Aircraft Loading Walkways, Aircraft Boarding Bridges, Glass Boarding Bridges
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Aircraft Loading Walkways – Literature and Information Review Joshua D. Swann Joseph L. Scheffey Hughes Associates Fire Protection Research Foundation © May 2014 TECHNICAL NOTES The Fire Protection Research Foundation One Batterymarch Park Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 02169-7471 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.nfpa.org/foundation ii Acknowledgements The Fire Protection Research Foundation expresses gratitude to those that assisted with the development and review of the information contained in this report. The Research Foundation appreciates the guidance provided by the Project Technical Panel: James Blake, Vancouver Airport Authority Dave Brandenburg, Continental Airlines Jim Doctorman, Boeing Company Randy Pope, Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company Barry Chase, NFPA Special thanks are expressed to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for providing the project funding through the NFPA Annual Code Fund. About the Fire Protection Research Foundation The Fire Protection Research Foundation plans, manages, and communicates research on a broad range of fire safety issues in collaboration with scientists and laboratories around the world. The Foundation is an affiliate of NFPA. About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess. Keywords: aircraft loading walkways, aircraft boarding bridges, glass boarding bridges iii iv Aircraft Loading Walkways – Literature and Information Review Prepared for Fire Protection Research Foundation 1 Batterymarch Park Quincy, MA 02169-7471 Prepared by Joshua D. Swann Joseph L. Scheffey Hughes Associates 3610 Commerce Drive, Suite 817 Baltimore, MD 21227-1652 www.haifire.com May 30, 2014 FIRE SCIENCE & ENGINEERING AIRCRAFT LOADING WALKWAYS PAGE ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................ 4 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Terminology ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Issues Associated with Glass Loading Walkways ....................................................... 4 2.0 OBJECTIVE ...................................................................................................................................... 5 3.0 SCOPE/APPROACH ........................................................................................................................ 6 4.0 PERFORMANCE-BASED DESIGN .................................................................................................. 6 4.1 Goal .................................................................................................................................. 6 4.2 Objective and Performance Criteria .............................................................................. 6 4.3 Design to Meet Objective ................................................................................................ 7 4.4 Findings ........................................................................................................................... 8 5.0 CONSTRUCTION OF LOADING WALKWAYS ............................................................................... 8 5.1 Traditional Loading Walkways ....................................................................................... 8 5.2 Glass Loading Walkways ............................................................................................... 9 5.3 Test Criteria and Data ................................................................................................... 11 5.3.1 Current Requirements ......................................................................................... 11 5.3.2 FAA Tests of a Walkway ..................................................................................... 13 5.3.3 Limitations of Current NFPA 415 Criteria ............................................................ 14 5.3.4 Fire Testing of Glass Walkways .......................................................................... 15 5.4 Findings ......................................................................................................................... 16 6.0 RAMP FIRE AND INCIDENT HISTORY ......................................................................................... 17 6.1 Loss History ................................................................................................................... 17 6.1.1 Incidents at the Gate ........................................................................................... 17 6.1.2 Taxiway/Runway/Ramp Incidents ....................................................................... 18 6.2 Findings ......................................................................................................................... 20 7.0 MEANS OF EGRESS FROM AIRCRAFT ....................................................................................... 20 7.1 Normal Egress ............................................................................................................... 20 7.1.1 Normal Boarding and Deplaning ......................................................................... 20 7.1.2 Issues Associated with the Use of Walkways ...................................................... 21 7.2 Emergency Egress ........................................................................................................ 23 HUGHES ASSOCIATES AIRCRAFT LOADING WALKWAYS PAGE iii 7.2.1 Air Crew and Airline Standard Operating Procedures ......................................... 23 7.2.2 Flight Attendant Training ..................................................................................... 24 7.2.3 Research and Testing on Air Crew Performance in Emergency Evacuations .... 25 7.2.4 Airport Standard Operating Procedures .............................................................. 26 7.2.5 ARFF Response .................................................................................................. 26 7.3 Findings ......................................................................................................................... 27 7.3.1 Normal Egress ..................................................................................................... 27 7.3.2 Emergency Egress .............................................................................................. 27 8.0 HUMAN FACTORS RELATED TO EGRESS ................................................................................. 28 8.1 Human Factors Related to Typical Building Fires ..................................................... 28 8.2 Human Factors Related to Aircraft Situations ............................................................ 29 8.3 Findings ......................................................................................................................... 31 9.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS .............................................................................................................. 31 10.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................ 32 11.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................. 35 HUGHES ASSOCIATES AIRCRAFT LOADING WALKWAYS PAGE 4 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 Introduction There are several manufacturers that build aircraft glass loading walkways, which are currently permitted in countries that have not adopted National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The Technical Committee for NFPA 415, Standard on Airport Terminal Buildings, Fueling Ramp Drainage, and Loading Walkways [NFPA, 2013] desired more information about the global experience of using glass loading walkways, including fire resistance of the loading walkways, fire test methods, use of alternate/additional escape routes from the plane, passenger behavior during actual emergency incidents, and psychology/sociology of occupants that might egress through a glass loading walkway with a large fire outside/below. The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) responded to the NFPA 415 committee request by sponsoring a project to investigate the many factors associated with glass loading walkways. This involved a literature search/information gathering project performed by a student intern. This intern was mentored by a senior engineer familiar with aviation safety and fire protection. A technical panel, comprised of professionals in the field of aviation safety and fire protection, was formed to provide input as well as review the results. 1.2 Terminology Aircraft Cab: The area at the aircraft mating end of the loading walkway in which the controls are located. This area can be raised or lowered, extended or retracted, and may pivot, in order accommodate many different types of aircraft [ThyssenKrupp, 2012a].