AC 25-17A

Advisory circular · Transport Airplane Cabin Interiors Crashworthiness Handbook

Approved
May 18, 2009
Last reviewed
June 27, 2016
Cancels
AC25-17
Family
AC 25-17 · 2 versions
Revision
A
14 CFR parts
25
Cited by
1 AD

Guidance, not mandatory unless a rule or AD requires it. DRS record last changed October 23, 2026.

Show pages 707–718
Page 719Open in PDF

703 perimeter, and a "V" shaped spring to hold the assembly together. A detachable 12 mm x12 mm x150 mm drip pan is also provided for testing of materials prone to melting and dripping. The positioning of the spring and frame may be changed to accommodate different specimen thicknesses by inserting the retaining rod in different holes on the specimen holder.

(ii) Since the radiation shield described in ASTM E-906 is not used, a guide pin is added to the injection mechanism. This fits into a slotted metal plate on the injection mechanism outside of the holding chamber and can be used to provide accurate positioning of the specimen face after injection. The front surface of the specimen shall be 100 mm from the closed radiation doors after injection.

(iii) The specimen holder clips onto the mounted bracket (Figure 7). The mounting bracket is attached to the injection rod by three screws which pass through a wide area washer welded onto a 1/2-inch nut. The end of the injection rod is threaded to screw into the nut and a .020-inch thick wide area washer is held between two 1/2-inch nuts which are adjusted to tightly cover the hole in the radiation doors through which the injection rod or calibration calorimeter pass.

(7) Radiometers. A total-flux flush (calorimeter) mounted in the center of a 1/2-inch Kaowool "M" board inserted in the sample holder must be used to measure the total heat flux.

The total-flux calorimeter must have a view angle of 180 degrees and be calibrated for incident flux. The calorimeter calibration must be acceptable to the Administrator.

(8) Pilot-Flame Positions. Pilot ignition of the specimen must be accomplished by simultaneously exposing the specimen to a lower pilot burner and an upper pilot burner, as described in paragraph (b)(8)(i) and (b)(8)(ii), respectively.

(i) Lower Pilot Burner. The pilot-flame tubing must be 6.3 mm O.D., 0.8 mm wall stainless steel tubing. A mixture of 120 cm3/min. of methane and 850 cm3/min. of air must be fed to the lower pilot flame burner. The normal position of the end of the pilot burner tubing is 10 mm from, and perpendicular to, the exposed vertical surface of the specimen. The centerline at the outlet of the burner tubing must intersect the vertical centerline of the sample at a point 5 mm above the lower edge of the specimen.

(ii) Upper Pilot Burner. The pilot burner must be a straight length of 6.3 mm O.D.,

0.8 mm wall, stainless steel tubing that is 360 mm long. One end of the tubing shall be closed, and three No. 40 drill holes shall be drilled into the tubing, 60 mm apart, for gas ports, all radiating in the same direction. The first hole must be 5 mm from the closed end of the tubing.

The tube is inserted into the environmental chamber through a 6.6 mm hole drilled 10 mm above the upper edge of the window frame. The tube is supported and positioned by an adjustable "Z" shaped support mounted outside the environmental chamber, above the viewing window. The tube is positioned above and 20 mm behind the exposed upper edge of the specimen. The middle hole must be in the vertical plane perpendicular to the exposed surface of the specimen which passes through its vertical centerline and must be pointed toward the radiation source. The gas supplied to the burner must be methane adjusted to produce flame lengths of 25 mm.

Page 720Open in PDF

(c) Calibration of Equipment.

(1) Heat Release Rate. A burner as shown in Figure 8 must be placed over the end of the lower pilot flame tubing using a gas-tight connection. The flow of gas to the pilot flame must be at least 99 percent methane and must be accurately metered. Prior to usage, the wet test meter is properly leveled and filled with distilled water to the tip of the internal pointer while no gas is flowing. Ambient temperature and pressure of the water are based on the internal wet test meter temperature. A baseline flow rate of approximately 1 liter/min is set and increased to higher preset flows of 2, 4, 6, and 8 liters/min. The rate is determined by using a stop watch to time a complete revolution of the wet test meter for both the baseline and higher flow, with the flow returned to base-line before changing to the next higher flow. The thermopile baseline voltage is measured. The gas flow to the burner must be increased to the higher preset flow and allowed to burn for 4.0 minutes, and the thermopile voltage must be measured. The sequence is repeated until all four values have been determined. The average of the four values must be used as the calibration factor. The procedure must be repeated if the percent relative standard deviation is greater than 5 percent. Calculations are shown in paragraph (f).

(2) Flux Uniformity. Uniformity of flux over the specimen must be checked periodically and after each heating element change to determine if it is within acceptable limits of ±5 percent

(d) Sample Preparation.

(1) The standard size for vertically mounted specimens is 150 mm x 150 mm for exposed surface with thickness up to 100 mm.

(2) Conditioning. Specimens must be conditioned as described in part I of this appendix.

(3) Mounting. Only one surface of a specimen will be exposed during a test. A single layer of 0.025 mm aluminum foil is wrapped tightly on all unexposed sides.

(e) Procedure.

(1) The power supply to the radiant panel is set to produce a radiant flux of 3.5 W/cm2.

The flux is measured at the point which the center of the specimen surface will occupy when positioned for test. The radiant flux is measured after the air flow through the equipment is adjusted to the desired rate. The sample should be tested in its end use thickness.

(2) The pilot flames are lighted and their position, as described in paragraph (b)(8), is checked.

(3) The air flow to the equipment is set at 0.04±0.001 m3/s at atmospheric pressure.

Proper air flow may be set and monitored by either: (1) An orifice meter designed to produce a pressure drop of at least 200 mm of the manometric fluid, or by; (2) A rotometer (variable

Page 721Open in PDF

705 orifice meter) with a scale capable of being read to ±0.0004 m3/s. The stop on the vertical specimen holder rod is adjusted so that the exposed surface of the specimen is positioned 100 mm from the entrance when injected into the environmental chamber.

(4) The specimen is placed in the hold chamber with the radiation doors closed. The airtight outer door is secured, and the recording devices are started. The specimen must be retained in the hold chamber for 60±10 seconds, before injection. The thermopile "zero" value is determined during the last 20 seconds of the hold period.

(5) When the specimen is to be injected, the radiation doors are opened, the specimen is injected into the environmental chamber, and the radiation doors are closed behind the specimen.

(6) A negative heat release will occur due to heat absorption by the cold specimen holder.

Data-acquisition devices must have the capability of following these negative outputs and correcting the sample burn with a "blank" test result.

(7) Injection of the specimen marks time zero. A continuous record of the thermopile output must be made during the time the specimen is in the environmental chamber.

(8) The test duration time is five minutes.

(9) A minimum of three specimens must be tested.

(f) Calculations.

(1) The calibration factor Is calculated as follows:

Fo = flow of methane at baseline (1pm) F1 = higher preset flow of methane (1pm) Vo = thermopile voltage at baseline (mv) V1 = thermopile voltage at higher flow (mv) Ta = Ambient temperature (K) P = Ambient pressure (mm Hg) Pv = Water vapor pressure (mm Hg) ( ) ( ) K F FV V kmole T P P moleCH STP WATT kcal kwwh cal a v= −− × − × × − × × ×1 01 0 210 8 22 273 760 422 41 01433 1000( . ) . .min.

Page 722Open in PDF

(2) Heat release rates may be calculated from the reading of the thermopile output voltage at any instant of time as:

HRR = Heat release Rate kw/m2 Vm = measured thermopile voltage (mv) Vb = "Blank" thermopile voltage Kh = Calibration Factor (Kw/mv) Vb is the "blank" test obtained by a run conducted with an empty sample holder assembly.

Refer to paragraph (7) above.

(3) The integral of the heat release rate is the total heat release as a function of time and is calculated by multiplying the rate by the data sampling frequency in minutes and summing the time from zero to two minutes.

(g) Criteria. The total positive heat release over the first two minutes of exposure for each of the three or more samples tested must be averaged, and the peak heat release rate for each of the samples must be averaged. The average total heat release must not exceed 65 kilowattminutes per square meter, and the average peak heat release rate must not exceed 65 kilowatts per square meter.

(h) Report. The test report must include the following for each specimen tested:

(1) Description of the specimen.

(2) Radiant heat flux to the specimen, expressed in W/cm2.

(3) Data giving release rates of heat (in kW/m2) as a function of time, either graphically or tabulated at intervals no greater than 10 seconds. The calibration factor (kh) must be recorded.

(4) If melting, sagging, delaminating, or other behavior that affects the exposed surface area or the mode of burning occurs, these behaviors must be reported, together with the time at which such behaviors were observed.

(5) The peak heat release and the 2-minute integrated heat release rate must be reported.

HRR V V m Km b h= − ×( ).02323 2

Page 723OCROpen in PDF

Smoke Monitor - Chimney •0.25m →

• Baffle

0.31m → 0.368m Radiation Shield Reflector

• 0.33m "Globars"

0.79m Ra Mechanical Devise to Maintain Sample Pilot Position Flame

• 0.41m Sample Holder Air Distributor Plates -

- 0.41m

0.20m → Air Inlet [Figure 1. Release Rate Apparatus] 707

Page 724OCROpen in PDF

24g Chromel Alumel Glass insulated Duplex T.G. Wire + Weld or Silver Solder Bend Wire Bock Against Metal Surface → 10 → 3.2 (5/32 in.) Drill - 0.55 (22mll) Stainless Steel (Unless denoted otherwise, all dimensions are in mitimeters) Figure 2. Compensator Tab 708

Page 725OCROpen in PDF

5/18/2009 АС 25-17А 10 -

- Exhaust Stack Figure 3. Compensator Tab Mount 1K Д Thermopile R, 5K Q To Recorder Compensator T.C.

Figure 4. Wiring Diagram 709

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EMF → Time - Time B Figure 5. Square Wave Response 710

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Top 115 150 . Mask 156 (Unless denoted otherwise, all dimensions are in millimeters.)

Figure 6A. "Globar" Radiant Panel 711

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TOP T -25- 115 • Reflector, adjust slope, top and bottom, for uniform heat flux on sample.

- Mask

- 1/4" - 20 Machine Screw 75 g (Unless denoted otherwise al dimensions are in millmeters.)

[Figure 6B. "Globar" Radiant Panel] 712

Page 729OCROpen in PDF

SPRING 2 Radlus Flange, 1" Long 3/8" 156

ANGLE IRON

RETAINER FRAME 165 24 ga Steel

SAMPLE HOLDER Washer 50mm OD 13mm ID Weld lasher 50mm OD 13mm ID all dimensions are in millimeters.) (Unless denoted otherwise, Screw Drill & 1/2 - 13 nut Weld 1/2" Nut \ Tap for 10-32 Machine Screw to Washer 2 Radlus, 5 Flange 165

MOUNTING BRACKET Figure 7 713

Page 730OCROpen in PDF

- 125mm → 25

- 25 — No. 32 Drill Hole

- 9.5 O.D.

9.5 Tubing Leak-Free Seal on 6.35 Pilot Tubing (Unless denoted otherwise, all dimensions are in millimeters.)

FIGURE 8 714