Regulation Text
(a) No person may operate an airplane that conforms to an amended or supplemental type certificate issued in accordance with SFAR No. 41 for a maximum certificated takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds unless within 1 year after issuance of the initial airworthiness certificate under that SFAR the airplane meets the compartment interior requirements set forth in § 25.853 (a), (b), (b-1), (b-2), and (b-3) of this chapter in effect on September 26, 1978.
(b) Thermal/acoustic insulation materials. For transport category airplanes type certificated after January 1, 1958:
(1) For airplanes manufactured before September 2, 2005, when thermal/acoustic insulation is installed in the fuselage as replacements after September 2, 2005, the insulation must meet the flame propagation requirements of § 25.856 of this chapter, effective September 2, 2003, if it is:
(i) Of a blanket construction or
(ii) Installed around air ducting.
(2) For airplanes manufactured after September 2, 2005, thermal/acoustic insulation materials installed in the fuselage must meet the flame propagation requirements of § 25.856 of this chapter, effective September 2, 2003.
[Docket 18334, 54 FR 34318, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-279, 68 FR 45083, July 31, 2003; Amdt. 91-290, 70 FR 77752, Dec. 30, 2005]
Research Notes
Section 91.613 — Materials for compartment interiors — establishes fire safety material requirements for cabin interior surfaces of large transport-category airplanes.
What gets regulated: Interior materials (seats, walls, ceiling panels, carpets) must meet specific fire-resistance standards including burn resistance, heat release, smoke emission, and toxicity. These standards were tightened significantly after the 1983 Air Canada 797 fire that prompted improved cabin interior fire safety requirements.
Modern certification: Aircraft entering service after 1990 are certified to enhanced cabin interior fire safety standards. Retrofits to older aircraft are required by service bulletins or compliance dates set by AD.
Reference: Part 25 § 25.853 on interior material flammability; FAA Office of Aviation Safety policy on cabin safety.
Amendment History
Amendment History Coming Soon
Every time this regulation changes, we'll record it here — the date, what was amended, and a plain-English summary of what shifted.