AMC4 ADR.OPS.B.010(a)(2) Rescue and firefighting services

ED Decision 2016/009/R

EXTINGUISHING AGENTS

The aerodrome operator should ensure that:

(a) both principal and complementary extinguishing agents are provided at the aerodrome;

(b) principal extinguishing agent includes:

(1) a foam meeting the minimum performance level A; or

(2) a foam meeting the minimum performance level B; or

(3) a foam meeting the minimum performance level C; or

(4) a combination of these agents;

except for aerodromes in categories 1 to 3, where it should preferably meet a performance level B or C foam;

(c) the complementary extinguishing agent is a dry chemical powder suitable for extinguishing hydrocarbon fires, or any other alternate agent having equivalent firefighting capability;

(d) the amounts of water for foam production, and of the complementary agents provided on the rescue and firefighting vehicles are in accordance with the determined aerodrome category and Table 1,

Table 1

except that for aerodrome categories 1 and 2, up to 100 % of the water may be substituted with complementary agent.

For the purpose of agent substitution, 1 kg of complementary agent is equivalent to 1 L of water for production of a foam meeting performance level A.

Note 1: The amounts of water specified for foam production are predicated on an application rate of 8.2 L/min/m2 for a foam meeting performance level A, 5.5 L/min/m2 for a foam meeting performance level B and 3.75 L/min/m2 for a foam meeting performance level C.

Note 2: When any other complementary agent id used, the substitution ratios need to be checked.

(da) the quantity of foam concentrates separately provided on vehicles for foam production is in proportion to the quantity of water provided and the foam concentrate selected;

(e) the amount of foam concentrate provided on a vehicle should be sufficient to produce, at least, two loads of foam solution;

(f) when a combination of different performance level foams are provided at the aerodrome, the total amount of water to be provided for foam production should be calculated for each foam type and the distribution of these quantities should be documented for each vehicle and applied to the overall rescue and firefighting requirement;

(g) the discharge rate of the foam solution is not less than the rates shown in Table 1;

(h) the complementary agents comply with the appropriate specifications of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) ;

(i) the discharge rate of complementary agents is not less than the values shown in Table 1;

(j) a reserve supply of foam concentrate equivalent to 200 % of the quantities identified in Table 1 is maintained on the aerodrome for vehicle replenishment purposes. Foam concentrate carried on fire vehicles in excess of the quantity identified in Table 1 can contribute to the reserve;

(k) a reserve supply of complementary agent equivalent to 100% of the quantity identified in Table 1 is maintained on the aerodrome for vehicle replenishment purposes and sufficient propellant gas is included to utilize this reserve complementary agent. Complementary agent(s) carried on fire vehicles in excess of the quantity identified in Table 1 may contribute to the reserve;

(l) for Category 1 and 2 aerodromes that have replaced up to 100% of the water with complementary agent a reserve supply of complementary agent of 200% is maintained;

(m) where a major delay in the replenishment of the supplies is anticipated, the amount of reserve supply is increased as determined by a risk assessment;

(n) a water need analysis is conducted to determine the availability of sufficient quantities of water for fire fighting;

(o) quantities of water and foam concentrate are recalculated and the amount of water and foam concentrate for foam production and the discharge rates for foam solution are increased accordingly, where operations by aeroplanes larger than the average size in a given category are planned;

(oa) Where the level of protection is reduced in accordance with AMC2 ADR.OPS.B.010(a)(2), a recalculation of quantities of extinguishing agents should be computed based on the largest aeroplane in the reduced category;

(ob) For all-cargo, mail, training, test, positioning and end-of-life aeroplane operations, including those carrying dangerous goods, the recalculation of quantities of extinguishing agents should be based on the largest aeroplane in the category specified in Table 2 of AMC2 ADR.OPS.B.010(a)(2);and

(p) arrangements are in place to manage extinguishing agents in terms of selection, storage, maintenance, and testing.