Safran wins a Crystal Cabin Award for Fire Resistant Container

Qatar Airways Cargo is the first cargo carrier to adopt Safran Cabin’s new Fire Resistant Container (FRC) solution

Safran Cabin wins a Crystal Cabin Award in the health and safety category for its newly developed Fire Resistant Container; the first-of-its-kind to contain fire that involves lithium batteries, also known as Class D fires.

As passengers become more reliant to portable electronic devices, lithium-ion batteries are commonly found and have become a prominent item to travel with or to be shipped in volumes as air cargo. If damaged, a Lithium-ion battery can self-ignite, overheat, and evolve into an uncontrollable fire. Lithium-ion battery fires are unique because it releases a flammable vapor, which essentially produces its own fuel. This type of fire cannot be extinguished simply; it has to stop by itself, a long process requiring immense efforts to contain. This is an issue for passenger baggage and air cargo; a problem targeting both passenger airlines and air freighters.

Equipped with a combination of high-temperature resistant panels and unique door fabric, the Fire Resistant Container is designed to withstand fire for up to 6 hours, which is the longest time an airplane can be away from an airport at any given time during the flight. In the event of a fire mid-flight, it gives airlines sufficient time to safely land, while lowering the risks and ensuring the safety of the people and the aircraft.

I like to thank the jury members of the Crystal Cabin Award Association for recognizing the additional layer of safety that the Fire Resistant will bring to airlines and cargo operators who have been longing for fire safety improvements - Jorge Ortega CEO Safran Cabin