FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM - HALON PHASE-OUT PROGRAM

Reference: 26.20.00001 Issue date: 21-FEB-2020 Last check date: 21-FEB-2020 Status: Open
A/C type/serie: A300, A300-600, A310, A318, A319, ... ATA: 26-20
Engine manufacturer: Supplier:
Purpose / Reason for revision: Update on Portable Fire Extinguishers
Engineering Support Status: Open
Applicability
All A/C

References
 Clean Air Act, Title VI - EPA Federal Regulations 40-CFR-82
 ICAO amendment. to annex 6
 Commission Regulation (EU) N° 744/2010
 EASA Part-26
 UNEP IE/PAC - Halon Management: Banking for the future

Description
This article provides an updated status on the Halon replacement projects in the aerospace industry and within Airbus.

Solution
1. Generalities

The Halon agent, commonly used in the Aircraft fire extinguishing systems (Halon 1211 or 1301), has been classified as major contributor to ozone depletion. Its
production stopped on 1st January 1994. Several worldwide working groups were set up to investigate potential Halon replacement products.

Airbus has been working on the Halon Phase out since Copenhagen amendment to the Montreal Protocol of 1989, which was signed by most nations worldwide.

Due to the non-availability of a Halon replacement agent at that time, the aviation industry and Airworthiness Authorities created the FAA/AIA “International Halon
Replacement working group” which has become the “International Aircraft Systems fire protection working group”. Airbus has been participating in the activities of
this working group and has attended the periodic meetings.

The purpose of the FAA/AIA working group is to define the basic requirements so called ”Minimum Performance Standards (MPS)”, to be met by any agent or new
technology replacing Halon. Once published, these standards shall allow the chemical industry, system suppliers and airframers to certify their product to an
international agreed standard. It is evident that a new agent is required to maintain at least the fire extinguishing performance level provided by today's Halon systems.

The MPS, defines test equipment, test conditions, types of fires, etc., for most locations (Engine, APU, Cargo compartment and Lavatory). To substantiate these
MPS, the FAA has developed full-scale fire test facilities, in which tests with Halon alternative agents and new technologies are performed to confirm that the defined
agent can provide repeatable results.

2. Halon agent in Airbus aircraft

The Halon is a fire suppression agent found at several locations in the Airbus aircraft.
 Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) => 1 fixed bottle with Halon 1301
 Engines => 2 fixed bottles per engine with Halon 1301
 Cargo compartment => 1 or 2 fixed bottles with Halon 1301
 Pax compartment (Cabin) => Several handheld bottles with Halon 1211
 Lavatory waste receptacles => 1 fixed bottle with Halon 1301

3. Worldwide Regulations

3.1 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements

The ICAO established timeframes for the replacement of the Halon within Aircraft systems.

Note:
New products: Any aircraft for which individual certificate of airworthiness is issued after the stated date, shall not contain Halon in the system.
Cut-off: Any aircraft, whose application for type certification will be submitted on or after the stated date, shall not contain Halon in the system.

3.2 European Union (EU) regulations

The EU Commission Regulation No 744/2010 prohibited the production of Halon.

The import and export of the Halon are also prohibited but with an exemption for the critical uses (e.g. the fire extinguishers in Aircraft), for the laboratory and analytical
uses.

In addition, the EU commission has defined a time schedule for Halon replacement:
Note:
Cut-off date: Any aircraft, whose application for type certification will be submitted on or after the stated date, shall not contain Halon in the system.

End date: After the stated date, any aircraft shall not contain Halon in the system.

3.3 European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

In September 2014, the EASA issued the Rulemaking Task RMT 0560 Issue 2, to amend Part-26 requirements in the view of defining timelines for Halon replacement
with regards to ICAO and EU requirements.

Then, in November 2014, the EASA issued a Notice of Proposed Amendment referenced NPA 2014-26 proposing to postpone the Cabin and Lavatory “New products”
dates (as per ICAO) to ensure a feasible transition to a Halon-free agent.

3.4 United States regulations - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prohibited the production of Halon.

The import and export of the Halon are also prohibited but with an exemption for the Aviation safety, the Military and National security uses and for the laboratory and
analytical uses.

No time schedule has been defined by the EPA for the Halon replacement

4. Status on alternative agents development

As of today, no widely-accepted alternative agent has been identified apart from the lavatory trash receptacles fire extinguishing system in which a Halon-free agent
is used as standard on Airbus aircraft.

In this context, several worldwide working groups were created with the same goal.
To find an agent meeting the following main requirements:
o Low Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP)
o Equivalent extinguishing performance to the Halon
o Low Global Warming Potential (GWP)
o Low impact on aircraft design (space allocation, weight…)

Hereafter is the current research status per aircraft system.

4.1 Engine / APU

The HFC-125 (FE-25®), HFC-227ea (FM-200®) and FIC-1311 (CF3I) are three agents that have been candidates for the engine and APU fire extinguishing system.
Although HFC-125 and HFC-227ea are currently environmentally acceptable, i.e. with a very low ODP, HFC's could face future regulatory restrictions due to their
relatively high GWP.

Consequently, Airbus decided to first focus on the development of other agents that should not be at risk considering the possible new regulations on agents with
high GWP.

Lately, Airbus actively participated to tests of alternative fire extinguishing agents for aircraft:
 NOVECTM 1230:
This agent is manufactured by 3MTM. The MPS tests performed in the FAA fire test facilities in 2006 were successful. However additional performance demonstrations
in cold conditions failed in 2011, pointing out the necessity to implement improvements on NOVEC™1230 based Fire Extinguishing system.

 BLEND A:
This agent is a blend of NOVECTM 1230 + CO2, in determined proportions. This is a patented solution proposed by MEGGITT Safety Systems Company. It also
successfully passed the MPS tests in 2015. However, despite consequent extinguishing performance improvements demonstrated during cold extinction test at FAA
fire test facilities, minimum performance required at cold conditions was still not met, pointing out the necessity to implement improvements on Blend A based Fire
Extinguishing system.
Finally, this very promising solution candidate exhibits higher mass penalties than expected.

To date, no solution meeting all the above mentioned requirements has been identified.

Airbus is currently re-considering the introduction of HFC-125 to replace the Halon in the future Engine and APU fire extinguishing systems, in order to quickly secure
an acceptable solution complying with existing international environmental regulations.

Technically speaking, the HFC-125 compared to the Halon features very interesting characteristics in terms of agent diffusion but is less efficient in terms of fire
extinguishing performance.

To summarize, within Airbus current efforts are put on the development of the HFC-125 solution for the Engine and APU systems and in parallel, the investigations
on new replacement agents will continue.

For information, the HAAPS International Consortium involving several stakeholders (Airbus, Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, Bombardier, Textron…) has been created,
aiming to define and implement a common solution to address this topic.
4.2 Cargo Compartment

During the past years intensive work was carried out to test and evaluate potential Halon replacements. For cargo compartment fire suppression systems, some
promising Halon alternatives were deemed to be unacceptable because of toxicity or safety concerns.
These alternatives that did not meet the established MPS include:

 FIC-1311 (CF3I)
 HFC-125 (FE-25®)
 HFC-227ea (FM-200®)
 HFC-236fa (FE-36®)
 FK-5-1-12 (Novec 1230®)
 2-BTP

Research and development activities now focus on the use of inert gases in combination with water mist and associated technologies needed to generate, provide,
or disperse Halon-free agents for initial fire knock-down and long-term fire suppression.

In addition, Airbus is continually engaging with system suppliers and academia in an attempt to identify other potential Halon replacement agents. These activities
include the participation in a European Research project and the active participation in the Cargo Compartment Halon Replacement Working Group (CCHRWG).

The CCHRWG has been established under the oversight of the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industry Association (ICCAIA), which represents the
aviation manufacturing industry associations of the US (AIA), Europe (ASD), Canada (AIAC), Brazil (AIAB), Russia (UAI) and Japan (SJAC)). ICCAIA is the sole
aircraft manufacturers’ representation accredited to ICAO.

Under the umbrella of the CCHRWG relevant stakeholders, airworthiness authorities, fire protection system suppliers, and research institutions presented and
exchanged information on new fire suppression agent developments and technologies.

Challenges remain for the development of a safe, environmentally responsible and economically worthwhile solution for replacement of Halon for cargo hold fire
suppression systems.

4.3 Handheld / Portable Fire Extinguisher

The Halon working group has successfully performed fire tests with different extinguishing agents:
 HFC-227ea (FM-200®)
 HFC-236fa (FE-36®)
 HCFC-123 (Halotron1®)

The obtained results appeared to be similar to Halon 1211.

These agents have then been approved as Halon replacement for handheld fire extinguishers. They are today available in the market.

However, the main concern of these alternatives is the required volume/content, which has nearly doubled. As a consequence the installation on aircraft becomes
difficult as a drop-in replacement.

This is why, to date, none of them have been qualified on Airbus aircraft.
Nevertheless, they are still considered as fall-back solutions in case no better agent is found.

In 2016, the 2-BTP agent has been listed and authorized by the American EPA as official Halon substitution agent. Compared to the previously mentioned ones, this
agent has better characteristics (weight, GWP) for an introduction as standard on Airbus Aircraft, on top of an equivalent extinguishing performance.

EASA certification was achieved Q4 2016 and FAA certification is planned to be achieved in 2020.
Portable Fire Extinguishers filled with 2-BTP agent are already available in Airbus production on all programs, and available for retrofit through Request
for Change process thanks to the Key Account Manager (KAM).

4.4 Lavatory trash container fire extinguisher

Within the Halon working group the MPS for the lavatory trash receptacle automatic fire extinguishers have been finalized and tests have substantiated the
effectiveness of the specification.
Mid 1999 airworthiness approval for FE-36 was granted and consequently Airbus has launched the work for the introduction of new potty bottles on production aircraft
all certification work has been done successfully and the new potty bottles are available on new production aircraft and through Request for Change for in-service
A/C:

- A300/300-600/A310: Mod. 12755 (Embodiment rank MSN 855)

- A300-600ST: not applicable
- A318/A319/A320/A321: Mod.32229 (MSN 1829)
- A330/A340: Mod. 51993 (MSN 565)
- A340-500/-600: part of type certification
- A380: part of type certification
- A350: part of type certification

4.5 Summary
 Applications Back-up solutions Final solution MOD/SB availability

Cargo None identified None identified Not available

Cabin FM-200 / FE-36 / Halotron1 2-BTP (under FAA approval) Available via RFC

Engine / APU HFC (under study) None identified Not available

Lavatory None FE-36 Available via RFC

5. Halon banking

With no acceptable Halon replacement products becoming available within the immediate future and the prohibition of the Halon production, the control of the existing
Halon stocks has become a priority.
Today, the estimated stock should be sufficient to maintain existing equipment for several years. It is therefore prudent to plan for the recycling and reuse of Halons.

In that aim, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has raised an international Halon bank management clearing house in the purpose of collecting and
disseminating information relevant to international Halon bank management.

Indeed, the UNEP IE/PAC acts as a source of information for all questions related to international Halon bank management and trade of Halons. It also has available
information on new developments in alternative fire protection technologies and new extinguishing agents, as well as contact addresses for manufacturers and
regulating agencies.

The UNEP website providing detailed information on the Halon phaseout projects, can be consulted.
Survey for the Engineering Support section
 Annex

General Information
Potential impact:
Key information:
Solution benefit:
First issue date: 15-FEB-1994 Issue date: 21-FEB-2020 Last check date: 21-FEB-2020

Technical parameters
ATA: 26-20
A/C type/serie: A300, A300-600, A310, A318, A319, A320, A321, A330, A340, A350, A380, AST
Engine:
Engine manufacturer:
Fault code/ECAM
warning:
FIN:
Part Number:
Supplier:

Attachments
General:
- ISI_26.20.00001_Summary.docx

Links
Other articles (ISI/TFU):
- 26.20.00.001
Airnav documents:
- OIT 999.0101/00
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