Fire Protection

Question 1

Fire Protection basics. What receives fire protection? What receives smoke protection?

Answer 1

Fire

1. Provides fire detection and extinguishing
2. Located in both LH and RH engines and the APU

Smoke

1. Avionics (smoke detection only)
2. Cargo (smoke detection and fire extinguishing)

Question 2

Toilets - what equipment?

Answer 2

1. Smoke detector (ceiling)
2. Fire extinguisher (top of waste bin)

Question 3

How are fires detected in engines / APU?

Answer 3

1. 2 x parallel loops (A and B) installed next to critical components
2. Loops are monitored by a Fire Detector Unit
3. Fire warning when both A and B detect fire (after 16 seconds) (this avoids false warnings)

[Note: if one loop inop - fire warning is triggered if the operative loop detects fire]

Question 4

How are fires extinguished?

Answer 4

1. Extinguishing bottles:
   a) 2 x per engine
   b) 1 x APU
   c) check re cargo hold
2. Once discharged - a LP sensor illuminates the DISCHARGE light on the fire panel

[If error and over pressure - the bottles are discharged and evident by LP DISCHARGE light]

Question 5

What are indications of an engine fire?

Answer 5

1. Master warning
2. CRC
3. ENG FIRE pb illuminates
4. ENG FIRE warning on ECAM
5. FIRE light on ENG control panel

[ENG FIRE pb remains illuminated as long as the fire is sensed]

Question 6

APU Fire

Answer 6

Similar to ENG fire save that on ground auto extinguisher after it is detected for 3 seconds

Question 7

Delete

Question 8

How does smoke detection system work in Avionics Bay?

Answer 8

1. Smoke detector is secondary system used to confirm if there is smoke
2. Ionisation smoke detector in the air extraction duct of the aviation ventilation system
3. Level 2 master caution (single chime)
4. Smoke extraction - via opening skin extract valve and skin exchanger isolation valve

Question 9

Toilet smoke/fire

Answer 9

1. 1 x smoke detector
2. Sends signal to CIDS (Centralised Intercommunication Data System)
3. CIDS sends signal to FWC
4. Master Warning
5. Portable firefighting required
6. Waste bin has 1 x self actuating fire extinguisher (activated when reaches set temp)

Question 10

Cargo Compartment Smoke System

Answer 10

SMOKE

1. 2 x smoke detectors FWD
2. 4 x smoke detectors AFT
3. Dual loop system
4. Signal sent to CIDS
5. Isolation Valve closes / extraction fan stops

FIRE

1. 1 x fire extinguisher (shared between FWD and AFT)
2. Two pipes which connect the extinguisher to FWD and AFT in the ceiling

Question 11

Engine Fire loop fault

Answer 11

1. Abnormal signal from 1 of the 2 loops (e.g signal loss or failure in circuit)
2. Okay to dispatch provided fire test done (see MEL)

Question 12

ENG FIRE DET FAULT

Answer 12

1. Triggered if both loops inop
2. Fire warning generated if both loops inop within a 5 second period