REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: EXISTING AND EMERGING FIRE DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES Proposed changes in the regulations governing commercial aircraft could lead to a significant increase in the number of active fire protection systems required for inaccessible cargo compartments. The current industry standards for detecting the presence of a fire rely on the sensing of smoke particles with either ionization or photoelectric-type detectors. The quantity and method of generating smoke to show compliance with the regulations is not precisely defined and there are no guidelines for detecting fires by means other than smoke detectors. The technologies currently used are susceptible to alarming in the presence of natural aerosols and airborne contaminants other than smoke particles. With the number of aircraft using this technology likely to increase substantially, the number of incidents of unnecessary aircraft diversions and evacuations due to false alarms could be expected to increase proportionally if no improvements are made to the technologies or the methods of system certification.The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), under a contract from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is conducting a search for existing and emerging fire detection technologies designed for a variety of industries, including commercial aircraft, military, marine, nuclear and manufacturing. It is also assembling and evaluating fire detection certification methods adopted by civilian and military organizations throughout the world. Companies with innovative sensing and fire detection systems commercially available or under development are invited to send in technical information describing their products, and to explain why they may be particularly suited to aircraft cargo area applications. Companies who manufacture equipment useful for certifying fire detection equipment are also invited to respond. The information should include a technical description of the principles of operation and test results as evidence that the system could function in an aircraft cargo hold. Proprietary information, if included, must be clearly marked on every page. Advertisements and marketing literature are not solicited and will be disregarded. To be included in the review process, relevant material must be received at the following address no later than September 21, 1998: Building and Fire Research Laboratory; Bldg. 224, Rm. B356; Attn. Thomas Cleary; National Institute of Standards and Technology; Gaithersburg, MD 20899; e-mail: thomas.cleary@nist.gov. This solicitation is for information only and does not obligate NIST nor the FAA to purchase, endorse, evaluate, nor make reference to any particular companies' products or technology. WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm. E-MAIL: NIST Contracts Office, Contract@nist.gov. Posted 08/20/98 (W-SN239756).

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