- Author
-
Smith, D. G.
|
Harris, D. J.
- Title
- Human Exposure to Halon 1301 (CBrF3) During Simulated Aircraft Cabin Fires.
- Coporate
- Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD
- Journal
-
Aerospace Medicine,
Vol. 44,
No. 2,
198-201,
1973
- Keywords
-
aircraft compartments
|
human beings
|
bromine compounds
|
fire extinguishers
|
fluorohydrocarbons
|
aerospace medicine
|
central nervous system
|
concentration (composition)
|
fire fighting
|
flight tests
|
toxicity
|
halon 1301
- Identifiers
- fire extinguishing agents
- Abstract
- Halon 1301 (CBrF3) was tested by the U.S. Navy for use as a fire suppression agent in occupied aircraft cabins. A Navy E-2B "Hawkeye" airplane was provided for the tests. Because of the known incidence of cardiac arrhythmias and central nervous system depression caused by exposure to Halon 1301, a careful build-up program was established for the installation, ground testing and flight testing of the agent in the airplane. Flight tests culminated in exposure of three volunteer subjects to 4 to 7 percent Halon 1301 in air mixtures in-flight. Continuous electrocardiograph (ECG) monitoring and verbal narration by the subjects on their well-being were made during the exposures. During the ground and initial flight tests, the optimum method of mixing, distributing and maintaining adequate agent concentrations was determined. Analysis of the ECG recordings, and examination of the volunteer subjects during and after exposure to the agent in-flight, revealed no cardiac arrhythmias or adverse biomedical effects. It was concluded that aircrew and passenger safety will not be compromised by brief exposure to the agent in-flight.