Overview of Flammability Requirements Current and Future

Transport Category Aircraft flammability requirements have been relatively unchanged since the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. While accidents over the decades have driven new standards for unique aircraft situations involving insulation, cargo, and large cabin interior features, the basic flammability requirements have not evolved in a significant way. The newly proposed revision to existing flammability regulations builds on lessons learned and extensive industry research over the years to fundamentally change the way we look at flammability in commercial aircraft. Future technology in analysis methods is also evolving in order to provide mathematical modeling tools used to predict the behavior of fire in terms of burning and energy release.

About the Speaker

Keith Couilliard is a Boeing Designated Expert in the area of Fire Safety and has been with the company over 17 years. In addition, Keith has been an FAA Authorized Representative within Boeing for over 10 years. At the start of his career with Boeing, Keith worked in the Materials and Process Technology organization and was the Boeing Principal Technical Investigator of the new fuselage insulation burn through protection regulation (25.856(b)) at that time. Keith has spent recent years working on new development programs, as well as holding the position of Payloads Safety and Airworthiness Manager on a temporary basis