FAA Federal Aviation Regulations (FARS, 14 CFR)

(a) Criteria for Acceptance. Each seat cushion must meet the following criteria:
(1) At least three sets of seat bottom and seat back cushion specimens must be tested.
(2) If the cushion is constructed with a fire blocking material, the fire blocking material must completely enclose the cushion foam core material.
(3) Each specimen tested must be fabricated using the principal components (i.e., foam core, flotation material, fire blocking material, if used, and dress covering) and assembly processes (representative seams and closures) intended for use in the production articles. If a different material combination is used for the back cushion than for the bottom cushion, both material combinations must be tested as complete specimen sets, each set consisting of a back cushion specimen and a bottom cushion specimen. If a cushion, including outer dress covering, is demonstrated to meet the requirements, of this Appendix using the oil burner test, the dress covering of that cushion may be replaced with a similar dress covering provided the burn length of the replacement covering, as determined by the test specified in [Sec. 25.853(c),] does not exceed the corresponding burn length of the dress covering used on the cushion subjected to the oil burner test.
(4) For at least two-thirds of the total number of specimen sets tested, the burn length from the burner must not reach the side of the cushion opposite the burner. The burn length must not exceed 17 inches. Burn length is the perpendicular distance from the inside edge of the seat frame closest to the burner to the farthest evidence of damage to the test specimen due to flame impingement, including areas of partial or complete consumption, charring, or embrittlement, but not including areas sooted, stained, warped, or discolored, or areas where material has shrunk or melted away from the heat source.
(5) The average percentage weight loss must not exceed 10 percent. Also, at least two-thirds of the total number of specimen sets tested must not exceed 10 percent weight loss. All droppings falling from the cushions and mounting stand are to be discarded before the after-test weight is determined. The percentage weight loss for a specimen set is the weight of the specimen set before testing less the weight of the specimen set after testing expressed as the percentage of the weight before testing.

(b) Test Conditions. Vertical air velocity should average 25 fpm ± 10 fpm at the top of the back seat cushion. Horizontal air velocity should be below 10 fpm just above the bottom seat cushion. Air velocities should be measured with the ventilation hood operating and the burner motor off.

(c) Test Specimens.
(1) For each test, one set of cushion specimens representing a seat bottom and seat back cushion must be used.
(2) The seat bottom cushion specimen must be 18±1/8 inches (457±3 mm) wide by 20±1/8 inches (508±3 mm) deep by 4±1/8 inches (102±3 mm) thick, exclusive of fabric closures and seam overlap.
(3) The seat back cushion specimen must be 18±1/8 inches (432±3 mm) wide by 25±1/8 inches (635±3 mm) high by 2±1/8 inches (51±3 mm) thick, exclusive of fabric closures and seam overlap.
(4) The specimens must be conditioned at 70±5°F (21±2°C) 55% ± 10% relative humidity for at least 24 hours before testing.

(d) Test Apparatus. The arrangement of the test apparatus is shown in Figures 1 through 5 and must include the components described in this section. Minor details of the apparatus may vary, depending on the model burner used.
(1) Specimen Mounting Stand. The mounting stand for the test specimens consists of steel angles, as shown in Figure 1. The length of the mounting stand legs is 12±1/8 inches (305±3 mm). The mounting stand must be used for mounting the test specimen seat bottom and seat back, as shown in Figure 2. The mounting stand should also include a suitable drip pan lined with aluminium foil, dull side up.
(2) Test Burner. The burner to be used in testing must--
(i) Be a modified gun type;
(ii) Have an 80-degree spray angle nozzle nominally rated for 2.25 gallons/hour at 100 psi;
(iii) Have a 12-inch (305 mm) burner cone installed at the end of the draft tube, with an opening 6 inches (152 mm) high and 11 inches (280 mm) wide, as shown in Figure 3; and
(iv) Have a burner fuel pressure regulator that is adjusted to deliver a nominal 2.0 gallon/hour of #2 Grade kerosene or equivalent required for the test.
Burner models which have been used successfully in testing are the Lenox Model OB-32, Carlin Model 200 CRD, and Park Model DPL 3400. FAA published reports pertinent to this type of burner are: (1) Powerplant Engineering Report No. 3A, Standard Fire Test Apparatus and Procedure for Flexible Hose Assemblies, dated March 1978; and (2) Report No. DOT/FAA/RD/76/213, Reevaluation of Burner Characteristics for Fire Resistance tests, dated January 1977.
(3) Calorimeter.
(i) The calorimeter to be used in testing must be a (0-15.0 BTU/ft2-sec. 0-17.0 W/cm2) calorimeter, accurate ±3%, mounted in a 6-inch by 12-inch (152 by 305 mm) by 3/4-inch (19 mm) thick calcium silicate insulating board which is attached to a steel angle bracket for placement in the test stand during burner calibration, as shown in figure 4.
(ii) Because crumbling of the insulating board with service can result in misalignment of the calorimeter, the calorimeter must be monitored and the mounting shimmed, as necessary, to ensure that the calorimeter face is flush with the exposed plane of the insulating board in a plane parallel to the exit of the test burner cone.
(4) Thermocouples. The seven thermocouples to be used for testing must be 1/16 to 1/8-inch metal sheathed, ceramic packed, type K, grounded thermocouples with a nominal 22 to 30 American wire gage (AWG)-size conductor. The seven thermocouples must be attached to a steel angle bracket to form a thermocouple rake for placement in the test stand during burner calibration, as shown in Figure 5.
(5) Apparatus Arrangement. The test burner must be mounted on a suitable stand to position the exit of the burner cone a distance of 4±1/8 inches (102 ±3 mm) from one side of the specimen mounting stand. The burner stand should have the capability of allowing the burner to be swung away from the specimen mounting stand during warmup periods.
(6) Data Recording. A recording potentiometer or other suitable calibrated instrument with an appropriate range must be used to measure and record the outputs of the calorimeter and the thermocouples.
(7) Weight Scale. Weighing Device--A device must be used that with proper procedures may determine the before and after test weights of each set of seat cushion specimens within 0.02 pound (9 grams). A continuous weighing system is preferred.
(8) Timing Device. A stopwatch or other device (calibrated to ± 1 second) must be used to measure the time of application of the burner flame and self-extinguishing time or test duration.

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Figure 4




Figure 5



[Amdt. 25-94, Eff. 3/25/98]