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This project was established to originate concepts for next- generation fire extinguishing agents. In Phase II, laboratory tests and scoping trials were performed to initiate a program for replacement of halon fire extinguishants in Air Force fire protection and firefighter training. Facilities were also established to perform laser Raman spectroscopic investigations of flame suppression halon agents, and initial, baseline Raman studies were carried out. Keywords: Halon, CFC, Chlorofluorocarbon, Ozone fire extinguishment, Flame suppression, Laser Raman spectroscopy.

A recent Air Force study resulted in the development of a fire detection and suppression system for tactical hardened aircraft shelters (HAS). This study recommended adjunct efforts be undertaken to assure that personnel within the HAS at the time of activation of the fire suppression system (Halon 1211) are provided the means of safe and rapid egress, and that an ancillary fuel securing system be provided within the HAS to secure fuel spills from ignition. This project provided the market surveys, comparative research, development, and physical testing which shall lead to procurement definition of both a personnel egress and fuel securing system. Many of the market surveys and much of the comparative research was performed via a subcontract to AMETEK, Offshore Research Engineering Division. Four smoke tests and one neat Halon 1211 discharge were used t test a wide variety of egress system combinations. The UL 162 wand and stovepipe tests were used to test the fuel-securing system. All testing was conducted at Tyndall AFB, Florida, and was considered highly successful in determining system performance. All survey, research and test results are contained in the report. The result of this effort is the final report which contains Military Purchase Descriptions for both the Personnel Egress System and the Fuel Securing System.

To keep personnel, aircraft, and munitions safe and ready, a fire protection system for hardened aircraft shelter (HAS) is needed. This report describes the effort to design, integrate, and test a fire protection system to combat fires in HAS, aircraft and associated equipment during hot fueling, defueling and other operations in semihardened aircraft shelters. The smart and fast detection/suppression system used was required to possess the capability to distinguish between normal operations/events, false stimuli and an actual fire. Halon agents were used for partial flooding tests. Agent toxicity and cleanliness were evaluated and considered in the selection of agents and systems. This report describes the five-part approach used to develop a fire detection system for HAS: 1. Define the HAS environment, 2. Analyze the HAS environment to determine the most likely fire scenarios, 3. Conduct thorough tests and evaluations of commercially available fire detectors, 4. Design, implement and evaluate HAS fire protection system tests, and 5. From the system analyses and tests, develop a purchase description. Keywords: Fire extinguishing agents, Fire detection, Fire suppression, JP-4 fuel, Halon.

The fire performance of solid AFFF firefighting foam purchased from the 3M Company was determined and compared against the performance of liquid 3 percent concentrate which is on the Navy Qualified Products List (QPL). Twenty-eight and 50-square-foot fire tests specified in MIL-F-24385C were used to measure fire performance. A limited number of large-scale (1000-square-foot) fire tests were also conducted. Several mixing techniques were used to prepare solution samples at agent-to-water ratios of 6 grams per liter and 8 grams per liter. A total of 47 fire tests were conducted. In all tests, the fire was extinguished using solutions prepared with solid AFFF. These solutions averaged longer times to control and extinguish hydrocarbon fuel fires when compared to solutions prepared with 3 percent liquid AFFF concentrate. Less than desirable burnback and mixing characteristics were also identified. Because there is potential to achieve significant agent space and weight reductions by using a solid AFFF, additional testing and evaluation is recommended. Specific recommendations include evaluation of solutions prepared by increasing the solid agent-to-water ratio, or reformulation of the solid agent to improve performance. Super-concentrated AFFF (proportioned at 1 percent or less) and concentrates prepared by reconstituting a base AFFF formulation also have potential to reduce space and weight requirements compared to existing 3 and 6 percent AFFF concentrates.

The Skin Penetrator/Agent Application Tool (SPAAT), a new firefighting tool developed for the U.S. Air Force, was tested to determine performance characteristics when using Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF). The results showed that increasing the nozzle pressure to 150 psi from the more common fireground pressures of 50 or 100 psi provided a significant increase in stream reach, which improved fire-extinguishing capability. However, the resulting foam quality was diminished, but could be improved by aeration, although at some loss in stream reach.

Fire-suppression agent requirements for extinguishing fires in oxygen-enriched atmospheres were determined employing small-, medium-, large-, and full-scale test apparatuses. The small- and medium-scale tests showed that a doubling of the oxygen concentration required five times more HALON for extinguishment. For fires of similar size and intensity, the effect of oxygen enrichment of the diluent volume in the HC-131A was not as grate as in the smaller compartments of the B-52 which presented a higher damage scenario. The full-scale tests showed that damage to the airframe was as important a factor in extinguishment as oxygen enrichment. Keywords: Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres, Combustion, Suppression, Extinguishment, HALONS.

To keep personnel, aircraft, and munitions safe and ready, a fire protection system for hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) is needed. This report describes the effort to design, integrate, and test a fire protection system to combat fires in HAS, aircraft and associated equipment during hot fueling, defueling and other operations in semihardened aircraft shelters. The smart and fast detection/suppression system used was required to possess the capability to distinguish between normal operations/events, false stimuli and an actual fire. Halon agents were used for partial flooding tests. Agent toxicity and cleanliness were evaluated and considered in the selection of agents and systems. Keywords: Hardened aircraft shelter, Fire protection system, Fire extinguishing agents, Fire detection, Fire suppression, JP-4 fuel, Halon, Optical fire detector, Aviation safety, Aircraft detectors, Fire extinguishing agents., See also Volume 2, ADB123816.

Current Air Force firefighting equipment does now allow quick and easy entry to airframe voids. Fires are frequently located in and enclosed or limited access area, to which entry can be time-consuming, and dangerous, in that creating an opening can increase the intensity of the fire. Considerable effort has been expended in designing firefighting equipment that can penetrate an aircraft skin and apply a firefighting agent. AMETEK, Inc./ORED designed an aircraft skin penetrator/agent applicator tool which met the requirements specified by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy under Contract F08635-82-C-0472. The tool was tested and evaluated over a 60-day period. This report describes the testing and performance evaluation conducted, and offers recommendations for improvements of the tool and training of firefighting personnel in its use.

The objective of this effort was to develop a purchase description delineating the operating parameters of a rescue tool in performing a realistic variety of aircraft crash rescue tasks. The data collected during the extensive series of field tests indicate that there is not presently a commercial rescue tool that can completely fulfill the Air Force crash rescue requirements. The intent of this effort was to evaluate the operational performance of each tool; quantification of tool design limitations was not part of this effort. A proposed purchase description accompanies this report. Keywords: Cutting jaw; Ballistic hose; Ingress; Egress; Cutting tools; Rescue equipment.

This report describes the results of a test and evaluation program of commercially available, off-the-shelf Halon 1211 hand-portable fire extinguishers. The primary emphasis of the test program was aimed at establishing the flightworthiness/crashworthiness characteristics of candidate articles. Tests were also conducted to evaluate the test item's design features, function, operational capabilities and maintainability. Results of this test program will be used in establishing procurement specifications for Halon 1211 first-aid hand-portable fire extinguishers for use on board USAF aircraft.

This report describes the detailed prototype concept design of a new single, multifunction, lightweight tool for use by fire fighting and rescue personnel in the rescue of personnel from damaged aircraft. Displacing and cutting functions are integrated into the new concept. The conceived tool has a spreader, shear, piercing, prying tip; and router type saw. The tool is powered pneumatically and has a friction/spark, prevention/containment system which includes a spark minimizing cutting tool configuration, a spark entrapment barrier around the cutting tool, and an extinguishing/suppression agent system for flooding the cutting surface and surrounding zones. Concept drawings, specifications and developmental tests are included along with leading references on spark and flammability technology. (Author)

This report describes results of testing two contending extinguishants, Halon 1301 and water, for fire protection of essential electronic equipment. A series of controlled fires in a facility housing an operational electronic data processing system sought to establish immediate and long term effects of exposure of sensitive electronic equipment and stored data to fire extinguishment atmospheres. Test results lead to the conclusion that Halon 1301 is superior to water as an extinguishant for fires occurring in essential electronic equipment installations. (Author)

The objective of this project was to provide a more effective fire fighting capability by the driver/operator of the AS 32/P-4. An AS 32/P-4 aircraft crash rescue vehicles was reconfigured with a 300 gallon per minute (gpm) automatic, non-air-aspirating, bumper turret. This turret was evaluated as a replacement unit for the existing manually operated 300 gpm bumper turret. Twelve operational tests were conducted to determine the best oscillating rates and the agent discharge patterns. All tests used 6 percent Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) as the extinguishing agent. Three live-fire tests were conducted for comparative turret and nozzle effectiveness on large scale fires. The automatic, non-air aspirating, oscillating turret was shown to have twice the effective discharge range, and achieved fire extinguishment 30 percent faster then the existing turret. (Author)