CS 29.851 Fire extinguishers

ED Decision 2003/16/RM

(a) Hand fire extinguishers. For hand fire extinguishers the following apply:

(1) Each hand fire extinguisher must be approved.

(2) The kinds and quantities of each extinguishing agent used must be appropriate to the kinds of fires likely to occur where that agent is used.

(3) Each extinguisher for use in a personnel compartment must be designed to minimise the hazard of toxic gas concentrations.

(b) Built-in fire extinguishers. If a built-in fire extinguishing system is required:

(1) The capacity of each system, in relation to the volume of the compartment where used and the ventilation rate, must be adequate for any fire likely to occur in that compartment.

(2) Each system must be installed so that:

(i) No extinguishing agent likely to enter personnel compartments will be present in a quantity that is hazardous to the occupants; and

(ii) No discharge of the extinguisher can cause structural damage.

AMC 29.851 Fire extinguishers

ED Decision 2012/022/R

Based on EU legislation⁹ Commission Regulation (EU) No 744/2010 of 18 August 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on substances that deplete the ozone layer, with regard to the critical uses of halon (OJ L 218, 19.8.2010, p. 2)., in new installations of hand fire extinguishers for which the certification application is submitted after 31 December 2014, Halon 1211, 1301 and Halon 2402 are unacceptable extinguishing agents.

The guidance regarding hand fire extinguishers in FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-42D is considered acceptable by the Agency. See AMC 29.1197 for more information on Halon alternatives.

[Amdt 29/3]

CS 29.853 Compartment interiors

ED Decision 2003/16/RM

For each compartment to be used by the crew or passengers:

(a) The materials (including finishes or decorative surfaces applied to the materials) must meet the following test criteria as applicable:

(1) Interior ceiling panels, interior wall panels, partitions, galley structure, large cabinet walls, structural flooring, and materials used in the construction of stowage compartments (other than underseat stowage compartments and compartments for stowing small items such as magazines and maps) must be self-extinguishing when tested vertically in accordance with the applicable portions of Appendix F of CS-25, or other approved equivalent methods. The average burn length may not exceed 0.15 m (6 in) and the average flame time after removal of the flame source may not exceed 15 seconds. Drippings from the test specimen may not continue to flame for more than an average of 3 seconds after falling.

(2) Floor covering, textiles (including draperies and upholstery), seat cushions, padding, decorative and non-decorative coated fabrics, leather, trays and galley furnishings, electrical conduit, thermal and acoustical insulation and insulation covering, air ducting, joint and edge covering, cargo compartment liners, insulation blankets, cargo covers, and transparencies, moulded and thermoformed parts, air ducting joints, and trim strips (decorative and chafing) that are constructed of materials not covered in sub-paragraph (a)(3), must be self-extinguishing when tested vertically in accordance with the applicable portion of Appendix F of CS-25, or other approved equivalent methods. The average burn length may not exceed 0.20 m (8 in) and the average flame time after removal of the flame source may not exceed 15 seconds. Drippings from the test specimen may not continue to flame for more than an average of 5 seconds after falling.

(3) Acrylic windows and signs, parts constructed in whole or in part of elastometric materials, edge lighted instrument assemblies consisting of two or more instruments in a common housing, seat belts, shoulder harnesses, and cargo and baggage tiedown equipment, including containers, bins, pallets, etc., used in passenger or crew compartments, may not have an average burn rate greater than 64 mm (2.5 in) per minute when tested horizontally in accordance with the applicable portions of Appendix F of CS-25, or other approved equivalent methods.

(4) Except for electrical wire and cable insulation, and for small parts (such as knobs, handles, rollers, fasteners, clips, grommets, rub strips, pulleys, and small electrical parts) that the Agency finds would not contribute significantly to the propagation of a fire, materials in items not specified in sub-paragraphs (a)(l), (a)(2), or (a)(3) may not have a burn rate greater than 0.10 m (4 in) per minute when tested horizontally in accordance with the applicable portions of Appendix F of CS-25, or other approved equivalent methods.

(b) In addition to meeting the requirements of sub-paragraph (a)(2), seat cushions, except those on flight-crew member seats, must meet the test requirements of Part II of Appendix F of CS-25, or equivalent.

(c) If smoking is to be prohibited, there must be a placard so stating, and if smoking is to be allowed:

(1) There must be an adequate number of self-contained, removable ashtrays; and

(2) Where the crew compartment is separated from the passenger compartment, there must be at least one illuminated sign (using either letters or symbols) notifying all passengers when smoking is prohibited. Signs which notify when smoking is prohibited must:

(i) When illuminated, be legible to each passenger seated in the passenger cabin under all probable lighting conditions; and

(ii) Be so constructed that the crew can turn the illumination on and off.

(d) Each receptacle for towels, paper, or waste must be at least fire-resistant and must have means for containing possible fires;

(e) There must be a hand fire extinguisher for the flight-crew members; and

(f) At least the following number of hand fire extinguishers must be conveniently located in passenger compartments:

CS 29.855 Cargo and baggage compartments

ED Decision 2003/16/RM

(a) Each cargo and baggage compartment must be constructed of, or lined with, materials in accordance with the following:

(1) For accessible and inaccessible compartments not occupied by passengers or crew, the material must be at least fire-resistant.

(2) Materials must meet the requirements in CS 29.853(a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) for cargo or baggage compartments in which:

(i) The presence of a compartment fire would be easily discovered by a crew member while at the crew member’s station;

(ii) Each part of the compartment is easily accessible in flight;

(iii) The compartment has a volume of 5.6 m³ (200 cu ft) or less; and

(iv) Notwithstanding CS 29.1439(a), protective breathing equipment is not required.

(b) No compartment may contain any controls, wiring, lines, equipment, or accessories whose damage or failure would affect safe operation, unless those items are protected so that:

(1) They cannot be damaged by the movement of cargo in the compartment; and

(2) Their breakage or failure will not create a fire hazard.

(c) The design and sealing of inaccessible compartments must be adequate to contain compartment fires until a landing and safe evacuation can be made.

(d) Each cargo and baggage compartment that is not sealed so as to contain cargo compartment fires completely without endangering the safety of a rotorcraft or its occupants must be designed, or must have a device, to ensure detection of fires or smoke by a crew member while at his station and to prevent the accumulation of harmful quantities of smoke, flame, extinguishing agents, and other noxious gases in any crew or passenger compartment. This must be shown in flight.

(e) For rotorcraft used for the carriage of cargo only, the cabin area may be considered a cargo compartment and, in addition to sub-paragraphs (a) to (d), the following apply:

(1) There must be means to shut off the ventilating airflow to or within the compartment. Controls for this purpose must be accessible to the flight crew in the crew compartment.

(2) Required crew emergency exits must be accessible under all cargo loading conditions.

(3) Sources of heat within each compartment must be shielded and insulated to prevent igniting the cargo.

CS 29.859 Combustion heater fire protection

ED Decision 2003/16/RM

(a) Combustion heater fire zones. The following combustion heater fire zones must be protected against fire under the applicable provisions of CS 29.1181 to 29.1191, and CS 29.1195 to 29.1203:

(1) The region surrounding any heater, if that region contains any flammable fluid system components (including the heater fuel system), that could:

(i) Be damaged by heater malfunctioning; or

(ii) Allow flammable fluids or vapours to reach the heater in case of leakage.

(2) Each part of any ventilating air passage that:

(i) Surrounds the combustion chamber; and

(ii) Would not contain (without damage to other rotorcraft components) any fire that may occur within the passage.

(b) Ventilating air ducts. Each ventilating air duct passing through any fire zone must be fireproof. In addition –

(1) Unless isolation is provided by fireproof valves or by equally effective means, the ventilating air duct downstream of each heater must be fireproof for a distance great enough to ensure that any fire originating in the heater can be contained in the duct; and

(2) Each part of any ventilating duct passing through any region having a flammable fluid system must be so constructed or isolated from that system that the malfunctioning of any component of that system cannot introduce flammable fluids or vapours into the ventilating airstream.

(c) Combustion air ducts. Each combustion air duct must be fireproof for a distance great enough to prevent damage from backfiring or reverse flame propagation. In addition:

(1) No combustion air duct may communicate with the ventilating airstream unless flames from backfires or reverse burning cannot enter the ventilating airstream under any operating condition, including reverse flow or malfunction of the heater or its associated components; and

(2) No combustion air duct may restrict the prompt relief of any backfire that, if so restricted, could cause heater failure.

(d) Heater controls; general. There must be means to prevent the hazardous accumulation of water or ice on or in any heater control component, control system tubing, or safety control.

(e) Heater safety controls. For each combustion heater, safety control means must be provided as follows:

(1) Means independent of the components provided for the normal continuous control of air temperature, airflow, and fuel flow must be provided, for each heater, to automatically shut off the ignition and fuel supply of that heater at a point remote from that heater when any of the following occurs:

(i) The heat exchanger temperature exceeds safe limits.

(ii) The ventilating air temperature exceeds safe limits.

(iii) The combustion airflow becomes inadequate for safe operation.

(iv) The ventilating airflow becomes inadequate for safe operation.

(2) The means of complying with sub-paragraph (e)(1) for any individual heater must:

(i) Be independent of components serving any other heater whose heat output is essential for safe operation; and

(ii) Keep the heater off until restarted by the crew.

(3) There must be means to warn the crew when any heater whose heat output is essential for safe operation has been shut off by the automatic means prescribed in sub-paragraph (e)(1).

(f) Air intakes. Each combustion and ventilating air intake must be where no flammable fluids or vapours can enter the heater system under any operating condition:

(1) During normal operation; or

(2) As a result of the malfunction of any other component.

(g) Heater exhaust. Each heater exhaust system must meet the requirements of CS 29.1121 and 29.1123. In addition:

(1) Each exhaust shroud must be sealed so that no flammable fluids or hazardous quantities of vapours can reach the exhaust systems through joints; and

(2) No exhaust system may restrict the prompt relief of any backfire that, if so restricted, could cause heater failure.

(h) Heater fuel systems. Each heater fuel system must meet the powerplant fuel system requirements affecting safe heater operation. Each heater fuel system component in the ventilating airstream must be protected by shrouds so that no leakage from those components can enter the ventilating airstream.

(i) Drains. There must be means for safe drainage of any fuel that might accumulate in the combustion chamber or the heat exchanger. In addition –

(1) Each part of any drain that operates at high temperatures must be protected in the same manner as heater exhausts; and

(2) Each drain must be protected against hazardous ice accumulation under any operating condition.

CS 29.861 Fire protection of structure, controls, and other parts

ED Decision 2003/16/RM

Each part of the structure, controls, and the rotor mechanism, and other parts essential to controlled landing and (for Category A) flight that would be affected by powerplant fires must be isolated under CS 29.1191, or must be:

(a) For Category A rotorcraft, fire-proof; and

(b) For Category B rotorcraft, fire-proof or protected so that they can perform their essential functions for at least 5 minutes under any foreseeable powerplant fire conditions.

CS 29.863 Flammable fluid fire protection

ED Decision 2003/16/RM

(a) In each area where flammable fluids or vapours might escape by leakage of a fluid system, there must be means to minimise the probability of ignition of the fluids and vapours, and the resultant hazards if ignition does occur.

(b) Compliance with sub-paragraph (a) must be shown by analysis or tests, and the following factors must be considered:

(1) Possible sources and paths of fluid leakage, and means of detecting leakage.

(2) Flammability characteristics of fluids, including effects of any combustible or absorbing materials.

(3) Possible ignition sources, including electrical faults, overheating of equipment, and malfunctioning of protective devices.

(4) Means available for controlling or extinguishing a fire, such as stopping flow of fluids, shutting down equipment, fireproof containment, or use of extinguishing agents.

(5) Ability of rotorcraft components that are critical to safety of flight to withstand fire and heat.

(c) If action by the flight crew is required to prevent or counteract a fluid fire (e.g. equipment shutdown or actuation of a fire extinguisher), quick acting means must be provided to alert the crew.

(d) Each area where flammable fluids or vapours might escape by leakage of a fluid system must be identified and defined.