INTRODUCTION

CPL TAMAKLOE EDEM EMMANUEL

AEROMECH INSTRUCTOR
 FIRE DETECETION AND
EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM

FIRE DETECETION SYSTEMS

SCOPE

• Fire Detection/Overheat Systems

• Fire Detection System Maintenance Practices
• Fire Detection System Troubleshooting
 OBJECTIVES
❑The expected learning outcome is that the student is able to
❑List fire protection systems as used in aircraft and explain their
principles
❑List the requirements for overheat and fire protection systems
❑State and describe the classes of fires
❑Describe common fire detection/overheat systems and explain
their function
• thermal switch fire detection system
• thermocouple-type fire detection system
• continuous-loop fire detection system
OBJECTIVES

❑Explain the task of a smoke and toxic gas detection

system
❑Explain the task and function of
• carbon monoxide detectors
• smoke detectors
❑Service and troubleshoot a fire detection system
according to the relevant maintenance manual
INTRODUCTION TO FIRE DETECTION

❑Because fire is one of the most dangerous threats to an

aircraft, manufacturers and operators install
• A variety of overheat
• Fire
• Smoke detection devices
• Extinguishing equipment
• National and international aviation regulations require
certain systems to be installed in some categories of
aircraft or for certain types of operation.
FIRE DETECETION SYSTEMS

• Chemically, fire is a reaction between oxygen and a

material known as the fuel.
• This reaction (or oxidation) reduces the fuel to its
chemical elements and, in the process produces a good
deal of heat
CONDITIONS TO START A FIRE

❑There are 3 conditions to be met for fire to occur.

• Fuel
• Oxygen
• Enough heat
• to raise the temperature of the fuel to its ignition or
kindling point.
REQUIREMENTS FOR OVERHEAT AND FIRE
PROTECTION SYSTEM

❑Overheat and fire protection systems on modern aircraft

do not rely on observation by crew members as a primary
method of fire detection.
 REQUIREMENTS CONTINUES…

❑An ideal fire protection system includes as many of the following

features as possible
• A system which will not cause false warnings, under any flight or
ground operating conditions
• Rapid indication of a fire and accurate location of the fire
• Accurate indication that the fire is out
• Indication that the fire has re-ignited
• Continuous indication for the duration of a fire
• Means for electrically testing the detector system from the aircraft
cockpit
 REQUIREMENTS CONTINUES…

• Detectors which resist exposure to oil, water, vibration, extreme

temperatures, and maintenance handling
• Detectors which are light in weight and easily adaptable to any
mounting position
• Detector circuitry which operates directly from the aircraft power
system without inverters
• Minimum electric current requirements when not indicating a fire
• A system that actuates a cockpit light indicating the location of
the fire and an audible alarm
• A separate detection system for each engine.
REQUIREMENTS CONTINUES…

• There are a number of overheat and fire detection

systems that satisfy these requirements, and a single
aircraft may utilise more than one type.
CLASSES OF FIRE

❑In order to understand how an aircraft fire protection

system operates, the classifications of fire should be
known:
❑Class ’A’ fires are those in which solid combustible
materials burn (e.g. wood, paper or cloth).
• This includes fires in electrical plants and equipment.
❑Aircraft cabin fires are usually Class ’A’ fires.
CLASSES OF FIRE

❑Class ’B’ fires are fires where fuel and combustible

liquids burn (e.g. gasoline, engine oil, turbine fuel,
hydraulic oil, grease and many of the solvents used in
aviation maintenance).
• This is the type of fire generally encountered in an
engine nacelle.
CLASSES OF FIRE

❑Class ’C’ fires are those which involve gases, especially

pressurised ones.

❑Class ’D’ fires involve burning metals, such as

aluminium, magnesium and others.

❑Note:
• The use of the wrong type of fire extinguisher can
intensify a Class ’D’ fire rather than extinguish it.
 Fire Detection/Overheat Systems

• Many aircraft are so large that elaborate systems must be

installed to warn the flight crew of any fire or of an overheat
condition that could lead to a fire.
• A fire detection system should signal the presence of a fire.
• Units of the system are installed in locations where there are
greater possibilities of a fire.
• A fire will be indicated by both a cockpit light, showing the
location of the fire, and a warning bell.
• Overheat warning systems are used on some aircraft to indicate
areas of high temperature that may lead to a fire.
Fire Detection/Overheat Systems continues…

• The number of overheat warning systems will vary with

the type of aircraft.
• They may be used in engine turbine areas, nacelles,
wheel well areas and for the pneumatic manifold.
• When an overheat condition occurs in the detector area,
the systems cause a light on the fire control panel to
flash.
Thermal Fire Detection/Overheat Warning
Systems

❑Thermal Switch Fire Detection System

• The thermal switch fire detection system is a spot-type
system that uses a number of thermally activated
switches to warn of fire.
• The switches are wired in parallel with each other.
• The entire group of switches are connected in series with
the indicator light.
• The spot detector sensors incorporate a bimetallic
thermoswitch that closes when heated to a high
temperature.
Thermal Switch Fire Detection System
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM LAYOUT
PORTABLE FIRE EXTIGUISHERS
FIRE BOTTLES
FIRE DETECTORS
FIRE CONTROL PANEL
CIRCUIT BREAKERS
 Engine Fire Detection and Warning System 26

• The engine fire detection and warning system gives an

audible and visual warning of fire or an abnormal rise of
the temperature in the engine bay.
• It consists of the following sub-systems:
• control units (for each engine)
• fire warning lamps (for each engine)
• fire detection elements (at each engine).

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 Control Unit 27
• The control units, located in the fuselage nose, are the
monitoring units for the engine detection and warning
system.
• The control units are usually supplied by 28 V DC.
• When the temperature in an engine bay rises above a certain
temperature the relay in the alarm circuit energises and
illuminates the fire warning lamp.
• Note: The following description is based on the engine fire
detection and warning system of a typical twin-engined
turboprop aircraft.
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 Engine Fire Detection System 28

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 Engine Fire Detection System 29
• The fire detection elements are the sensing elements for the fire detection and
warning system.
• The elements are usually fitted in the engine bays of all engines.
• Typical fire detection elements are flexible elements whose resistance and
capacitance values vary with the ambient temperature.
• They are fitted in such a way that a continuous loop is formed which is connected
to the respective control unit.
• Each element consists of a thin stainless-steel capillary tube enclosing a center
electrode (conductor).
• This conductor is isolated from the tube by a semi-conductor material.
• The whole construction forms a temperature-sensitive device.
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 Engine Fire Extinguishing System 30

• The engine fire extinguishing system is installed for fire

extinguishing within the engine nacelles.
• Such a system usually consists of:

• Fire extinguishers for each engine

• Emergency indicators
• Spray nozzles

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 31

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 Fire Extinguishers 32

• Engine fire extinguishers are mounted close to the engine

nacelles.
• They contain extinguishing agents, e.g. halogenated
hydrocarbons (HALON) or carbon dioxide (CO₂), and are
activated via a remote control valve assembly or a ’bottle
discharge’ switch in the cockpit.
• Modern systems make use of a high rate of discharge (HRD
systems).
• The high discharge rates are obtained by high pressurization,
short feed lines and large discharge valves and outlets.
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 Fire Extinguishers 33

• The extinguishing agent (usually HALON) may be boosted

by high-pressure dry nitrogen.
• Because the agent and the pressurising gas are released
in one second only (or even less) the zone of fire is
temporarily pressurised and the ventilating air flow is
interrupted.

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 Cabin Fire Extinguishers 34

• For minor fires in the cockpit and in the cabin aircraft

are provided with portable hand fire extinguishers which
are mostly charged with CO₂.
• The extinguishers are located in the cabin in such
positions where easy access is ensured.
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is one of the most popular fire
extinguishing agents for the use in aircraft and aircraft
maintenance shops because it is effective against almost
all classes of fires and it does not leave a damaging
residue.
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 35

• CO₂ extinguishers vary from small cylinders mounted in brackets in the

aircraft cabin and the cockpit to large cylinders mounted on wheeled carts.
• Such carts are often used in workshops and as ’fire-guard’ when starting
large engines.
• CO₂ extinguishes a fire by blanketing it with an atmosphere of inert gas
which excludes the oxygen.
• They are effective on all classes of fire and they do not leave any residue
that could damage electrical or mechanical equipment.

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 Cabin Fire Extinguishers
• Care should be taken, however, when using a CO₂ fire 36
extinguisher in an enclosed area:
• after having used the extinguisher some form of ventilation
must be provided as quickly as possible because CO₂ in
concentrations high enough to extinguish a fire will deprive
persons of the needed oxygen.
• When an extinguisher is supplied by the manufacturer or
has been serviced the valve handle is secured with a
piece of tag wire and a lead seal.
• ln order to operate the extinguisher, the seal wire must
be broken.
• Any extinguisher with a broken wire seal is immediately
to be returned for re-filling.

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 Typical Portable CO₂ Fire Extinguisher

37

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