NATA Says 'No' on Hangar Foam

With the window on public and industry comments for the revision of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) standard for aircraft hangars—NFPA 409—set to close on November 14, the National Air Transport Association is running an online petition for the safety organization to remove the requirements for foam fire suppression systems for most business and business aviation hangars, excluding those that house inherently hazardous operations.

“Research and our members’ experience indicate that foam fire suppression systems are unnecessary in most general aviation hangars," said Megan Eisenstein, NATA’s director of regulatory affairs. “Since the inception of this standard, aircraft design has changed, aircraft fuels have changed, and operational safety management has changed, yet the requirement for foam in GA hangars has not.”

The petition website allows interested parties to review NATA’s proposed comments, as well as register their support for the policy change. The NFPA 409 Technical Committee will review industry comments and internal processes will occur during late 2019 through mid-2021. The next edition of NFPA 409 will be published in early 2021.