Fire Suppression System Deployment Incident LHR BA Hangar
 

Just saw on Aeronews:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...27e10dd11.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...812b79724.jpeg

Pictures from Aeronews

It’s quite ironic that this is the 3rd incident with a BA aircraft in a matter of weeks, and they are barely flying :D

Fire Suppression System Malfunctioning at BA Hangar at LHR
 

The video below is from the BA hangar in LHR. Unfortunately, the fire suppression system in the hangar malfunctioned and G-YMMB was there.

How was that a "malfunction"? To me, it seems it functioned correctly, by covering everything with foam. Was someone smoking in the hangar?

Obviously we don't know what the trigger was in this case, but I'd argue in general that if something does its job properly when it's not supposed to, that would indeed be a malfunction.

Impressive pictures though! Interesting that the fuselage looks almost perfectly clean (apart from the jet-bridge outline).

If it’s anything like the fire suppression system in my office it just goes off by itself anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

(I tell myself it’s triggered by the steam coming out of my ears from having to deal with ....wits)

That is quite impressive, I am guessing it does not take to long to shut off, so I suppose it must have done all that in a very short period of time

I didn't appreciate how much foam has been discharged until I zoomed in on the second photo. It seems to be as deep as the wheels on the parked transit van!

How is that stuff cleaned up? Washed away with water - or like alot of foam based fluids does it slowly just disintegrate?

also is it PFAS/PFOS based and likely to result in a class action down the track, or is that strictly an Australian thing?

Years ago I used to work in tbj and tbk and the link. Where's tech 6? I never heard anyone mention tech 6 in relation to tbj or tbk back then.

Great pic ! It's lots of foam. Glad to see it works well!

No, we had PFOS issues here in Jersey, caused by run-off from the Airport's Fire Service training area. Polluted the ground-water, in an area where many houses rely of wells. Our BiL's house was right in the middle of the 'plume' area.

https://www.jerseyairport.com/PFOS/P...ackground.aspx

Depends if that foam has fluorinated surfactants in it. If it has then it will need to be scooped up and incinerated, the burnt residue is tiny. If it hasn't got fluorine or other nasties in it then the slow discharge into the public sewerage system may be allowed, but it needs to be done to prevent polluting open waterways and closed courses. There will be a well managed drill for this at Heathrow I'm sure, due to the use of foam in training exercises.

Could be a VERY expensive mistake!

After a hangar fire at my airfield, the loss adjuster was telling me about an incident where the foam had gone off accidentally. All the parties involved took so long to discuss what should be done etc that the aircraft was scrapped. Apparently the foam rotted lots of seals - windows, engines, gear etc - and made it beyond economic repair. If I recall correctly, he seemed to think you had as little as 24 hrs to clean the aircraft?

Hopefully, with lockdown, something like that doesn't happen here.