A pallet cover that diminishes the risk of fire associated with shipping dangerous goods.
PHOENIX (June 14, 2011) – AmSafe® Industries, Inc., the leading provider of engineered restraint systems to the aviation, defense and specialty vehicle markets, today announced the introduction of its fire containment cover which is designed to ensure the safety and integrity of palletized cargo during a fire event.
AmSafe’s fire containment cover operates as a passive system which keeps a fire isolated from other cargo being transported on an aircraft. Designed for palletized loads, the AmSafe fire cover is comprised of a patented fire retardant fabric with a detachable QuickZip® pallet net, and can contain a fire with temperatures of up to 1500 deg F (815 deg C) for over four hours. This combination of net and fabric cover provides a two-way fire barrier that effectively isolates each cargo position and prevents any fire from spreading and escalating. The AmSafe fire containment cover suppresses the localized threat through oxygen starvation.
Fire is a growing concern in the air shipment of cargo. When products are shipped in accordance with regulations, the risk posed is relatively minor; the risk of fire increases with the possibility that shipments contain either goods which are improperly categorized or undeclared hazardous materials. Items such as mobile devices and electronic products are a particular risk as they may contain high-capacity rechargeable batteries and other active elements. Transporting electronic and mobile devices only becomes a risk if they are not properly identified and packaged prior to being combined with other cargo on a pallet.
“The rise in consumer Internet trading has led to a massive increase in the transportation of high-tech equipment around the world and it is often not appreciated that these goods can cause serious fires if not correctly categorized and protected for shipment,” said Ian Kentfield, senior vice president of AmSafe Industries, Inc. “The design of our fire cover allows the safe global shipping of high-technology products, and at the same time reduces the fire concerns expressed by cargo carriers and commercial airlines.”
The AmSafe fire containment cover has many applications but it is primarily designed for palletized loads being shipped in the currently unprotected Class E compartments found on the main deck of the majority of freighter aircraft. It is also intended to be used to protect the remaining Class D under-floor holds that are still in operation. While this is currently a voluntary safety improvement, AmSafe is actively supporting the development of international aerospace standards for design, performance and testing. These standards will form the basis of a future FAA Technical Standards Order for fire containment covers.
About AmSafe Industries, Inc.
AmSafe Industries, Inc. is the world leader in safety and securement products for the aerospace, defense, and ground transportation industries. AmSafe’s innovative products can be found on virtually every commercial aircraft in the world and include seatbelts, restraints, airbags, cargo and barrier nets, tie-downs and cabin interior textiles, and its textile armor protection system and restraints can be found on a wide range of military vehicles worldwide. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, AmSafe operates manufacturing and service facilities around the globe and is committed to providing quality products and timely, cost effective solutions to customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.amsafe.com.