11/3/2018 Fire extinguishing and detection systems in general aviation - International Fire Protection

Fire extinguishing and detection systems in general aviation

ADNEIDO SOUZA 23/06/2016 01.5K

In the modern and general aviation the fire suppression systems is divided into two subsystems – the Fire Detection
System and the Fire Extinguish System.

Fire detection system

The aircraft systems that have fire detection are:

Engines (Turbines)
APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) – this is a small engine installed generally in the aircraft tail. It is used to start the
big engines (Turbines) and provides electrical power and air conditioning mainly on the ground
Cargo Compartment
Avionic Compartment
IFE (In-flight Entertainment)
Lavatories

The fire detection installed on engines and APU are sensitive loops like protected wirings. This operates when it
detects the temperature increasing and suffers variation in its material composition and sends an electrical signal to
the smoke detector computer which informs the pilots.

The Cargo compartment has electronic detector boxes installed in the cargo ceiling. When there is signal of smoke,
the detector feels the smoke density and then inform to smoke detector computer that transmit this information to
the cockpit.

The Avionic and IFE compartments have similar smoke detector, when smoke is detected an electrical signal is also
sent to the cockpit.

Fire extinguing system

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Presentely the main fire-extinguishing agent used in all aviation systems is Halon (Bromotrifluoromethane).
11/3/2018 Fire extinguishing and detection systems in general aviation - International Fire Protection

Halon systems are the best for avation, but not for the environment or the ozone layer. Because of that, Halon has
not been produced since the Montreal Protocol on ‘Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer’ was signed in
September 1987. This is an international agreement banning the production of Halon.

There some alternative agents being studied in world to replace halon totally. At the moment there is only an
alternative agent called FE36, but this one is a little heavier than halon gas and has been used in lavatory trash can
only.

Generally, depending on the manufacturer, the fire extinguishing bottles installed in engines, APU and cargo
compartments must be removed at established intervals for weight and hydrostatic testing. These scheduled
maintenance intervals can be controlled in calendar days or in flight hours depending on the aircraft utilization.

Engine fire extinguishing operation – fire extinguisher bottles

Engine fire extinguishing operation

Considering an aircraft dual-turbine, generally there are two fire extinguisher bottles to support both engines. When
the pilots are informed by the fire detection system that there is an engine fire, the pilot operates the fire
extinguisher handle, which closes all sources such as electrical power, pneumatic and fuel, and further the pilot
shoots the first bottle and waits to see if the fire has been extinguished. If the engine fire continues, then the pilot
shoots the second bottle. In the meantime, the co-pilot has declared an emergency and prepares to land the aircraft.

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11/3/2018 Fire extinguishing and detection systems in general aviation - International Fire Protection
Engine fire extinguishing operation.

Apu fire extinguishing operation

The APU is generally used on the ground, but can be used in flight as well. The operation to extinguish a fire in the
APU is similar to the engines (Turbines), but generally there is only a small fire extinguishing bottle exclusively
for the APU.

AVIONIC fire extinguishing operation

There is no fire-extinguishing bottle for this. The pilot controls the air ventilation / cooling in the avionics bay in
order to suppress the oxygen.

IFE fire extinguishing operation

IFE is located in the passenger cabin to which the flight attendants have access. The fire extinguishing is done by
portable fire extinguishers installed in the main points of the aircraft. The amount of portable fire extinguishers is
proportional to the amount of passenger seats. This is regulated by the aviation authority.

Lavatories fire extinguishing operation

Although aviation authorities forbid smoke in the lavatories, the lavatory auto-discharge fire-extinguisher system
comprises a fire extinguisher bottle installed in the waste disposal of each lavatory. It is charged with extinguishing
agent and it is mounted with the discharge pipings extended into the lavatory waste compartment, above the waste
container with the pressure gauge visible when the waste disposal door is open. When the temperature inside the
waste compartment reaches predetermined temperature (about 77 degrees Celsius), the extinguishing agent is
discharged to put out the fire. The discharge piping controls the direction of the flow of the extinguishing agent.
See photo below.

These auto-discharge bottles have to be removed or weight checked generally every year and they also have a
limited life span after which they will be discarded.

Lavatories fire extinguishing.

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11/3/2018 Fire extinguishing and detection systems in general aviation - International Fire Protection

Lavatories fire extinguishing bottles.

Cargo Compartment fire extinguishing operation

Generally there are two fire extinguishing bottles for aircraft cargo compartment (for example: E190, A320, B767
etc).

Some old aircraft designs, for example FOKKER 100, did not have the suppression system installed in the cargo
compartment, this means, neither has fire detection nor fire extinguishing, but to comply with new requirements
from FAA/EASA/ANAC and others, the operators of Fokker 100 had to embody the suppression system. It
happened around 2005. Nowadays the new projects must born with fire suppression in the cargo compartment, for
example, the new design like A350, E190E2, B787 etc.

When smoke/fire is detected in cargo, initially the pilots discharge the first bottle which completely fills the
affected cargo with Halon gas, then after that they deploy the second bottle. This second bottle releases the Halon
in a controlled manner in order to keep the Halon concentration around 3%. This concentration of 3% to keep the
oxygen out takes around 1h or more depending on aircraft certification.

In the meantime, the pilot has requested permission to land urgently at the closest airport.

Lavatory fire extinguishing bottle.

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