[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 160 (Monday, August 19, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42842-42847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17697]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 25
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0330; Notice No. 25-19-05-SC]
Special Conditions: The Boeing Company Model 777-9 Series
Airplane; Overhead Flight Attendant Rest Compartment
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.
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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for The Boeing Company
(Boeing) Model 777-9 series airplane. This airplane will have a novel
or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology
envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category
airplanes. This design feature is associated with the installation of
an overhead flight attendant rest (OFAR) compartment. The applicable
airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety
standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions
contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator
considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that
established by the existing airworthiness standards.
DATES: Send comments on or before October 3, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by Docket No. FAA-2019-0330 using
any of the following methods:
Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
[[Page 42843]]
Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without
change, to http://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the
docket website, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478).
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
http://www.regulations.gov/ at any time. Follow the online instructions
for accessing the docket or go to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Lennon, Airframe and Cabin
Safety Section, AIR-675, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and
Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, Washington 98198;
telephone and fax 206-231-3209; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking by
sending written comments, data, or views. The most helpful comments
reference a specific portion of the special conditions, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data.
We will consider all comments we receive by the closing date for
comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments
we receive.
Background
On April 24, 2018, The Boeing Company applied for an amendment to
Type Certificate No. T00001SE to include the new Model 777-9 series
airplane. The Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane, which is a derivative
of the 777-300ER currently approved under Type Certificate No.
T00001SE, is a twin-engine, transport category airplane with seating
for up to 495 passengers depending upon airplane configuration, and a
maximum takeoff weight of approximately 775,000 lbs.
Type Certification Basis
Under the provisions of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14
CFR) 21.101, Boeing must show that the Model 777-9 series airplane
continues to meet the applicable provisions of part 25, as amended by
amendments 25-1 through 25-139, and parts 26, 34, and 36, and the
regulations listed in Type Certificate No. T00001SE or the applicable
regulations in effect on the date of application for the change, except
for earlier amendments as agreed upon by the FAA.
If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations (i.e., 14 CFR part 25) do not contain adequate or
appropriate safety standards for the Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane
because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are
prescribed under the provisions of Sec. 21.16.
Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which
they are issued. Should the type certificate for that model be amended
later to include any other model that incorporates the same novel or
unusual design feature, these special conditions would also apply to
the other model under Sec. 21.101.
In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, the Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane must comply with the
fuel vent and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34 and the
noise certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36.
The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in
accordance with Sec. 11.38, and they become part of the type
certification basis under Sec. 21.101.
Novel or Unusual Design Features
The Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane will incorporate the
following novel or unusual design features:
This airplane will have an installation of an OFAR compartment. The
OFAR compartment of the Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane is unique to
part 25 due to its design, location, and use on the airplane. This
compartment is particularly unique in that it is located in the
overhead area of the passenger compartment and crewmembers may occupy
this compartment for crew rest purposes during flight.
Discussion
Boeing has previously installed certified OFAR compartments on
Boeing Model 777 series airplanes in varied locations, such as the main
passenger seating area, the overhead space above the main passenger
cabin seating area, and below the passenger cabin seating area within
the cargo compartment. In each case, the Administrator determined that
the applicable regulations did not provide all of the necessary
requirements because each installation had unique features by virtue of
its design, location, and use on the airplane.
When the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness
regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards
because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are
prescribed under the provisions of Sec. 21.16. The special conditions
contain safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to
establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the
existing airworthiness standards.
For the Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane, the OFAR compartment is
located in the overhead space, above the main passenger cabin seating
area, adjacent to Door 5. The OFAR compartment will contain six, eight,
or ten private berths depending upon customer configuration.
Additionally, only trained crewmembers will occupy the OFAR compartment
in flight, not during taxi, takeoff, or landing. Crewmembers will
access the OFAR compartment from the main deck by stairs through a
vestibule. In addition, a secondary evacuation route, which opens
directly into the main passenger seating area, will be available as an
alternate route for evacuating occupants of the compartment. The
compartment will provide a smoke detection system, an oxygen system,
and occupant amenities.
This Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane OFAR compartment is unique
to part Sec. 25.853 (a), (e), and (h) due to its design, location, and
use on the airplane. This compartment is particularly unique in that it
is located in the overhead area of the passenger compartment and
crewmembers may occupy this compartment for crew rest purposes during
flight. Due to the novel or unusual features associated with the
installation of this compartment, the FAA considers special conditions
necessary to provide a level of safety equal to that established by the
airworthiness regulations incorporated by reference in the G-1 Issue
Paper for the Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane.
Boeing originally requested that Special Conditions No. 25-230-SC
(68 FR 17513, April 9, 2003) for the OFAR compartment be made
applicable to the Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane via collector
issue paper. Subsequent to the issuance of Special Conditions No. 25-
[[Page 42844]]
230-SC, the FAA issued Special Conditions No. 25-419-SC (76 FR 10482,
February 25, 2011), for OFAR compartments allowed to be occupied during
flight on Boeing Model 787 series airplanes. In consideration of these
special conditions, which reflect the current methodology for
addressing remote OFAR compartments, new special conditions are
proposed for the Boeing Model 777-9 series airplanes.
The proposed special conditions contain the additional safety
standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a
level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing
airworthiness standards.
Applicability
As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the
Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane. Should Boeing apply at a later date
for a change to the type certificate to include another model
incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these special
conditions would apply to that model as well.
Conclusion
This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on one model series airplane. It is not a rule of general
applicability.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25
Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority Citation
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.
The Proposed Special Conditions
Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes the
following special conditions as part of the type certification basis
for Boeing Model 777-9 series airplane.
Overhead Flight Attendant Rest (OFAR) Special Conditions
1. OFAR Compartment Occupancy. Occupancy of the OFAR compartment is
limited to the total number of installed bunks and seats in each
compartment. An approved seat or berth--able to withstand the maximum
flight loads when occupied for each occupant permitted in the OFAR
compartment--must be available. Maximum occupancy in the OFAR
compartment is six, eight, or ten crewmembers during flight depending
upon customer configuration.
a. Appropriate placards must be located inside and outside each
entrance to the OFAR compartment to indicate:
(1) The maximum number of occupants allowed during flight.
(2) Occupancy is restricted to crewmembers who are trained in the
evacuation procedures for the OFAR compartment.
(3) Occupancy is prohibited during taxi, take-off, and landing.
(4) Smoking is prohibited in the OFAR compartment.
(5) That stowage in the OFAR compartment must be limited to
emergency equipment, airplane-supplied equipment (e.g., bedding), and
crew personal luggage; the stowage of cargo and passenger baggage is
not allowed.
b. At least one ashtray must be located on both the inside and the
outside of any entrance to the OFAR compartment.
c. A limitation in the airplane flight manual, or other means, must
be established to restrict occupancy to crewmembers, which the pilot in
command has determined to be trained in the emergency procedures for
the OFAR compartment.
d. A limitation in the airplane flight manual, or other means, must
be established to restrict occupancy to crewmembers that have received
training to be able to rapidly use the evacuation routes of the OFAR
compartment.
e. A means must be in place for any door installed between the OFAR
compartment and the passenger cabin to be quickly opened from inside
the compartment, even when crowding occurs at each side of the door.
f. For all doors installed in the OFAR compartment, a means must be
in place that precludes anyone from being trapped inside the OFAR
compartment. If a manufacturer or operator installs a locking mechanism
on a door, it must be capable of being unlocked from the outside
without the aid of special tools. The lock must not prevent opening
from the inside of the OFAR compartment at any time.
g. The means of opening doors and hatches to the OFAR compartment
must be simple and obvious. Crewmembers must be able to close OFAR
compartment doors and hatches from the main passenger cabin. Doors or
hatches that separate the OFAR compartment from the main deck must not
adversely affect evacuation of occupants on the main deck, for example,
by slowing evacuation by encroaching into aisles, or causing injury to
those occupants during opening of doors, or while doors are opened.
2. Emergency Evacuation Routes. At least two emergency evacuation
routes must be available for occupants of the OFAR compartment to
evacuate rapidly to the main cabin. OFAR compartment doors must be able
to close these evacuation routes from the main passenger cabin after
evacuation. In addition--
a. These routes must be located with sufficient separation within
the OFAR compartment to minimize the possibility of an event either
inside or outside of the OFAR compartment rendering both routes
inoperative.
b. The routes must be designed to minimize the possibility of
blockage, which might result from fire, mechanical or structural
failure, or persons standing below or against the OFAR compartment
outlets.
c. One of the two OFAR evacuation routes should not be located
where egress from the OFAR compartment may be impeded, during times
when normal movement or occupancy is allowed, or evacuation by
passengers occurs (for example, the main aisle, cross aisle, or galley
complex). If an evacuation route is in an area where normal movement of
passengers occurs, it must be demonstrated that passengers would not
impede egress to the main deck.
d. If low headroom is at or near the evacuation route, provisions
must be made to prevent or to protect occupants of the OFAR compartment
from head injury.
e. Use of evacuation routes must not depend on any powered device.
f. If an OFAR compartment outlet is over an area of passenger
seats, a maximum of five passengers may be displaced from their seats
temporarily during the process of evacuating an incapacitated
person(s).
g. If an evacuation procedure involves the evacuee stepping on
seats, the seats must not be damaged to the extent that they would not
be acceptable for occupancy during an emergency landing.
h. OFAR compartment emergency evacuation procedures--including
procedures for emergency evacuation of an incapacitated occupant from
the OFAR compartment--must be established. The applicant must transmit
all of these procedures to each operator for incorporation into its
training programs and appropriate operational manuals
i. A limitation must be included in the airplane flight manual, or
other suitable means, to require that crewmembers are trained in the
use of the OFAR compartment evacuation routes.
[[Page 42845]]
3. Evacuation of Incapacitated Person. A means must be available
for evacuating an incapacitated person (representative of a 95th
percentile male) from the OFAR compartment to the passenger cabin
floor.
4. Exit Signs and Placards. The applicant must provide the
following exit signs and placards in the OFAR compartment, which meet
the following criteria:
a. At least one exit sign, located near each OFAR compartment
outlet, meeting the emergency lighting requirements of Sec.
25.812(b)(1)(i).
b. One allowable exception is an exit sign having a reduced
background area of no less than 5.3 square inches (excluding the
letters) that is installed where the material surrounding the exit sign
is light in color (such as white, cream, or light beige).
c. If the material surrounding the exit sign is not light in color,
a sign with a minimum of a one-inch-wide background border around the
letters is acceptable. Another allowable exception in an OFAR
compartment is a sign with a symbol that the FAA has determined to be
equivalent for use as an exit sign that meets Sec. 25.811(d).
d. An appropriate placard for general access located conspicuously
on or near each OFAR compartment door or hatch that defines the
location and the operating instructions for access to and operation of
the outlet door or hatch.
e. Placards must be readable from a distance of 30 inches under
emergency lighting conditions.
f. The door handles, hatch handles, and operating-instruction
placards required by Special Condition 4(d) of these special conditions
must be illuminated to at least 160 micro lamberts under emergency
lighting conditions.
5. Emergency Illumination. A means must be available, in the event
of failure of the aircraft's main power system, and of the normal OFAR
compartment lighting system, for emergency illumination to be
automatically provided for the OFAR compartment.
a. This emergency illumination must be powered independent of the
main lighting system.
b. The sources of general cabin illumination may be common to both
the emergency and the main lighting systems, if the power supply to the
emergency lighting system is independent of the power supply to the
main lighting system.
c. The emergency illumination level must be sufficient to allow
occupants of the OFAR compartment to locate and move to the main
passenger cabin floor by means of each evacuation route.
d. The emergency illumination level must be sufficient, with the
privacy curtains in the closed position, for each occupant of the OFAR
compartment to locate a deployed oxygen mask required by Special
Condition 13 of these special conditions.
6. Two-Way Voice Communications. A means must be available for two-
way voice communications between crewmembers on the flight deck and
occupants of the OFAR compartment.
a. Two-way communications must also be available between occupants
of the OFAR compartment and each flight attendant station in the
passenger cabin that is required per Sec. 25.1423(g) to have a
microphone for the public address system.
b. The public address system must be able to communicate the
relevant safety information to the crewmembers in the OFAR compartment
(for example, fire in flight, aircraft depressurization, and
preparation of the compartment for landing).
7. Emergency Alarm System. A means must be available for manual
activation of an aural emergency alarm system, audible during normal
and emergency conditions that enable crewmembers on the flight deck and
at each pair of the required floor-level emergency exits to alert
occupants of the OFAR compartment of an emergency. The use of a public
address or crew interphone system is acceptable, provided an adequate
means of differentiating between normal and emergency communications is
incorporated. The system must be powered in flight and after the
shutdown or failure of all engines and auxiliary power units for a
period of at least ten minutes.
8. Seatbelt Fasten Signal. A signal, readily detectable by seated
or standing occupants of the OFAR compartment, must be in place to
indicate when seat belts should be fastened.
a. If the OFAR compartment has no seats, at least one means must be
provided to cover anticipated turbulence (e.g., sufficient handholds).
b. Seatbelt-type restraints must be provided for berths and must be
compatible for the sleeping position during cruise conditions.
c. A placard on each berth must require that these restraints be
fastened when occupied.
d. If compliance with any of the other requirements of these
special conditions predicates a specific head position, a placard must
identify that head position.
9. Protective Breathing Equipment (PBE). In lieu of the
requirements specified in Sec. 25.1439(a) pertaining to PBE in
isolated compartments, and to provide a level of safety equivalent that
is provided to occupants of an isolated galley, the following equipment
must be provided in the OFAR compartment:
a. Two PBE devices suitable for firefighting, or one PBE for each
hand-held fire extinguisher, whichever is greater. All PBE devices must
be approved to Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C116 or equivalent.
b. At least one approved, hand-held fire extinguisher appropriate
for the kinds of fires likely to occur.
c. One flashlight.
Note: Additional PBE devices and fire extinguishers in specific
locations, beyond the minimum numbers prescribed in Special
Condition 9, may be required as a result of the egress analysis
accomplished to satisfy Special Condition 2(a) of these special
conditions.
10. Smoke and fire detection system. Smoke and fire detection
system(s) must be provided that monitor each occupiable area within the
OFAR compartment, including those areas partitioned by curtains or
doors. The applicant must conduct flight tests to show compliance with
this requirement. Each smoke or fire detection system(s) must provide:
a. A visual indication to the flight deck within one minute after
the start of a fire.
b. An aural warning in the OFAR compartment.
c. An aural or visual warning in the main passenger cabin. This
warning must be readily detectable by a flight attendant, taking into
consideration the locations of flight attendants throughout the main
passenger compartment during various phases of flight.
11. Built-in fire suppression system. The OFAR compartment must be
designed such that fires within the compartment can be controlled
without a crewmember having to enter the compartment (i.e., built-in
fire suppression system), or the design of the access provisions must
allow crewmembers equipped for firefighting to have unrestricted access
to the compartment. The time for a crewmember on the main deck to react
to the fire alarm, to don the firefighting equipment, and to gain
access must not exceed the time for the compartment to become smoke-
filled, making it difficult to locate the fire source. The acceptable
duration that a built-in fire suppression system can be maintained must
be verified by certification flight-testing.
12. Hazardous Smoke and Extinguishing Agent. The applicant must
provide a means to prevent hazardous quantities of smoke or
extinguishing agent originating in the OFAR compartment from entering
the
[[Page 42846]]
flight deck, passenger cabin, or any other occupiable compartment.
a. Small quantities of smoke may penetrate from the OFAR
compartment into other occupied areas during the one-minute smoke
detection time.
b. Firefighting procedures must ensure that crewmembers close all
doors and hatches at the OFAR compartment outlets after evacuation of
the compartment and during firefighting to minimize smoke and
extinguishing agent entering other occupiable compartments.
c. Hazardous quantities of smoke may not enter any occupied
compartment while a crewmember accesses an OFAR compartment to manually
fight a fire there. The amount of smoke entrained by a crewmember
exiting the OFAR compartment is not considered a hazardous amount.
d. Smoke entering any occupiable compartment, when access to the
OFAR compartment is open for evacuation, must dissipate within five
minutes after the access to the OFAR compartment is closed.
e. The applicant must conduct flight tests to show compliance with
this requirement.
13. Supplemental Oxygen System. A supplemental oxygen system within
the OFAR compartment that supplies oxygen in the event of decompression
must provide the following:
a. At least one oxygen mask for each seat and berth in the OFAR
compartment.
b. If a destination area, such as a changing area, is provided in
the OFAR compartment, an oxygen mask must be readily available for each
occupant who can reasonably be expected to be in the destination area.
The maximum number of required oxygen masks within the destination area
is limited to the placarded maximum occupancy of the OFAR compartment.
c. An oxygen mask must be readily accessible to each occupant who
can reasonably be expected to be moving from the main cabin into the
OFAR compartment, moving around within the OFAR compartment, or moving
from the OFAR compartment to the main cabin.
d. The supplemental oxygen system must provide an aural and visual
alert to warn occupants of the OFAR compartment to don oxygen masks in
the event of decompression.
(1) The aural and visual alerts must activate concurrently with
deployment of the oxygen masks in the passenger cabin.
(2) To compensate for sleeping occupants, the aural alert must be
heard in each section of the OFAR compartment and must sound
continuously for a minimum of five minutes or until a reset switch
within the OFAR compartment is activated.
(3) A visual alert that informs occupants that they must don an
oxygen mask must be visible in each section.
e. A means must be in place by which oxygen masks in the OFAR
compartment can be manually deployed from the flight deck.
f. The applicant must establish approved procedures for OFAR
occupants in the event of decompression. The applicant must transmit
these procedures must be transmitted to the operator for incorporation
into its training programs and appropriate operational manuals.
g. The supplemental oxygen system for the OFAR compartment must
meet the same 14 CFR part 25 regulations for the supplemental oxygen
system for the passenger cabin occupants, except for the 10 percent
additional masks requirement of 14 CFR 25.1447(c)(1).
h. The illumination level of the normal OFAR compartment lighting
system must automatically be sufficient for each occupant of the
compartment to locate a deployed oxygen mask.
14. Divided OFAR Compartments. The following requirements apply to
OFAR compartments that are divided into several sections by the
installation of curtains or partitions:
a. A placard is required adjacent to each curtain that visually
divides or separates, for example, for privacy purposes, the OFAR
compartment into smaller sections. The placard must require that the
curtain(s) remains open when that section is unoccupied. The vestibule
section adjacent to the stairway is not considered a private section
and, therefore, does not require a placard.
b. For each section of the OFAR compartment created by the
installation of a curtain, the following requirements of these special
conditions must be met with the curtain open or closed:
(1) No-smoking placard (Special Condition 1),
(2) Emergency illumination (Special Condition 5),
(3) Aural emergency alarm system (Special Condition 7),
(4) Seatbelt-fasten signal or return-to-seat signal as applicable
(Special Condition 8),
(5) Smoke or fire detection system requirement (Special Condition
10), and
(6) Oxygen system (Special Condition 13).
c. OFAR compartments that are divided by curtains to the extent
that evacuation could be adversely affected must have exit signs
directing occupants to the primary stairway outlet. The exit signs must
be provided in each separated section of the OFAR compartment, except
for curtained bunks, and must meet requirements of Sec.
25.812(b)(1)(i). An exit sign with reduced background area or a
symbolic exit sign, as described in Special Condition 4(a), may be used
to meet this requirement.
d. For OFAR compartments that are divided using an installation of
a rigid partition with a door separating the sections, the following
requirements of these special conditions must be met with the door open
or closed:
(1) A secondary evacuation route from each section to the main deck
is required, or alternatively, the applicant must show that any door
between the sections precludes anyone from being trapped inside a
section of the compartment. The applicant must consider removal of an
incapacitated occupant from within this area. A secondary evacuation
route from a small room designed for only one occupant for a short time
duration, such as a changing area or lavatory, is not required, but the
applicant must consider removal of an incapacitated occupant from
within such a small room.
(2) Any door between the sections must be shown to be openable when
crowded against, even when crowding occurs at each side of the door.
(3) No more than one door may be located between any seat or berth
and the primary stairway door.
(4) In each section, exit signs meeting requirements of Sec.
25.812(b)(1)(i), or shown to have an equivalent level of safety, must
direct occupants to the primary stairway outlet. An exit sign with
reduced background area or a symbolic exit sign, as described in
Special Condition 4(a), may be used to meet this requirement.
(5) Special Conditions 1 (no-smoking placards), 5 (emergency
illumination), 7 (emergency alarm system), 8 (fasten-seatbelt signal or
return to seat signal as applicable), 10 (smoke or fire detections
system), and 13 (oxygen system) must be met with the door open or
closed.
(6) Special Condition 6 (two-way voice communication) and 9
(Emergency firefighting and protective equipment) must be met
independently for each separate section except for lavatories or other
small areas that are not intended to be occupied for extended periods
of time.
15. Waste Disposal Receptacle. If a waste-disposal receptacle is
fitted in the OFAR compartment, it must be equipped with an automatic
fire
[[Page 42847]]
extinguisher that meets the performance requirements of Sec.
25.854(b).
16. OFAR Compartment Materials. Materials (including finishes or
decorative surfaces applied to the materials) of OFAR compartments must
comply with flammability requirements of Sec. 25.853(a) as amended by
Amendment 25-116. Seat cushions and mattresses must comply with the
flammability requirements of Sec. 25.853(c) as amended by Amendment
25-116 and the test requirements of part 25, appendix F, part II, or
other equivalent methods.
17. OFAR Compartment Lavatory. An addition of a lavatory within the
OFAR compartment requires the lavatory to meet the same requirements as
a lavatory installed on the main deck except with regard to Special
Condition 10 for smoke detection.
18. OFAR Compartment Stowage. Each stowage compartment in the OFAR
compartment, except for under seat compartments for occupant
convenience, must be completely enclosed. All enclosed stowage
compartments within the OFAR compartment that are not limited to
stowage of emergency equipment or airplane-supplied equipment (e.g.,
bedding) must meet the design criteria described in table 1 of these
special conditions. Enclosed stowage compartments greater than 200
ft\3\ in interior volume are not addressed by this special condition.
The in-flight accessibility of very large, enclosed, stowage
compartments and the subsequent impact on the crewmembers' ability to
effectively reach any part of the compartment with the contents of a
hand-held fire-extinguishing system will require additional fire-
protection considerations similar to those required for inaccessible
compartments such as Class C cargo compartments.
Table 1--Design Criteria for Enclosed Stowage Compartments Not Limited to Stowage of Emergency or Airplane-Supplied Equipment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicability of fire protection requirements by interior volume
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire protection features 25 cubic feet to less than 57 cubic
Less than 25 cubic feet feet 57 cubic feet to 200 cubic feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compliant Materials of Construction Yes.................................. Yes.................................. Yes.
\a\.
Smoke or Fire Detectors \b\........ No................................... Yes.................................. Yes.
Liner \c\.......................... No................................... Conditional.......................... Yes.
Fire Location Detector \d\......... No................................... Yes.................................. Yes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Materials of Construction: The material used in constructing
each enclosed stowage compartment must at least be fire resistant and
must meet the flammability standards established for interior
components (i.e., 14 CFR part 25 Appendix F, Parts I, IV, and V) per
the requirements of Sec. 25.853. For compartments less than 25 ft.\3\
in interior volume, the design must ensure the ability to contain a
fire likely to occur within the compartment under normal use.
b. Smoke or Fire Detectors: Enclosed stowage compartments equal to
or exceeding 25 ft.\3\ in interior volume must be provided with a smoke
or fire detection system to ensure that a fire can be detected within a
one-minute detection time. The applicant must conduct flight tests to
show compliance with this requirement. Each smoke or fire detection
system(s) must provide:
(1) A visual indication to the flight deck within one minute after
the start of a fire.
(2) An aural warning in the OFAR compartment.
(3) A warning in the main passenger cabin. This warning must be
readily detectable by a flight attendant, taking into consideration the
locations of flight attendants throughout the main passenger
compartment during various phases of flight.
c. Stowage compartment liner.
(1) If the material used in constructing the stowage compartment
meets the flammability requirements of a liner for a Class B cargo
compartment (Sec. 25.855 at Amendment 25-116, and Appendix F, part I,
paragraph (a)(2)(ii)), then no liner is required for enclosed stowage
compartments equal to or greater than 25 ft.\3\, but less than 57
ft.\3\ in interior volume.
(2) For all enclosed stowage compartments equal to or greater than
57 ft.\3\ in interior volume, but less than or equal to 200 ft.\3\, a
liner must be provided that meets the requirements of Sec. 25.855 for
a Class B cargo compartment.
d. Fire Location Detector: If an OFAR compartment has enclosed
stowage compartments exceeding 25 ft.\3\ interior volume that are
located separately from the other stowage compartments central
location, such as the entry to the OFAR compartment or other common
area, that OFAR compartment requires additional fire protection
features and devices to assist a firefighter in determining the
location of that fire.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on August 13, 2019.
Mary A. Schooley,
Acting Manager, Transport Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-17697 Filed 8-16-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P