Summary and Recommendations.
Summary and Recommendations.
(890 K)
Grosshandler, W. L.; Gann, R. G.; Pitts, W. M.
NIST SP 861; April 1994.
Evaluation of Alternative In-Flight Fire Suppressants
for Full-Scale Testing in Simulated Aircraft Engine
Nacelles and Dry Bays. Section 10, Grosshandler, W. L.;
Gann, R. G.; Pitts, W. M., Editor(s)(s), 829-844 pp,
1994.
Available from:
Government Printing Office
Order number: SN003-003-03268-9
Keywords:
halons; fire suppression; compatibility; large scale
fire tests; dispersion; evaporation; storage;
environmental effects
Abstract:
The main objective of this research program was to
provide guidance to the sponsors on which materials to
evaluate in the full-scale fire suppression test plan at
Wright-Patterson AFB. Specifically, the recommendations
were to include the following: 1) The best two agents
from the core list of twelve FCs, HFCs and HCFCs
provided by the Air Force when NIST began the project
in 1992; 2) The best practical alternative from among
materials not on the list of twelve; and 3) Whether or
not sodium bicarbonate powder was a viable option. New
metrics have been developed along the way which can be
used to rate other fire fighting compounds for a variety
of applications. The methodology for combining the
results of literally hundreds of tests for the purpose
of defining an overall performance rating of the
chemicals is described in this section. A justification
for each agent recommended using the methodology and the
ranking of all of the agents evaluated by these methods
are included. The report ends with a summary of the
continuing investigation into the formation of
by-products during the suppression process and long-term
materials compatibility for the agents selected by the
sponsors for full-scale testing. A list of
recommendations for further research is provided.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899