• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

BASE HANGAR RECEIVES LATEST FIRE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM

NAVAIR

Release Date: 5/27/2003

By Helen Huntley Senior Staff Writer

NAVAIR China Lake, Calif.--A deadly and costly hangar fire can quickly turn into a catastrophe. But with new technology, such as the Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Under-wing Fire Suppression System, the damaged and danger can be reduced. In April, the hangar for Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9) at China Lake, Calif. received the new fire protection system designed to better protect aircraft/equipment as well as human lives.

Joshua Jones, project design lead from Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest Division, said "Viking Corporation developed a nozzle design that shoots foam only about two-feet high. The objective of this system is to minimize damage to cockpits and aircraft." The project was a team effort between Underwriters Laboratories (UL), NAVAIR, NAVFAC and Viking Corporation.

Traditional fire protection systems, such as deluge systems, can damage aircraft cockpits and equipment inside a hangar. Another problem with the deluge system is the ineffectiveness of water in fighting fuel fires. Research for under-the-wing fire research came from UL, NAVFAC and the National Fire Protection Association.

A Phoenix, Ariz.-based engineering, environmental, construction management and fire protection firm, AR Utility Specialists, Inc. (ARUSI), was selected by NAVFAC. ARUSI installed the AFFF grate nozzle system in the hangar floor and an overhead sprinkler system to provide the latest fire fighting technology to the nearly 60-year-old hangar. The system has the capability of delivering and distributing foam within 30 to 35 seconds and providing complete coverage of the hangar floor within 60 to 70 seconds.

The AFFF solution contains 97 percent water and a three percent concentrate of surfactants - chemicals which have a smothering effect on fire, Jones explained. The concentrate is contained in two 1,400-gallon bladder tanks. When the system is activated, water and concentrate are drawn into valves for delivery to the nozzles. The nozzles are located in trench drains in the hangar floor. "The nozzles have no moving parts. They do not pop up when the weight of an airplane wheel is on them," said Henry Cano, ARUSI business developer. The trench and grating system can support external aircraft loading up to 40,000 pounds.

ARUSI installed the new 40,000 square-foot hangar floor that slopes imperceptibly to allow the foam to drain. The drainage system, which is capable of 4,500 gallons per minute of flow, contains an oil separator that removes the oil before the remaining water and foam drain into the desert.

LT j.g. Chris Steele, team lead from the Resident-Officer-in-Charge-of-Construction Office, described the project as "A life safety issue." CWO4 Bill Gutierrez at VX-9 said the installation is a test project for the Navy. "If the Navy likes the project, this system could be used in other Navy hangars," he added.

The contract for $3.2 million dollars was awarded in April 2002 with the project completion within 12 months.