NFPA 409-2016 PDF Download

The NFPA 409-2016 standard on Aircraft Hangars has undergone significant changes that impact the design of fire protection systems in new Group I and Group II aircraft hangars. These revisions were based on sound engineering principles, recent test data, and field experience. The standard provides specifications for the construction and fire protection of all types of aircraft hangars.

One of the major changes allows for low-level foam systems in Group I hangars to be divided into independently activated zones, based on the activation of associated sprinkler or automatic detection zones. The requirement for a redundant fire pump has been revised, stating that it is not necessary for systems that use two or more pumps to meet the minimum demand. Additionally, a reserve supply of foam concentrate is now permitted to meet the requirements of the 2016 edition of NFPA 11, eliminating the need for a connected reserve.

Other changes include the relaxation of the requirement for water reservoirs to be divided into equal parts, which is now only a recommendation. The chapter on Group III hangars has been simplified by eliminating the concepts of row hangars and hangar building clusters. Furthermore, the minimum separation between aircraft storage and servicing areas in Group I and Group II hangars has been relaxed from a 3-hour fire wall to a 2-hour fire barrier wall.

These changes make the NFPA 409-2016 standard easier to apply and more cost-effective in certain scenarios. The standard serves as an essential guide for engineers, designers, architects, contractors, facility and construction managers, insurance professionals, and others responsible for the safety of people, facilities, and equipment in aircraft hangars.