No. H139/03
For release - November 21, 2003

Transport Minister Announces New Fire Protection Regulations for Aircraft in Airline Operations

"Transport Canada's fire regulations are among the most stringent in the world, and have contributed to Canada's enviable aviation transportation safety record," said Mr. Collenette. "These regulations complement the strong inspection and aviation safety programs already in place."

Transport Canada has strict aircraft design standards in place to protect cargo and baggage compartments from fire. These safety requirements are specified according to each class of compartments (A through E).

The new regulations build on these existing fire safety requirements by implementing extensive improvements to Class C and by modifying the former Class D to meet the same stringent requirements of Class C cargo and baggage compartments. A backgrounder on Transport Canada's cargo and baggage compartment classification is attached.

With the new regulations, the ceiling and sidewall liners of class C compartments of existing, new and future aircrafts, will need to meet more stringent fire penetration resistance standards. By modifying class D standards to class C standards, the new regulations require the installation of fire/smoke detectors and extinguishing/suppression systems in the former class D compartments.

The regulations harmonize Canadian standards with North American standards and are the result of the combined efforts of Transport Canada, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), industry technical committees, as well as accident investigation findings and ongoing improvements to aviation-grade materials.

The amendments were published in the Canada Gazette Part II on November 19, 2003 and come into effect on June 1, 2004.

More information on Transport Canada's comprehensive approach to fire safety can be found at http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/backgrounders/b03-A006.htm.

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BACKGROUNDER

CARGO OR BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT CLASSIFICATION

Transport Canada recognizes five different categories of cargo or baggage compartments:

Class A cargo or baggage compartments are compartments where:

• the presence of a fire would be easily discovered by a crew member while at his/her station; and

• each part of the compartment is easily accessible in flight.

Class B cargo or baggage compartments are typically used on aircraft carrying a combination of cargo and passengers on the same deck. In these compartments:

• there is sufficient access during flight to enable crew members to reach any part of the compartment with the contents of a hand fire extinguisher;

• when the access provisions are being used, no hazardous quantity of smoke, flames, or extinguishing agent will enter any compartment occupied by the crew or passengers; and

• there is a separate approved smoke detector or fire detector system to give warning at the pilot or flight engineer station.

Class C cargo or baggage compartments are typically compartments below the main deck of an aircraft, or on the same deck as passengers, but are not readily accessible. In these compartments:

• there is a separate approved smoke detector or fire detector system to give warning at the pilot or flight engineer station;

• there is an approved built-in fire extinguishing or suppression system controllable from the cockpit;

• there are means to exclude hazardous quantities of smoke, flames, or extinguishing agent from any compartment occupied by the crew or passengers; and

• there are means to control ventilation and drafts within the compartment so that the extinguishing agent used can control any fire that may start within the compartment.

Former Class D cargo or baggage compartments were typically compartments below the main deck of an aircraft, or on the same deck as passengers, not readily accessible and were designed to use oxygen starvation to contain fire. They must now meet the same standards as Class C cargo or baggage compartments.

Class E cargo or baggage compartments are compartments on aircrafts used only for the carriage of cargo and do not carry passengers. In these compartments:

• there is a separate approved smoke or fire detector system to give warning at the pilot or flight engineers station;

• there are means to shut off the ventilating airflow to or within the compartment, and the controls for these means are accessible to the flight crew in the crew compartment;

• there are means to exclude hazardous quantities of smoke, flames, or noxious gases from the flight crew compartment; and

• the required crew emergency exits are accessible under any cargo loading condition.

November 2003