Class 2: Gases

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 458.

Cause

Fire may be caused by a number of reasons:

· technical problems ( electrical system malfunction, electrical short circuit, engine failure which was due to ingestion of debris or bird strike, ignition of dangerous easy-flammable goods during transportation )

· outside factor ( lightning strike, hail, severe turbulence, bird strike )

· human factor :

√ Passengers' error. Most carriers prohibit smoking in the aircraft. This, coupled with the use of fire resistant materials, has reduced the likelihood of fire caused by a cigarette. Nevertheless, despite it minority of passengers continue to smoke in the lavatories. Thus not extinguished cigarette can pose risk to the safety. Explosion of bomb by terrorists can obviously lead to fire.

√ Cabin crew error. Airlines comment that most in-flight and ground fire/smoke events relate to the galley and involve some kind of electrical equipment. Oven fires may occur because of items(which are not heat resistant) being placed inside the oven by FAs (e.g. oven being used as storage place for folders or checklists, or to dry shoes) or because of overheating, or electrical overload/short circuit. In addition to ovens, there is a lot of equipment in the galley wrong usage of which can cause a fire (e.g. coffee or water heaters on without any water in).

√ Airport security officers' error. Overhead compartment fire is often caused by passengers' hand luggage which was not thoroughly checked (e.g. nail polish remover, medicinal or toilet articles, safety matches, and other prohibited items).

√ Flight crew / loaders error. Loosely packed dangerous goods ( which are not thoroughly controlled by pilots) by loaders can ignite due to friction.

The International Civil Aviation Organization defines Dangerous goods as “ articles or substances which are capable of posing risk to health, safety, property and the environment.”

Dangerous goods fall into 9 classes:

Class 1: Explosives –Explosive substances, explosive articles, and pyrotechnic devices, for example, ammunition, and fireworks.

Class 3: Flammable liquids –Examples are petrol, alcohol, and perfume.

Class 4: Flammable solids –Examples are matches, flammable metal powder