Human Exposure and Environmental Impact.
Human Exposure and Environmental Impact.
(2239 K)
Braun, E.; Peacock, R. D.; Forney, G. P.; Mulholland, G.
W.; Levin, B. C.
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 9, Grosshandler, W. L.;
Gann, R. G.; Pitts, W. M., Editor(s)(s), 765-828 pp,
1994.
Available from:
Government Printing Office
Order number: SN-003-003-03268-9
Keywords:
halons; exposure; human beings; environmental effects;
halon 1301; large scale fire tests; toxicity; accidents;
compartments; experiments; temperature distribution;
fire extinguishing agents; fire suppression; halon
alternatives
Abstract:
Although these agents are typically employed in
unoccupied sections of an aircraft, the possibility of
human exposure still exists during handling, storage,
and transport. Thus, it is important to know if the
accidental release of the 12 agents in areas of typical
occupancy would result in differing threats to life
safety. At least two topics are important in assessing
the impact of a potential release of an agent: 1) how
does the agent distribute in an occupied space upon an
accidental release, and 2) how does this release affect
personnel who may be exposed? For the former, a series
of tests was conducted to study the release of four of
the twelve agents in a sealed compartment to measure the
airborne concentration of agent that results from
complete venting of containers of typical size into
spaces of typical volume. These tests were augmented
with field modeling to extend the range of the test
results to other compartment geometries. For the
latter, published toxicological results for chronic or
acute exposure are summarized. It is important to note
that in these tests, no humans were exposed.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899