798 Added requirements that portable liferafts allow rapid detachment for use at other than their intended exits (§ 25.1411).
Specified that emergency equipment stowage provisions facilitate the easy removal of the equipment (§ 25.1561).
Amendment 25-47 (effective 12/24/79), Cabin Safety and Flight Attendant Amendments This amendment was promulgated to update and improve certain requirements applicable to airworthiness, aircraft equipment, and operations. As this amendment revised more than just crashworthiness requirements, only the significant crashworthiness related aspects are summarized below. This amendment:
Required that a means be provided for flight crewmembers to directly enter the passenger compartment from the pilot compartment if the cockpit door becomes jammed (§ 25.772).
Required that escape slides provide safe evacuation of occupants to the ground under all conditions of gear collapse (§ 25.809).
Amendment 25-51 (effective 3/6/80), Cabin Safety and Flight Attendant Amendments This amendment was promulgated to incorporate upgraded cabin safety and flight attendant protection standards. This amendment:
Provided increased protection to occupants of flight attendant seats, and included the requirement for flight attendant direct view (§ 25.785).
Required stowage compartment latch designs to consider wear and tear deterioration to reduce the likelihood of flight attendants being struck from items becoming dislodged (§ 25.787).
Added a new requirement that areas likely to become wet in service have slip resistant floors (§ 25.793).
Added more stringent fire containment requirements for lavatory waste receptacles and added requirements for No Smoking placards on the outside of lavatories and waste receptacles (§ 25.853).
Amendment 25-52 (effective 9/9/80), Technical Standard Order (TSO) Revision Program This amendment revised § 25.1415 to require that survival type emergency locator transmitter meet the applicable requirements of TSO-C91 rather than the requirements of revoked section
37.200.
Amendment 25-53 (effective 8/31/80), Operations Review Program This amendment was promulgated to update and improve certain requirements for the certification and operation of large aircraft. As this amendment revised more than just crashworthiness requirements, only the significant crashworthiness related aspects are summarized below. This amendment:
799 Introduced new requirements establishing an appropriate level of safety for occupants of lower deck service compartments and powered lift systems (§ 25.819).
Revised the requirements for public address system microphones, such that they only need be positioned adjacent to flight attendant seats located near floor level emergency exits (§ 25.1411).
Amendment 25-54 (effective 10/14/80), Improved Airworthiness Standards This amendment was promulgated to update and improve certain requirements for the airworthiness standards of large aircraft. As this amendment revised more than just crashworthiness requirements, only the significant crashworthiness related aspects are summarized below. This amendment:
Consolidated the requirements for hand fire extinguishers (§ 25.851).
Upgraded the certification and locking requirements for external doors (§ 25.783).
Added lavatory door access requirements (§ 25.783).
Amendment 25-55 (effective 4/28/82), Miscellaneous Amendments This amendment made minor editorial changes to Appendix F, and clarified § 25.807 to make it clear that all transport category aircraft must have ditching emergency exits, whether or not ditching certification is requested.
Amendment 25-58 (effective 11/26/84), Floor Proximity Emergency Escape Path Marking Systems This amendment revised § 25.812 by adding a new paragraph (e), to require a means to locate exits in conditions when lighting above 4 feet is totally obscured. Advisory Circular (AC)
25.812-1, AC 25.812-1A and AC 25.812-2 were subsequently issued to provide guidance regarding finding compliance with the regulation, including how to conduct an evaluation using naïve participants.
Amendment 25-59 (effective November 26, 1984), Flammability Requirements for Aircraft Seat Cushions This amendment established new flammability requirements for seat cushions used in Transport Category Aircraft. It revised § 25.853 by adding a requirement for seat back and bottom cushions, except those on flight crewmember seats, to meet a new flammability test using a 2 gallon/hour kerosene burner. Appendix F was also revised to add part II, which describes the test requirements.
800 Amendment 25-60 (effective 6/16/86), Fire Protection Requirements for Cargo or Baggage Compartments This amendment established new flammability requirements for cargo compartment liners used in Transport Category Aircraft. This amendment:
Introduced a new flammability test, part III, to Appendix F which uses the 2 gallon/hour kerosene burner (§ 25.855).
Requires that the sidewall and ceiling panels of Class C and Class D cargo compartments meet new burn through requirements (§ 25.855).
Limits the size of Class D compartments to 1000 cubic feet (§ 25.857).
Amendment 25-61 (effective 8/20/86), Improved Flammability Standards for Materials Used in the Interiors of Transport Category Airplane Cabins This amendment was promulgated to upgrade the flammability safety standards for materials used in the interiors of transport category airplane cabins, in order to increase occupant survival in the presence of an externally fed fire scenario following an airplane accident. This amendment:
Introduced new flammability requirements applicable to large interior surfaces and panels, for aircraft with passenger capacities of 20 or more (§ 25.853).
Describes the new test method in part IV of Appendix F, which utilized a rate-of-heat-release chamber or an OSU chamber. The latter designation is for the institution at which the test method was developed; Ohio State University.
Amendment 25-64 (effective 6/16/88), Improved Seat Safety Standards This amendment upgraded the standards for occupant protection during emergency landing conditions in transport category airplanes by revising the seat restraint requirements and by defining impact injury criteria. This amendment:
Introduced new dynamic test requirements for seats in transport category airplanes of all sizes (§ 25.562).
Introduced new occupant protection performance measures to be met under the dynamic conditions, including head injury criterion, lumbar loads, and femur loads (§ 25.562).
Increased the static emergency landing load requirements in the upward, sideward and downward directions, and introduced a rearward static load (§ 25.561).
Amendment 25-66 (effective 9/26/88), Improved Flammability Standards for Materials Used in the Interiors of Transport Category Airplane Cabins This amendment was promulgated to further improve the flammability standards for materials used in the interiors of transport category airplane cabins. This amendment:
Made refinements in the part IV test of Appendix F in order to improve the reproducibility of test results (§ 25.853).
801 Added a smoke emissions test, to part V of Appendix F to minimize the possibility that emergency egress will be hampered by smoke obscuration.
Required materials which had to comply with part IV of Appendix F (heat release) to also comply with part V of Appendix F (smoke density).
Amendment 25-67 (effective 7/24/89), Distances Between Emergency Exits This amendment established a new standard to limit the distance between emergency exits on transport category airplanes. This amendment:
Added a new requirement that airplanes with more than one exit on each side of the fuselage may not have adjacent passenger emergency exits more than 60 feet apart (§ 25.807).
Revised the certification procedures in part 21 for new aircraft, preventing the issuance of a standard airworthiness certificate for transport category airplanes which do not meet the new 60- foot requirement (§ 21.183).
Revised the special retroactive requirements to require that each applicant for a supplemental type certificate meet the new 60-foot rule requirements (§ 25.2).
Amendment 25-70 (effective 11/27/89), Independent Power Source for Public Address System in Transport Category Airplanes This amendment was promulgated to ensure the availability of the public address (PA) system during emergency conditions. This amendment:
Added new requirements for the accessibility of required PA systems (§ 25.1411).
Required an independent PA system power source to ensure functionality during emergency conditions (§ 25.1423).
Amendment 25-72 (effective 8/20/1990), Special Review; Transport Category Airplane Airworthiness Standards This amendment was promulgated to update part 25 for clarity and accuracy, and to ensure the airworthiness standards were appropriate for the smaller transport airplane common to regional air carrier operations. This amendment made editorial changes to many of the regulations pertaining to crashworthiness. However, the intent of the crashworthiness requirements remained basically unchanged. Refer to Appendix 10 for a summary of how the different sections were redesignated as a result of Amendment 25-72.
Amendment 25-74 (effective 6/16/91), Improved Cabin Fire Protection This amendment was promulgated to improve cabin fire protection capabilities by:
Requiring smoke detectors in each lavatory (§ 25.854).
Requiring lavatory trash receptacles to be equipped with automatically activated fire extinguishers (§ 25.854).
802 Increasing the number of required fire extinguishers for airplanes with more than 200 passengers (§ 25.851).
Specifying a number of fire extinguishers be required to contain Halon 1211 as the extinguishing agent (§ 25.851).
Requiring one hand fire extinguisher to be installed in, or readily accessible to each galley (§ 25.851).
Amendment 25-76 (effective 6/3/92), Improved Access to Type III Exits This amendment revised the emergency exit access regulations (§ 25.813) to require improved access to Type III exits (typically smaller over-wing exits) in transport category airplanes with 60 or more passenger seats. These changes were the results of tests that were conducted at the FAA’s Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) and were promulgated with the intent to improve the ability of occupants to evacuate an airplane under emergency conditions.
Amendment 25-79 (effective 9/27/93), Miscellaneous Changes to Emergency Evacuation Demonstration Procedures, Exit Handle Illumination Requirements, and Public Address Systems These amendments were promulgated to enhance the provisions for egress of occupants of transport category airplanes under emergency conditions. This amendment:
Modified the procedures for conducting emergency evacuation demonstrations. This included a requirement that the flightcrew take no active role in the demonstration, and a change to the age/sex distribution requirement for demonstration participants.
Standardized the illumination requirements for the handles of the various types of passenger emergency exits.
Added a requirement to prevent the inadvertent disabling of the PA system because of an unstowed microphone.
Amendment 25-82 (effective 6/21/94), Emergency Locator Transmitters This rule was promulgated to improve the reliability and performance of emergency locator transmitters (ELTs). The rule requires that newly installed ELTs on U.S. registered aircraft be of an improved design that meets the requirements of a revised Technical Standard Order (TSO) or later TSOs issued for ELTs (§ 25.1415).
Amendment 25-83 (effective 3/6/1995), Improved Flammability Standards This rule was promulgated to clarify the standards propagated in 1986 concerning the flammability of components used in the cabins of certain transport category airplanes. The clarifications were necessary to preclude certain costly, unintended changes to airplane interiors.
The resulting changes re-organized § 25.853, and made minor refinements in the test apparatus and procedures within Appendix F, Part IV, regarding rate-of-heat-release testing.
803 Amendment 25-87 (effective 7/5/96), Standards for High Altitude Operations This rule was promulgated to specify airplane and equipment airworthiness standards for airplane to be operated up to an altitude of 51,000 feet. This rule change affected the structural requirements for high altitude aircraft and the corresponding system changes to ensure survivability following a rapid decompression at high altitudes. From a crashworthiness perspective, the regulation requires the installation of pressure demand type crew oxygen masks for aircraft where the flightcrew may be exposed to cabin pressure altitude in excess of 34,000 feet (§ 25.1447).
Amendment 25-88 (effective 12/9/96), Type and Number of Passenger Emergency Exits This amendment was promulgated in order to update the requirements for passenger emergency exits, and assist means. These changes allow more flexibility in the design of emergency exits and are reflective of improvements in escape slide technology. This amendment:
Identifies two new types of passenger emergency exits (Types B and C) in transport category airplanes (§ 25.807).
Provides more consistent standards with respect to the passenger seating allowed for each exit type and combination of exit types (§ 25.807).
Requires escape slides to be erected in less time, thereby enabling more rapid egress of passengers under emergency conditions (§ 25.810).
Inadvertently removed the 60-foot limitation between adjacent passenger emergency exits and the requirements for flight crew emergency exits.
Amendment 25-93 (effective 3/19/98), Revised Standards for Cargo or Baggage Compartments This amendment upgraded the fire safety standards for cargo or baggage compartments in certain transport category airplanes. The amendment eliminated Class D compartments as an option for future type certification in order to increase protection from possible in-flight fires (§ 25.855).
These upgraded requirements were the result of several in-flight fires in class D compartments, including the Valujet Airlines DC-9 that crashed in the Florida Everglades. Compartments that were no longer allowed to be designated as Class D must meet the standards for Class C or Class E compartments, as applicable.
Amendment 25-94 (effective 3/25/98), Technical Amendments and Other Miscellaneous Corrections This amendment corrected a number of errors in the safety standards for transport category airplanes. This amendment:
Revised § 25.807 to reintroduce the 60-foot maximum distance between exits, and requirements for flight deck emergency exits. Both requirements were inadvertently omitted from Amendment 25-88.
Made minor typographical corrections to cross references contained in Appendix F, Part II.
804 Amendment 25-99 (effective 6/10/03), Type Certification Procedures for Changed Products This rule change is not specific to crashworthiness issues; it does however, revise the special retroactive requirements of § 25.2 as part of the Changed Product Rule.
Amendment 25-106 (effective 6/15/01), Flight Deck Door Security Considerations This amendment was promulgated in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It introduced a new § 25.795, which requires means to protect the flightdeck from unauthorized intrusion, and protection from small arms fire or fragmentation devices.
Amendment 25-110 (effective 7/21/03), Lower Deck Service Compartments This amendment was promulgated to require two-way voice communication systems between lower deck service compartments and the flightdeck remain available following loss of the normal electrical power generating system. It also clarifies the requirements for seats installed in the lower deck service compartment.
Amendment 25-111 (effective 9/02/03), Thermal / Acoustic Insulation This amendment promulgated upgraded flammability standards for thermal and acoustic insulation materials used in transport category airplanes. These standards are intended to enhance safety by reducing the incidence and severity of cabin fires, particularly those in inaccessible areas where thermal and acoustic insulation materials are installed, and providing additional time for evacuation by delaying the entry of post-crash fires into the cabin.
805 APPENDIX 8
FIRE CONTAINMENT TEST METHODS
l. To demonstrate fire-containment capabilities by test of or similarity to approved containers, carts, or compartments used to store combustible material for showing compliance to the fire containment requirements of § 25.853.
2. PURPOSE.
To demonstrate that food service carts, waste material or refuse carts and compartments with waste containers used to receive combustible materials such as food service refuse, paper towels, napkins, paper cups, etc., and subject to accidental ignition, will contain a fire. Carts not usable as waste containers need not be tested.
3. TEST REQUIREMENTS.
a. The waste compartment, cart, or waste container used for test should be equivalent to a production unit with regard to material and design, as shown by the test and production drawings provided.
b. The waste compartment, cart, or waste container should be tested in the same environment as would occur on the airplane. This includes a complete production enclosure or a simulated configuration that totally duplicates the in-service application, including as a minimum, seals, chutes, ducts, sealant, doors, lids, drain lines, vent lines, compartments with or without containers, and environmental conditions. Tests for waste compartments which contain overboard drains that are vented by differential pressure should be tested with the maximum possible airflow simulated. Tests for chilled carts that receive conditioned air from a chiller unit should also be connected to simulated ducts and have the same air flow through the cart that would occur when in use on the airplane.
c. Chilled carts should be tested to demonstrate containment representative of two use conditions:
(1) Stowed in the galley unit and connected to the ducts that distribute the conditioned air and with the design air flow rates being used, and (Refer to paragraph 3.b.).
(2) Removed from the galley, which would represent the unstowed (disconnected) use condition.
d. The following information is requested for tests to be witnessed by FAA personnel or its representatives:
(1) Identification and location(s) of unit(s) where conformity inspection(s) and test(s) are to be conducted.
(2) Name and telephone number of project engineer at the above location(s).
(3) Approximate date(s) that the unit(s) will be available for inspection.
e. FAA or appointed designee should inspect the cart, waste container, or waste compartment for conformity prior to the test.
f. The following suggested materials may be used for this test:
(1) Material to be ignited in the waste compartment, waste container, or waste cart should consist of the following typical mixture of crumpled combustibles:
(i) Eight paper hand towels-two ply, approximately l0 x 11-inches (40 percent by number).
(ii) Five paper napkins-two ply, approximately 16 x 16-inches (25 percent by number).
(iii) Four paper hot drink cups-8 ounce size (20 percent by number).
(iv) Two paper cold drink cups-3 ounce size (l0 percent by number).
(v) One empty cigarette package (5 percent by number).
The total amount of combustible material in the above proportions should be sufficient to fill the waste container, compartment, or cart to 3/4 full. Any changes to this mixture should be approved by the FAA.
(2) Combustible materials used for meal cart tests should be representative of those regularly used. If the airline for which the cart is intended uses noncombustible dishes, the test should be conducted with combustible dishes. The airline may change or the cart may be used by another airline which uses combustible dishes. Normally this will include:
(i) One cup.
(ii) One salad dish.
(iii) One salad dressing container.
(iv) One entree dish.
(v) One dessert dish.
(vi) Three eating utensils (i.e., knife, fork, spoon).
(vii) One crumpled paper napkin-two ply, approximately l6 x l6-inches.
The total amount of trays, each containing the materials in the above proportions, shall be sufficient to fill the cart. Remove the tray above the one to be ignited to give the fire some air.
Ignite the materials on the second or third tray up from the bottom. Entree or heated carts, if they contained ignition sources, should be tested by igniting an entree dish (the second or third one up from the bottom) or equivalent filled l/2 full of alcohol to simulate a grease fire and remove the tray above the one that is to be ignited. If the entree cart is used as a serving cart or for storage of used materials, the procedures used for standard cart tests should also be followed.
(3) A thermocouple and readout system capable of continuously recording the temperature within the item being tested may be used.
4. TEST PROCEDURES.
4.l WASTE COMPARTMENT AND WASTE CONTAINER.
a. All waste compartments with nonmetallic waste containers should be tested with the containers installed (4.1c and 4.1e through 4.1h) and also with the container removed (4.1d through 4.1h). Alternatively, it may be analyzed which condition (with or without the container) is more critical and only that condition need be tested. Waste compartments with metal waste containers should be tested without the container (4.1d through 4.1h).
b. If the compartment is not tested with the container removed, the outside of the compartment must be conspicuously placarded to require the container be in place.
c. Install the waste container loosely filled with material per 3.f.(1) and close all doors.
Proceed with 4.1e through 4.1h.
d. Loosely fill the waste compartment, without the waste container, with material per 3.f.(1) and close all compartment doors.
e. If a thermocouple is used, install it through the waste compartment lid or other suitable opening such that the thermocouple bead is located l.5 to 2.0-inches above the surface of the waste material.
f. Ignite the waste material in the container or compartment by inserting a crumpled lighted paper towel through the waste compartment lid or chute. Ensure development of an adequate fire by allowing approximately 50 percent of the waste material surface area to ignite prior to closing the lid. It is best to light the back surface first and work forward. The flame coverage is deceiving; be absolutely confident at least 50 percent of the surface is ignited.
g. The temperature indicated by the thermocouple will increase after ignition and then start to drop as the flame subsides. When the thermocouple indicates a temperature below l50°F., or does not reignite when the door is opened, the test is complete. Open the compartment door, remove the waste container if used, and inspect the container, cart, and/or compartment for damage.
h. It is recommended that the applicant takes photographs prior to and after test, records thermocouple temperatures, if used, and record all observations during the test. The photographs, temperatures, and observations should be included in the test report.
4.2 CARTS.
a. All tests are to be conducted in an open area equivalent to an aircraft cabin environment or connected to the conditioned air ducts in the galley unit (Refer to 4.2g).
b. Load carts with materials as listed in 3.f.(1) for waste carts and 3.f.(2) for meal, entree (heated) or air chilled carts.
c. If used, install the thermocouple through the waste access door or other suitable opening such that the thermocouple bead is located l.5 to 2.0-inches above the surface of the top tray.
d. Meal Carts. For meal cart tests, ignite two crumpled paper napkins and place adjacent to other combustible items on the lower tray. Remove the tray above for the test. Allow a good flame front to develop by allowing approximately 50 percent of the surface area of the napkin to ignite. Insert tray and close all cart doors.
e. Waste Carts. For waste carts, use the procedure called out in Section 4.l.
f. Entree (Heated) Carts. For entree or heated carts, ignite a pan of alcohol the size of an entree dish, and insert into the cart on the lower shelf (Refer to 3.f.(2)). Remove the tray above for the test.
g. Air-Chilled Carts.
(1) The air chilled carts should have all openings, gaskets, seals, and connectors representative of the production carts installed or simulated.
(2) Air chilled carts should be loaded with the items as listed in 3.f.(2).
(3) Air chilled carts should be tested under two conditions as follows:
(i) Stowed within galley.
809 (A) If used, install the thermocouple through the access door or other suitable opening such that the thermocouple lead is located l.5 to 2.0-inches above the surface of the top tray.
(B) Ignite two crumpled paper napkins and place adjacent to the other combustible items on the lower tray. Remove the tray above for the test. Allow a good flame front to develop by allowing approximately 50 percent of the surface area of the napkin to ignite.
Insert the tray and close all cart doors.
(C) Place the cart into the galley structure so that it is connected or attached to the chilled air distribution ducts with the designed airflow volume. Circulate air through the cart at the designated airflow rate.
(ii) Unstowed Carts.
(A) Remove the cart from the chilled air distribution duct.
(B) Use the procedure listed in items 4.2g.(3)(i)(A) and 4.2g.(3)(i)(B).
h. The temperature indicated by the thermocouple will increase after ignition and then start to drop as the flame subsides. When the thermocouple indicates a temperature below 150 °F, or does not reignite when the door is opened, the test is complete. Open the compartment door, remove the waste container if used, and inspect the container, cart, and/or compartment for damage.
i. Take photographs prior to and after testing, record thermocouple temperatures, if used, and record all observations during the test. The photographs, temperatures, and observations should be included in the test report.
5. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA.
a. Compliance with the fire containment requirements of § 25.853 requires that the waste compartment/container or cart, as applicable, "must be at least fire resistant" (meet the 45 degree burn test contained in paragraph 621.b(2) of this AC or, alternatively as later promulgated by Amendment 25-32 in § 25.855(a-1)) and be able to contain the fires described in Section 4.
b. Damage to the waste compartment/container is acceptable provided the waste compartment does not burn through or ignite surrounding materials or no flame issues from waste compartment or cart.
c. Damage to carts and contents are acceptable provided the container portion of the cart does not burn through.