Del R. Mott

For a number of years, the Association of Flight Attendants has had the honor of coming before you to let you know another side of aviation safety -- that of the interior cabin of the aircraft. In-cabin safety is an important facet in this era of aviation because it has been recognized that, when an-emergency develops, occupant survivability depends on cabin interior conditions. Without your continued interest, and the attention of the federal government, we will never see the improvements that should exist inside the cabins of our aircraft. The Association of Flight Attendants is sincerely impressed with the concern expressed by all the members of the Flight Safety Foundation, and particularly the foreign carriers.. Through the exchange of information, we have gained better - ideas and procedures from you and I firmly believe you have benefited from our experiences and analysis of cabin safety.

AST Committee E-5

This method of test covers a procedure for measuring and comparing surface flame spread of various materials, including protective and decorative coatings applied to these materials. The amount of smoke and heat produced in burning under this standard test condition is also measured. The results of the method may be used as an index to the fire hazard of such materials. The method is applicable to all building materials and composites that are capable of being mounted and supported within a 14-in by 8-ft test frame so as to provide exposed surfaces which flames may spread.

S. Kobayashi

The Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, under a contract with the Science and Technology Agency of Japan, conducted tests more severe than those required by regulations on the container used to transport UF6 in order to obtain various data on its behavior under severe heat conditions. The fire test conditions were as follows: 1: 800 degree C – 60 min; test II: 1000 degree C – 30 min; test III: 800 degree C – long period test. Before these extra fire tests, preliminary tests were carried out, using a partial scale model to investigate the properties of phenolic foam, which was supposed to burn out under test conditions. Finite element analysis was used for the numerical analysis and to simulate the irreversible properties of phenolic foam and the heat effects of the gas generated from the phenolic foam (which fills the space between the cylinder and guard casing). The main results are (1) In the 800 degree C – 60 min and 1000 degree C – 30 min tests, the increase in temperature on the outer surface of the 30B cylinder was small and no change in leakage characteristics was found. In the 800 degree C- long period test, it took almost 4h for the container to reach 120 degree C on the cylinder surface and during this period no change in seal leakage characteristics was found. (2) In the fire test, it was observed that the heat flux (which flows into the cylinder) was not the only one flowing toward the guard casing; there was also a heat effect caused by gas generated from the phenolic. (3) The fire resistance capacity of the container depends on the carbonizing speed of phenolic foam and this speed of phenolic foam and this speed in turn depends on the particular temperature at the time. (4) The results of the numerical analysis of heat generation effects from phenolic foam agree well with the results of the fire resist stance tests.

Irving Pinkel

The NASA Spacecraft Fire Hazards Steering Committee report.

J. David Reid

Bromine containing derivates of phosphonitrillic chloride were investigated as possible durable flame retardants for cotton fabrics. These, including brominated allyl phosphontrilate, 2-3 dibromopropyl phosphonitrilate, and the bromoform adduct polymer of allyl phosphonitrilate were applied to cotton fabric as polymertic products from organic solvent or from aqueous emulsions. Evaluation tests on tear strength and the durability of the flame resistance to laundering were made.