Cabin Fire Suppression System A Life Saver

There have been numerous attempts to develop a system to save lives in airliner cabin fires. Only now has a truly practical system been developed, using spray mist to suppress the killer fire and resulting toxic smoke.

Darchem Engineering in Britain has now demonstrated its new water spray fire suppression system for civil aircraft cabins. It is a world first, having been based on a concept first developed by Safety (Aircraft and Vehicles) Equipment, or SAVE, under UK Civil Aviation Authority sponsorship. Final design work was undertaken by Darchem, established suppliers of specialist equipment to the aviation industry.

Survivable aircraft accidents in the 1980s focussed attention on the need to speedily evacuate burning airliner cabins; many passengers died because they simply could not get out before being overcome by flames or deadly toxic fumes. Suggestions were many: ban flammable, toxic smoke producing interior fittings; provide more emergency exits; introduce smoke hoods to drop from the ceiling. Some suggestions proved impractical or simply too expensive, whilst the potential benefits of others, such as the smoke hoods, are debatable (the primary concern with smoke hoods is whether they would create even more confusion and waste valuable seconds needed to exit the aircraft).

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