OXYGEN ENHANCED FIRES IN LD-3 CARGO CONTAINERS

Four tests were conducted inside a 169-cubic foot LD-3 cargo container to demonstrate the hazards associated with the release of gaseous oxygen during suppression of a smoldering fire with Halon 1301. The cargo fires were allowed to burn for a short duration before Halon 1301 was discharged into the container. After the suppressant concentration stabilized to about 3%, the minimum design concentration for inerting, a quantity of oxygen was discharged to simulate the relief of oxygen from an overpressurized cylinder. During the first three tests, 11 cubic feet of oxygen was bled into the container from a remote cylinder. A fourth test was conducted in which 22 cubic feet of oxygen was introduced which produced a severe fire that destroyed the container. Temperature, toxic gases, and halon concentration were measured continuously inside the container and video cameras recorded the tests from three locations external to the container.

• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Office of Aviation Research
  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Market, T R
  • Diaz, R
• Publication Date: 1999-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 20 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aviation safety; Cargo aircraft; Container handling; Fire extinguishers; Oxygen content; Toxicity
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Freight Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00963017
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FAA/AR-TH98-29
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 16 2003 12:00AM