
control valve closes. The generator trips off FADEC power supply is cut off. The fire
extinguisher discharge squibs arm.
30
When you pop the ENGINE FIRE switch, SQUIB lights illuminate in the AGENT 1 and AGENT
2 pushbuttons for the related engine.
31
Push briefly on an illuminated AGENT button. The squib at the bottom of the corresponding
fire bottle is electrically fired and the extinguishing agent discharges into engine.
32
When the fire bottle has completely discharged, the DISCHARGE light illuminates on the
related AGENT button.

33

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ENGINE FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

When an engine fire warning is given in flight, retard the affected engine thrust lever to
idle.
34
Set the related engine master switch to off.
35
Push and release the ENGINE FIRE pushbutton. The aural warning stops. The AGENT 1 and
AGENT 2 buttons activate.
36
After 10 seconds, push AGENT 1 button to discharge the related fire bottle. This delay
allows the N1 to decrease, which reduces nacelle ventilation, and thereby increases the
effect of the agent.
37
Notify ATC of the nature of the emergency, and state your intentions.
38
If the fire warning is still on 30 seconds after the first shot, push the AGENT 2 switch. When
the fire condition is no longer detected, the ENGINE FIRE pushbutton light extinguishes.
39
When an engine fire warning is given on the ground, retard the thrust levers to idle. You
may use full reverse to stop the aircraft.
40
When the aircraft is stopped, set the PARKING BRAKE to ON.
41
Notify ATC of the nature of the emergency on VHF 1, and state your intentions.
42
Using the passenger address, alert the cabin crew.
43
Set the related engine master switch to off.
44
Push and release the ENGINE FIRE pushbutton. The aural warning stops. The AGENT 1 and
AGENT 2 buttons activate.
45
Push the AGENT 1 and AGENT 2 buttons.
46
Apply the emergency evacuation procedure
47
APU FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
APU fire protection consists of an APU fire and overheat detection system and an APU fire
extinguishing system.
48
APU FIRE AND OVERHEAT DETECTION
APU fire and overheat detection system has the same components as the engine fire
detection system. The loops are powered from DC BATTERY BUS.
49

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The fire detection unit activates the APU fire warning when both loops detect fire condition
in the APU compartment.
50
If one loop is faulty, the fire detection unit generates the APU warning whenever the
remaining loop detects a fire condition.
51
The fire detection unit also generates an APU warning when both loops fail within 5
seconds.
52
When one loop is inoperative, the APU fire loop fault message shows on the ECAM.
53
When both loops are faulty or the fire detection unit fails, both master caution lights
illuminate, a single chime sounds and the APU fire detection fault message shows on the
ECAM.
54
When a fire condition is detected in the APU compartment, both MASTER WARNING lights
illuminate, a continuous repetitive chime sounds, and the APU FIRE warning message and
list of corrective actions appear on ECAM.
55
In addition to the central system fire warnings, the APU fire pushbutton light illuminates on
the fire panel.
56
APU FIRE EXTINGUISHING
There is just one fire extinguisher bottle for the APU. The discharge of the bottle is controlled
by the pushbutton switch on the FIRE panel.
57
The APU fire bottle also discharges automatically if there is an APU fire when the aircraft is
on the ground. APU automatic shutdown and fire extinguishing is not available in flight.
58
APU FIRE CONTROLS AND INDICATIONS
The FIRE panel incorporates a guarded APU fire pushbutton.
59
A red light inside the pushbutton comes on whenever the fire warning for the APU is
activated. The light stays illuminated until the APU fire is no longer detected.
60
When APU fire warning is activated, open the guard of the APU fire pushbutton and push
the switch to release it. This stops the aural warning and causes following to happen.
61
With the APU fire switch pushed out, the APU shuts down, the APU fuel pump shuts off, the
low pressure fuel shut-off valve closes, the APU bleed valve and crossbleed valve close,
the APU generator is deactivated and the fire extinguisher discharge squib arms.
62
When you pop the ENG FIRE switch, the SQUIB light illuminates in the AGENT pushbutton.
63

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Push briefly on the AGENT button. The squib on the fire bottle is electrically fired and the
extinguishing agent discharges into APU compartment.
64
When the fire bottle has discharged, the DISCHARGE light illuminates on the AGENT button.
65
A red disc installed outside at the rear of the fuselage indicates if the APU fire extinguishing
bottle is serviceable. A missing red disc indicates that the APU bottle has been discharged
due to overpressure
66
On the ground, there are additional external warnings to alert the ground crew when there
is a fire in the APU compartment.
67
When the system detects an APU fire on the ground, the APU shuts down automatically,
an APU FIRE light on the external power panel illuminates red and an external warning horn
sounds.
68
Three seconds after the appearance of the fire warning, the APU fire bottle discharges
automatically. The light goes out when the fire has been extinguished.
69
The APU SHUT OFF pushbutton on the external power panel is used to manually shut down
the APU in case of an emergency. The APU emergency shutdown is discussed in different
lesson.
70
The APU SHUT OFF button is also used to stop the external warning horn.
71
As we have seen earlier, if an APU fire occurs on the ground, an auto-extinguishing system
will shut down the APU automatically and discharge extinguishing agent
72
A test button on the maintenance test panel located on the overhead panel is used to
test the auto-extinguishing system. You can reset the test circuit by pushing the reset
button.
73
APU FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
When an APU fire warning is generated in flight, push and release the APU FIRE pushbutton.
74
After 10 seconds, push AGENT switch to discharge the fire bottle into the APU
compartment.
75
Set the APU MASTER SWITCH to off. Do not attempt to restart the APU.
76
AVIONICS COMPARTMENT SMOKE DETECTION
The avionics compartment smoke detection system helps the flight crew to identify the
source of smoke quickly.
77

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The system consists of a smoke detector which is located in the air extraction duct.
78
When the smoke is detected in the avionics compartment more than 5 seconds, both
MASTER CAUTION lights illuminate, a single chime sounds, and AVIONICS SMOKE caution
message shows on the ECAM, and ELECTRIC page appears in lower display unit.
79
In addition to central system avionics smoke alerts, the SMOKE light on the GEN 1
pushbutton on the EMERGENCY ELECTRIC POWER panel illuminates. The BLOWER and
EXTRACT FAULT lights show on the VENTILATION panel.
80
When avionics smoke caution is generated on the ECAM, you may refer directly to the
QRH SMOKE/FUMES/AVIONICS SMOKE paper procedure, or apply first the ECAM actions,
before entering the QRH. The AVIONICS SMOKE ECAM procedure should be applied only
if the smoke is perceptible
81
LAVATORY SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEM
The lavatory smoke detection consists of one smoke detector in each lavatory.
82

The detector in each lavatory is linked to the Smoke Detection Control Unit with dual
channel.
83
The Smoke Detection Control Unit transmits the signals to the flight warning computer for
warnings in the cockpit and to the Cabin Intercommunication Data System for warning in
the cabin.
84
If a lavatory smoke detector fails, the LAVATORY DETECTION FAULT message is displayed
on the ECAM.
85
When both channels in the Smoke Detection Control Unit fail and smoke warning function
is no longer available, both master caution lights come on, a single chime sounds and the
DETECTION FAULT caution message is displayed on the ECAM.
86
When smoke is detected in a lavatory, both MASTER WARNING lights illuminate, continuous
repetitive chime sounds and LAVATORY SMOKE warning message shows on the ECAM.
87
When the lavatory smoke warning is generated, establish communication with the cabin
crew in order to follow up on the smoke origin and dissipation
88
Each lavatory is also equipped with a waste-bin fire extinguisher.
89
When the temperature within the bin reaches 72°C, the waste-bin extinguisher discharges
automatically.
90

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CARGO COMPARTMENTS FIRE PROTECTION

The cargo fire protection consists of a cargo compartment smoke detection system
powered from DC BUS 2 and a cargo compartment fire extinguishing system powered
from DC BATTERY BUS.
91
CARGO COMPARTMENTS SMOKE DETECTION
A total of six smoke detectors are installed in three cavities in the cargo compartment
ceiling panels.
92
The forward compartment has two detectors in one cavity. There are four detectors in the
aft compartment located in two cavities.
93
Each detector is linked to one of the two detection loops.
94
The smoke detection control unit receives signals from the detectors and sends them to
the flight warning computer for display in the cockpit.
95
If there is a failure in a cargo compartment smoke detection, the FORWARD or AFT CARGO
DETECTION FAULT message is displayed on the ECAM.
96
If the fault is in the AFT cargo compartment and there is no livestock, set the AFT ISOLATION
VALVE switch to OFF.
97
When both channels in the Smoke Detection Control Unit fail and smoke warning function
is no longer available, both master caution lights come on, a single chime sounds and the
DETECTION FAULT caution message is displayed on the ECAM.
98
The cargo smoke warning is normally activated when both smoke detectors in one cavity
detect smoke
99
If a smoke detector in a cavity is faulty, the unaffected detector provides warning
whenever it senses smoke.
100
When smoke is detected in a cargo compartment, say the AFT cargo compartment, both
the MASTER WARNING lights illuminate, a continuous repetitive chime sounds, and the
CARGO SMOKE warning message with the label of affected compartment shows on the
ECAM, and the CONDITIONING page appears in lower display unit.
101
In addition to central system smoke warnings, the related cargo SMOKE light on the
CARGO SMOKE panel illuminates.

102

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CARGO COMPARTMENTS FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM

The cargo compartment fire extinguishing system puts out fires in the forward and aft
cargo compartments.
103
Configuration of cargo compartment fire extinguishing system differs depending on
whether the aircraft has EDTO (Extended Diversion Time Operations) capability or not.
104
On A320 without EDTO, the system consists of one fire extinguishing bottle. It has two squibs
and discharge heads, one for each cargo compartment.
105
There are three discharge nozzles, one in the forward compartment and two in the aft
compartment.
106
When either squib on the bottle fails or bottle pressure is low, both master caution lights
come on, single chime sounds and the FORWARD or AFT CARGO BOTTLE FAULT caution
message shows on the ECAM
107
The two guarded discharge pushbuttons on the cargo smoke panel let you discharge the
extinguishing agent in the corresponding compartment.
108
The CARGO SMOKE panel is on the overhead panel
109
When smoke is detected in a cargo compartment, the respective SMOKE light illuminates.
110
You operate the respective DISCHARGE button to discharge the extinguishing agent into
either the forward or aft cargo compartment.
111
Within 60 seconds after you push the discharge button, the amber DISCHARGE light comes
on to indicate that the bottle has fully discharged.-
112
On A320 with EDTO, the system has two fire extingusihing bottles. Each bottle has two
squibs and discharge heads, and can either be discharged into the FORWARD or AFT
cargo compartment.
113
Bottle 1 content discharges in approximately 60 seconds. Bottle 2 has a flow metering
system which allows a slow discharge over a period of 90 minutes. This ensures sufficient
agent concentration for 205 min.
114
Here is the CARGO SMOKE panel for this configuration.
115
CARGO SMOKE PROCEDURES
When cargo smoke warning is given, set the AFT ISOLATION VALVE switch to OFF if it is not
automatically closed and the aft cargo is affected.

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116
Set the CABIN FANS switch to off.
117
Push related the DISCHARGE switch to discharge the fire bottle into the affected
compartment. If the aircraft is on the ground, ensure that the affected cargo door is
closed before discharging the extinguishing agent.
118
When on the ground, disembark the passengers before you open the cargo doors.
119
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS TESTS
The fire protection systems are tested during the normal preflight. You can do following
tests: the engine fire detection and extinguishing system test, the APU fire detection and
extinguishing system test and the cargo smoke detection and fire extinguishing system test.
120
ENGINE FIRE DETECTION AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM TEST
The test buttons on the FIRE panel lets you test the operation of the respective engine fire
detection and extinguishing system.
121
When you push the TEST button for an engine, a continuous repetitive chime sounds.
122
Both MASTER WARNING lights flash.
123
The ENG FIRE warning shows on ECAM.
124
The ENGINE FIRE pushbutton illuminates red.
125
The SQUIB lights come on if discharge supplies are available.
126
The DISCHARGE lights illuminate amber.
127
The FIRE lights on the ENGINE panel on the pedestal come on.
128
With all these indications, you ensure that the system is operating correctly.
129
APU FIRE DETECTION AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM TEST
The APU test button on the FIRE panel lets you test the operation of the APU fire detection
and extinguishing system. Note that the automatic shutdown of the APU on the ground
will not occur while you are performing this test.
130
When you push the APU TEST button, a continuous repetitive chime sounds.
131
Both MASTER WARNING lights flash.
132
The APU FIRE warning shows on ECAM. These indications occur if AC Power is available.

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133
The APU FIRE pushbutton illuminates red.
134
The SQUIB light comes on.
135
The DISCHARGE light illuminates amber.
136
With all these indications, you ensure that the system is operating correctly.
137
CARGO SMOKE DETECTION AND FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM TEST
The test button on the CARGO SMOKE panel lets you test the operation of the cargo smoke
detection and fire extinguishing system.
138
When you push and hold the TEST button for at least 3 seconds, the smoke detectors are
tested in sequence.
139
The cargo smoke ECAM warning is displayed.
140
The SMOKE lights on cargo smoke panel illuminate twice.
141
The Discharge lights come on.
142
The ventilation system isolation valves close. This completes the test.
143
End of course.

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