CHARACTERIZATION OF OPTICAL FIRE DETECTOR FALSE ALARM SOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT OF QUALIFICATION TEST PROCEDURES FOR IMMUNITY

OPTICAL FIRE DETECTORS (OFDS) THAT OPERATE IN UV AND/OR IR BANDS CAN "FALSE ALARM" TO NON-HYDROCARBON RADIATION EMISSIONS IN AND NEAR OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT HANGERS, THEREBY CAUSING AUTOMATIC FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS (FPS) TO FALSE DUMP SUPPRESSANT AGENT INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. SUCH "ACCIDENTS" CAN RESULT IN THE INTERRUPTION OF INTEGRATED COMBAT TURNS AND OTHER OPERATIONS (CAUSING LONG DELAYS IN GETTING CRITICAL WEAPON SYSTEMS AIRBORNE). THEY CAN ALSO RESULT IN THE LACK OF FIRE PROTECTIONF OR 12-24 HOURS OR MORE WHILE THE FPS IS BEING REFURBISHED, THUS RISKING FIRE EXPOSURE TO WEAPON SYSTEMS AND PERSONNEL. OFDS/OFD SUBSYSTEMS CAN BE MADE IMMUNE TO COMBINATIONS OF MOST RADIATION SOURCES AS LONG AS DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND QUALIFICATION TESTING PROCEDURES ARE PROVIDED TO INDUSTRY. AS OF THIS DATE NO DEFINITIVE LISTING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FALSE ALARM SOURCES EXISTS, NOR DOES ANY SPECIFICATION OF TEST PROCEDURES. A USAF "STANDARD" IS NECESSARY FOR PROCUREMENTS OF AUTOMATIC FPSS IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE ELECTRONIC AND SYSTEM MISSION SUCCESS RELIABILITIESREQUIRED FOR THESE SYSTEMS IN ALL OPERATIONAL HANGARS. THIS PROGRAM WILL RESULT IN SUCH SPECIFICATIONS AND PROVIDE THE USAF WITH UNIFORMITY IN OFD PROCUREMENTS AS WELL AS PROVEN RELIABILITY AND FALSE ALARM IMMUNITY.