The effect of cabin materials on aircraft postcrash fire survivability

This paper summarizes the development of improved fire test requirements for aircraft cabin materials by the Federal Aviation Administration to improve postcrash aircraft fire survivability. Full-scale fire tests determined the important role of seat cushions and overhead panel materials on fire spread and of cabin flashover in defining occupant survival. New and more severe fire test criteria for seat cushions and large surface area panels, with demonstrated correlation with full-scale fire tests, resulted in the introduction of seat fire blocking layers and low heat release panels in commercial airliners.