Fire Protection Systems

Fire Protection Systems

Because fire is one of the most dangerous threats to an
aircraft,the potential fire zones of modern multi engine aircraft
are protected by a fixed fire protection system.
Typical zones on aircraft that have a fixed fire detection or fire
extinguisher
1. Engines and auxiliary power unit (APU)
2. Cargo and baggage compartments
3. Lavatories on transport aircraft
4. Electronic bays
5. Wheel wells
6. Bleed air ducts system
 Fire Protection Systems
To detect fires or overheat conditions, detectors
are placed in the various zones to be monitored.
Fires are detected in reciprocating engine and
small turboprop aircraft using one or more of the
following:
1. Overheat detectors
2. Rate-of-temperature-rise detectors
3. Flame detectors
4. Observation by crewmembers
 Classes of Fires
The following classes of fires that are likely to occur onboard aircraft,
as defined in the U.S. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Standard 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, 2007 Edition,
are:
1. Class Afires involving ordinary combustible materials, such
as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and plastics.
2. Class Bfires involving flammable liquids, petroleum oils,
greases, tars, oil-based paints, alcohols, and flammable gases.
3. Class Cfires involving energized electrical equipment in which the
use of an extinguishing media that is electrically nonconductive is
important.
4. Class Dfires involving combustible metals, such as magnesium,
titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.
 Requirements for Overheat and Fire Protection
Systems
1. No false warnings under any flight or ground condition.
2. Rapid indication of a fire and accurate location of the
fire.
3. Accurate indication that a fire is out.
4. Cockpit light that illuminates, indicating the location of
the fire, and with an audible alarm system.
Fire Detection/Overheat Systems
Thermal Switch System
 Continuous-Loop Systems
Transport aircraft almost exclusively use continuous
thermal sensing elements for power plant and
wheel well protection.
These systems offer superior detection
performance and coverage, and they have the
proven ruggedness to survive in the harsh
environment of modern turbofan engines.
A continuous-loop detector or sensing system
permits more complete coverage of a fire hazard
area than any of thespot-type temperature
detectors.
 Two widely used types of continuous-loop systems
are the thermistor type detectors, such as the
Kidde and the Fenwal systems, and the pneumatic
pressure detector, such as the Ling berg system.
(Lindberg system is also known as Systron-Donner
and, more recently,Meggitt Safety Systems.)
Fenwal System
Kidde System