Foam engulfs hangar
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: inv
Foam engulfs hangar
Fire retardant foam engulfs California airport hangar - BBC News
How is so much outside, should it not be inside??
How is so much outside, should it not be inside??
Joined: Jan 2008
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: Canada
The users of the hangar I used to work in at Toronto International Airport were strictly warned to never allow an open flame to be visible to the fire detection optical sensors, lest we cause such an event. If the foam is anything like we use in the fire department, that would be smelly!
Joined: Nov 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Texas
Thirty years ago watched Braniff II tow a 727 into a hangar with the APU running. It generated enough heat to set off the fire suppression system. Couldn't see 10 feet into the hangar when the foam started falling.
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Cab of a Freight Train
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,896
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From: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Happens all the time in the U.S. military 
:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...g-by-accident/
:
Foam systems designed to protect military aircraft keep activating by accident
By Dan Lamothe June 16, 2015
In case you were wondering: Mixing alcohol with muscular fire suppression foam systems is not a good idea.
By Dan Lamothe June 16, 2015
In case you were wondering: Mixing alcohol with muscular fire suppression foam systems is not a good idea.
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: flyover country USA
CVG about 1980s:
Big party/dinner/dance was planned in the DL hangar. Scrubbed and waxed, tables & chairs, orchestra in place for the event. DL even had a special fire manager to keep the system from inadvertently discharging until the fire brigade was positioned and the foam disabled.
It all went to hell in a handbasket. $250k damages, mostly to the symphony's instruments.
Big party/dinner/dance was planned in the DL hangar. Scrubbed and waxed, tables & chairs, orchestra in place for the event. DL even had a special fire manager to keep the system from inadvertently discharging until the fire brigade was positioned and the foam disabled.
It all went to hell in a handbasket. $250k damages, mostly to the symphony's instruments.
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Some years ago, our engineers brought all the aircraft in to the hangar because there was a thunderstorm warning.
During the thunderstorm, the hangar was struck by lightning and guess what happened!
During the thunderstorm, the hangar was struck by lightning and guess what happened!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 121
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From: ask me tomorrow
The FBO got lucky. If that thing was filled with heavy corporate iron their insurance company would be facing millions in damages. Being in aviation claims, I've seem 100x more damage done by inadvertent foam discharge than actual fires.
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: USA
An alarm does not always mean there's a fire. Two things are intolerable in a fire detection system. False alarms or a failure to operate in an actual fire. A detection system designed so that a single point of failure can cause an alarm must not be allowed to automatically activate an extinguishing system. At least not where the consequences of inadvertent fire extinguishing agent release are so severe.
IR and UV detectors are notoriously prone to false activation. The way forward in fire detection systems would seem to be a multi-sensor system consisting of different types of detectors that must "agree" before generating an alarm that would automatically activate an extinguishing system.
I guess after being sued for the damages related to false fire extinguishing agent deployment enough times, the manufacturers of such hangar protection systems will spend a little money on designing a more discriminating system. Until then it must be an "acceptable loss".
IR and UV detectors are notoriously prone to false activation. The way forward in fire detection systems would seem to be a multi-sensor system consisting of different types of detectors that must "agree" before generating an alarm that would automatically activate an extinguishing system.
I guess after being sued for the damages related to false fire extinguishing agent deployment enough times, the manufacturers of such hangar protection systems will spend a little money on designing a more discriminating system. Until then it must be an "acceptable loss".
