Firefighting and Emergency Response Study of Advanced Composites Aircraft. Objective 3: Penetrating and Overhauling Wreckage

摘要

The purpose of this study was to identify tools and techniques that best allow firefighters to efficiently cut and penetrate aircraft composite materials. Commercially available off the shelf tools were evaluated including carbide and diamond coated saw blades (reciprocating, circular, and hole saws), a pry axe, and a water jet cutting tool (Pyrolance). Cutting continued until the blade was too dull to cut further, as determined by the operator, or until the entire sheet of composite was consumed. The Pyrolance was evaluated for flow rate, foam quality, throw distance, maximum piercing distance between two composite panels, multiple composite panel piercing capability, and ability to extinguish hidden fires in cargo containers.