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Author
Braun, E. | Peacock, R. D. | Forney, G. P. | Mulholland, G. W. | Levin, B. C.
Title
Human Exposure and Environmental Impact.
Coporate
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
Report
NIST SP 861
April 1994
Distribution
Available from Government Printing Office
Book or Conf
Evaluation of Alternative In-Flight Fire Suppressants for Full-Scale Testing in Simulated Aircraft Engine Nacelles and Dry Bays. Section 9, Grosshandler, W. L.; Gann, R. G.; Pitts, W. M., Editors, 765-828 p., 1994
Keywords
halons | exposure | human beings | environmental effects | halon 1301 | large scale fire tests | toxicity | accidents | compartments | experiments | temperature distribution | fire extinguishing agents | fire suppression | halon alternatives
Identifiers
candidate agents; alternative chemicals; halon alternatives; agent distribution within the compartment; temperature distribution within the compartment
Abstract
Although these agents are typically employed in unoccupied sections of an aircraft, the possibility of human exposure still exists during handling, storage, and transport. Thus, it is important to know if the accidental release of the 12 agents in areas of typical occupancy would result in differing threats to life safety. At least two topics are important in assessing the impact of a potential release of an agent: 1) how does the agent distribute in an occupied space upon an accidental release, and 2) how does this release affect personnel who may be exposed? For the former, a series of tests was conducted to study the release of four of the twelve agents in a sealed compartment to measure the airborne concentration of agent that results from complete venting of containers of typical size into spaces of typical volume. These tests were augmented with field modeling to extend the range of the test results to other compartment geometries. For the latter, published toxicological results for chronic or acute exposure are summarized. It is important to note that in these tests, no humans were exposed.