I have spent more than 15 years in the fire service, the majority of that being within the aviation industry. The last four years have brought more significant changes to the industry than any of the preceding. These changes have been brought through new developments in the codes and standards that more adequately reflect today’s modern aviation environment and emerging aircraft technologies. These changes have been brought forth in codes and standards related to three distinct areas. These areas are aircraft facilities, emerging aircraft technologies and firefighter response to aviation emergencies.
New approaches for aircraft hangar protection
The biggest developments in moving toward the future of fire protection for aviation facilities are found in the proposed changes, and product developments, related to NFPA 409, Standard on Aircraft Hangars. The most current edition of NPFA 409 realizes a move away from foam as the only means of aircraft hangar protection. The standard accomplishes this through alternative fire protection approaches, including risk-based and performance-based design approaches, and the acknowledgement of other fire-protection system types.
The risk-based approach requires an assessment and evaluation of 21 risk management considerations. These are outlined in Section 4.2 of NFPA 409 and include factors such as:
• Services provided
• Risk exposure to surrounding properties, the general public or first responders
• Importance or impact of business continuity
• Fuel types and quantities, or products used or stored
• Potential economic loss
• Total occupants and life safety
• Local fire department capabilities, resources and response times
• Construction, compartmentation, infrastructure
• Size and value of the aircraft or the structure
Based on this risk assessment, other fire protection methods may be utilized. These could include the large-scale use of clean agents, watermist, liquid drainage floor assemblies, or a variety of other protection methods.
Vertiports and emerging aviation technology
As the world turns to alternative energy sources, such as electric and hydrogen, the aviation world is leading the charge. There are more than 200 companies developing aircraft that are powered by electrical energy sources, hydrogen energy sources or a hybrid version of these. The first of these aircraft will receive their FAA certification early next year. This move away from traditional liquid carbon-based fuels is driving the need for new and effective fire-protection methods.
NFPA 418, Standard for Heliports, recently concluded its first draft technical committee meeting for the 2024 edition of the standard. The committee reviewed more than 40 proposals directly related to new aviation technology and the infrastructure that will be required to support them. The bulk of these proposals were created and submitted by the Vertiports Task Group. This task group was a combination of aviation professionals, pilots, electric-aircraft manufacturers, infrastructure developers, fire-protection professionals and other special experts. This group met twice a month for more than a year. Proposals submitted and reviewed include those that would make this document applicable to vertiports, provided guidance on the determination of safety requirements for various aircraft sizes, types, and configurations, allow for alternative fire-protection means outside of traditional foam or water-based methods, and provides direction for compliance, construction and emergency planning for eVTOL and hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Emerging technology, evolving tactics
As technology evolves, so must the strategy, tactics and training for first responders. The next edition of NFPA 440, Guide for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Operations and Airport/Community Emergency Planning will include additional guidance on lithium-ion battery suppression, and provide guidance for planning and responding to emergencies involving electric and hydrogen powered aircraft. Seeing proper and safe emergency response as critical to the successful operation, and continued development, of eVTOL aircraft, other organizations are working to create standardization and criteria for emergency response.
One of these organizations is the ARFF Working Group, an association of aircraft rescue firefighting professionals. They recently created a UAM Committee. This committee is made up of aircraft firefighting professionals, aircraft manufacturers, infrastructure developers and special hazards suppression professionals. The charge of this committee is to create guidance to the ARFF community and fire service at large on emergencies and facilities related to urban air mobility. Issues related to infrastructure facilities may include understanding the code requirements for fire protection and new construction, or re-purposing of, aviation facilities to accommodate UAM aircraft. Issues related to first responders are primarily concerned with fire-suppression methods, types of emergency that they may present, and safety of the first responder when interacting with these aircraft. Finally, the committee is focused on creating guidance to assist ARFF departments in working within their own communities to create effective emergency action plans related to UAM incidents and eVTOL operations.
The invention of flight made our world smaller, our neighbourhoods bigger and allowed for the integration of nations and peoples. Innovations in flight are continuing this tradition. As the aviation world continues to evolve, the fire-protection requirements must do the same. It is only through the codes and standards development process that we can create and provide the guidance and direction needed to maintain an aviation environment that is safe to life from the dangers of fire incidents.
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