Fire Protection

Question 0

What fire detection and extinguishing systems are available?

Answer 0

• The engines have three fire detection loops, each, and two shared bottles between them.
• The APU has its own designated detection loop and fire suppression bottle.
• The baggage compartments have smoke detectors and fire suppression bottles (2 high rate bottles respectively, and one low rate bottle, shared between them).
• The lavatory has an automatic, heat actuated bottle.
• There are four portable halon extinguishers at various station in the cockpit and cabin.

Question 1

Describe the fire detection loops.

Answer 1

• There are seven: three for each engine and one for the APU.
• They are minute sensor tubes filled with helium; should the helium expand (due to heat) it will activate an alarm switch, processed and relayed by the Control Amplifier.
• A fire, or overheat, condition will then be indicated in the cockpit with a visual and aural warning.
• Each loop also has an integrity switch that will indicate a fault if pressure or electric power is lost. A fault will be accompanied with a MASTER WARNING & CHECK FIRE DET.

Question 2

How are the PEZ and LEZ related?

Answer 2

They are connected in such a manner that:
• If either fails, a FAULT A indication results;
• If either detects fire, a fire indication results;
• If the PEZ fails and the LEZ detects fire, a FAULT A and fire indication will result simultaneously.
• If the LEZ fails and the PEZ detects a fire, ONLY a FAULT A will result.

Question 3

How is an APU loop malfunction indicated?

Answer 3

MASTER WARNING
CHECK FIRE DET
FAULT advisory light on APU portion of the FPP

Question 4

How is an engine fire indicated?

Answer 4

Five lights: 
 • PULL FUEL / HYD OFF 
 • CHECK FIRE DET
 • MASTER WARNING
 • 2 X ENGINE FIRE press to reset

(An aural warning tone also sounds, and will be silenced by pressing the ENGINE FIRE light; the ENGINE FIRE light will extinguish when the fire has been successfully suppressed.)

Question 5

Describe the engine fire bottles.

Answer 5

• There are two shared bottles, both able to be discharged into either engine nacelle.
• Located in the left wing root.
• MASTER WARNING, CHECK FIRE DET, and BTL LOW advisory light indicate low pressure or depletion.

Question 6

What happens when you pull the PULL FUEL / HYD OFF T-Handel?

Answer 6

• The emergency Fuel Shutoff Valve closes,
• The FUEL VALVE CLOSED light illuminates and the FUEL VALVE OPENED light extinguishes.
• The emergency Hydraulic Shutoff Valve closes.
• The HYD VALVE CLOSED light illuminates and the HYD VALVE OPENED light extinguishes.
• The FWD & AFT Fire Bottles arm.
• The Amber ARMED light, next to the EXTG bottle select switch, illuminates.

Question 7

What happens when you test the engine fire detection system?

Answer 7

• 3 - 1 - 3

• PULL FUEL / HYD OFF, FAULT A & B on FPP
• CHECK FIRE DET on CWP
• MASTER WARNING & ENGINE FIRE x 2 on dash

• Aural Warning Tone

Question 8

How many smoke detectors are there, and where are they located?

Answer 8

• 4
• ONE above the door in the FWD BAG Compartment
• TWO (one FWD and one AFT) in the AFT CARGO Compartment
• ONE in the LAV

Question 9

What are the FWD BAG Compartment Smoke Indications?

Answer 9

• FIRE BOTTLE - FWD - “ARM” on FPP
• SMOKE / EXTG Switchlight on FPP
• SMOKE Warning Light on CWP
• MASTER WARNING on dash

• MASTER WARNING Triple Chime.

Pushing the EXTG Switchlight causes the HRD Bottle to discharge immediately. The LRD Bottle will automatically discharge simultaneously and provide additional fire suppression for approx 45 minutes.

Question 10

What are the AFT BAG Compartment Smoke Indications?

Answer 10

• FIRE BOTTLE - AFT - “ARM” on FPP
• SMOKE / EXTG Switchlight on FPP
• VENT VALVE INLT OTLT CLOSED Lights
• SMOKE Warning Light on CWP
• MASTER WARNING on dash

• MASTER WARNING Triple Chime.

Pushing the EXTG Switchlight causes the HRD Bottle to discharge immediately. The LRD Bottle will automatically discharge approximately SEVEN minutes later and provide additional fire suppression for approx 45 minutes.