Resonate Testing provides flammability testing for aircraft materials and components in compliance with 14 CFR Part 25.853 and Appendix F, assessing flame resistance and burn characteristics to applicable FAA, EASA (CS 25.853), and ASTM standards.
Resonate Testing provides independent aerospace fire testing support for aircraft interiors, cabin materials and cargo compartment liner systems. Our engineer-led service helps OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, MRO organisations and materials manufacturers generate evidence for FAA FAR 25.853, EASA CS 25.853 and Appendix F fire performance requirements.
Aircraft materials and interior systems must demonstrate controlled fire performance before they can be accepted into service. Resonate Testing supports aerospace fire testing programmes for cabin materials, interior components, seat cushion burner testing and cargo compartment liner systems.
Cabin flammability testing: Supports assessment of aircraft interior materials against FAA FAR 25.853 and EASA CS 25.853 requirements.
Cargo liner fire penetration testing: Helps demonstrate the ability of cargo liner systems to resist flame penetration and contain cargo compartment fire hazards.
Seat cushion oil burner testing: Testing the fire resistance and self-extinguishing capabilities of seat cushions and covering materials
Material qualification support: Provides evidence for decorative laminates, panels, floor coverings, insulation, composites and seat-related materials.
Certification-ready reporting: Produces test observations and data packs aligned to the agreed compliance route.
Development and certification campaigns: Supports early screening, design iteration, qualification and formal compliance testing.
Engineer-led planning: Reviews sample configuration, applicable standard, acceptance criteria and reporting expectations before testing begins.
Vibration Testing
Shock Testing
Environmental Testing
Corrosion and Salt Spray Testing
Sand and Dust Testing
Ready to plan your aircraft fire testing campaign? Send your cabin material, cargo liner, drawing, specification or customer requirement for engineer review and receive guidance on sample preparation, applicable standards and reporting expectations.
Aircraft interior and cargo liner programmes often involve multiple materials, constructions and compliance routes. Early review helps confirm whether the work relates to cabin flammability, cargo liner fire penetration, development screening or certification support.
Share the drawing, material description, construction details, applicable FAA or EASA requirement, sample availability and programme objective. Resonate Testing can review the likely test route, specimen preparation and reporting expectations before quotation.
Qualification and acceptance testing support
Aircraft cabin materials, panels, coverings and laminates
Cargo compartment liner and fire penetration planning
Standards and customer requirement review
Development screening through to certification evidence
Aircraft fire testing is driven by the material, installation location and certification route. Programmes may reference FAA FAR 25.853, EASA CS 25.853, Appendix F requirements and customer-defined test plans.
The objective is not simply to expose a sample to flame. The objective is to generate evidence that is relevant to the aircraft application, material construction, acceptance criteria and certification submission.
Cabin materials, seat cushions and cargo liner systems can require different specimen formats, conditioning, burner setups, observations and reporting outputs. Reviewing the intended use and applicable requirement before testing helps avoid repeat work and ensures the report supports the programme need.
Early standards review can improve traceability, clarify pass/fail criteria and help ensure the resulting fire test evidence aligns with stakeholder expectations.
FAA Fire Test Handbook – Chapter 1: Bunsen burner tests
FAA Fire Test Handbook – Chapter 2: Seat cushion Oil burner test
FAA Fire Test Handbook – Chapter 3: Insulation burn through
FAA Fire Test Handbook – Chapter 4: Heat release
FAA Fire Test Handbook – Chapter 5: Smoke density
FAA Fire Test Handbook – cargo liner fire penetration chapter
| Standard / Guidance | Primary Focus | Typical Relevance to Testing |
|---|---|---|
| FAA FAR 25.853 | Aircraft Interiors | Flammability requirements for aircraft compartment interiors, including cabin materials. Relevant FAA Fire Test Handbook chapters commonly include Chapter 1 for Bunsen burner tests, Chapter 2 for seat cushion oil burner testing, Chapter 4 for heat release and Chapter 5 for smoke density where required by the certification plan. |
| FAA FAR 25.856 | Thermal / acoustic insulation | Burnthrough protection requirements for thermal/acoustic insulation materials. FAA Fire Test Handbook Chapter 3 is commonly referenced for insulation burnthrough test guidance. |
| EASA CS 25.853 | Large aeroplane interior materials | European certification specification covering fire performance expectations for aircraft interior materials, with test method selection aligned to the material, installation and applicable Appendix F method. |
| 14 CFR Part 25 Appendix F | Heat release and smoke density | Test methods commonly referenced for cabin material flammability and cargo compartment liner fire penetration. Cargo liner programmes commonly reference the FAA Fire Test Handbook chapter covering cargo compartment liner fire penetration testing. |
| Customer specifications | Programme-specific test requirements | Programme-specific acceptance criteria, specimen configuration, reporting format, witness requirements and certification evidence requirements. |
Cabin materials flammability testing is used to evaluate the fire performance of interior aircraft materials, including panels, floor coverings, decorative laminates, insulation materials and composite interior components. Testing helps demonstrate compliance with applicable cabin safety requirements by assessing ignition resistance, flame propagation and self-extinguishing characteristics using recognised vertical flammability, horizontal flammability and 45-degree burner methods.
Reference materials: CS/FAR 25.853 Appendix F; FAA Aircraft Materials Fire Test Handbook Chapters 1, 2 and 3.
Fire penetration testing evaluates the resistance of firewalls, barriers and fire-protection systems to direct flame exposure. The objective is to demonstrate that critical structures and components can prevent flame penetration and maintain their intended protective function when exposed to severe fire conditions.
Reference materials: FAA Aircraft Materials Fire Test Handbook Chapter 12 – Powerplant Fire Penetration Test; ISO 2685; AC 20-135.
Cargo liner fire penetration testing evaluates whether liner constructions can resist flame penetration and support containment of a cargo compartment fire hazard. The test route is normally driven by the aircraft application, liner construction, applicable Appendix F requirement, the relevant FAA Fire Test Handbook cargo liner chapter and the customer certification plan.
Test planning should confirm specimen dimensions, exposed face, joints or seams where relevant, conditioning, burner setup, pass/fail criteria, observations and reporting expectations. Applicability should be confirmed for the exact material, installation and programme requirement before testing begins.
Cargo liner testing focuses on cargo compartment liner constructions designed to contain fire within the cargo area and protect surrounding aircraft structure. These tests evaluate the burnthrough resistance and fire containment performance of liner materials used in aircraft cargo compartments.
Reference materials: CS/FAR 25.855 Appendix F; FAA Aircraft Materials Fire Test Handbook Chapter 8 – Oil Burner Test for Cargo Liners
Seat cushion testing assesses the ability of passenger seat cushion assemblies to resist ignition and limit fire growth during a post-crash fire scenario. Complete cushion assemblies are evaluated using oil burner test methods to verify compliance with aircraft interior fire protection requirements and support certification of seating systems.
Reference materials: CS/FAR 25.853 Appendix F Part II; FAA Aircraft Materials Fire Test Handbook Chapter 7 – Oil Burner Test for Seat Cushions.
Resonate Testing provides engineer-led fire testing for aerospace materials and components across the UK and Ireland.
The laboratory supports OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, MRO organisations and materials manufacturers working with aircraft interiors, cargo compartment liner systems, nacelle-adjacent materials and fire-resistant composite structures. Test activity can be planned against recognised FAA, EASA and customer-defined requirements.
| Specification | Capability |
|---|---|
| 12-second vertical flammability | Cabin interior materials, panels, coverings, decorative laminates and composite interior components where vertical Bunsen burner testing is required. |
| 60-second vertical flammability | Aircraft interior materials requiring the longer vertical flame exposure defined by the applicable certification or customer requirement. |
| Horizontal flammability | Materials where horizontal burn rate assessment is the appropriate route for the intended aircraft location and installation. |
| Seat cushion oil burner test | Seat cushion constructions and related assemblies requiring oil burner assessment under the applicable programme requirement. |
| Insulation burnthrough | Thermal/acoustic insulation materials and blanket constructions where burnthrough resistance is part of the compliance route. |
| Cargo liner fire penetration testing | Cargo compartment liner systems, liner build-ups, joints, seams and representative interfaces used to support containment of cargo fire hazards. |
| Specification review and test planning | Review of sample construction, exposed face, conditioning, quantities, pass/fail criteria, witness requirements and reporting expectations before quotation. |
A clear requirement helps confirm the correct aircraft fire test route, specimen preparation and reporting scope before samples are committed. Include as much of the following as possible:
Applicable standard or customer specification, such as FAA FAR 25.853, EASA CS 25.853 or 14 CFR Part 25 Appendix F.
Relevant FAA Fire Test Handbook chapter or method reference, such as Bunsen burner, heat release, smoke density or cargo compartment liner fire penetration requirements.
Material description, trade name or part number, plus construction drawing or data sheet where available.
Specimen dimensions, thickness, exposed face, backing materials, coatings, adhesives, joints, seams or edge details.
Intended aircraft location, such as cabin interior, panel, flooring, insulation, seat-related material or cargo compartment liner.
Sample quantity, availability date and whether specimens will be supplied pre-cut or require preparation support.
Programme objective: development screening, qualification, formal certification support or investigation of a design change.
Any pass/fail criteria, reporting format, witness testing needs or submission requirements already defined by the programme.
For cargo liner fire penetration work, include the full liner build-up and installation context, including joints, seams, fasteners or representative interfaces where these could affect fire performance.
For aerospace fire testing, the sample construction, orientation, conditioning and acceptance criteria are central to the quality of the result. Drawings, material stack-up, exposed face, thickness, installation context and certification objective should be reviewed early.
Early engagement helps identify the relevant fire test method, sample quantities, preparation needs and reporting expectations before the campaign starts.
Cabin flammability testing assesses how aircraft interior materials behave when exposed to flame. Capability can include 12-second vertical flammability, 60-second vertical flammability and horizontal flammability where required by FAA FAR 25.853, EASA CS 25.853 or customer-defined requirements.
Cargo liner fire penetration testing evaluates whether liner constructions can resist flame penetration and help contain a cargo compartment fire hazard.
Important specimen details include dimensions, thickness, construction, exposed face, conditioning, joints or seams where relevant, and the intended aircraft installation.
Acceptance criteria are confirmed from the applicable FAA, EASA or customer specification before testing begins. The criteria should match the material, installation location and certification objective.
The agreed report may include the test method, specimen configuration, conditioning, observations, photographic evidence where agreed and a result summary against the applicable criteria.
Plan: Review the material, aircraft application, applicable standard, acceptance criteria and certification objective.
Prepare: Confirm specimen dimensions, conditioning, exposed face, construction details and required sample quantities.
Set up: Mount the specimen in the agreed configuration and verify the burner, timing and observation requirements.
Test: Conduct the cabin flammability or cargo liner fire penetration test to the agreed procedure.
Observe: Record flame behaviour, burn characteristics, penetration performance and other agreed pass/fail observations.
Review: Check the results against the applicable criteria and note any deviations or sample-specific observations.
Report: Provide the agreed test report or data pack to support development decisions or certification submissions.
Outputs are agreed before the test so the evidence matches the programme need. A typical package may include:
Recorded temperature, pressure and agreed telemetry data
Confirmation of the test method, specimen configuration and conditioning where applicable
Observations from setup, flame exposure, burn behaviour and post-test review
Photographic evidence where agreed
Result summary against the agreed acceptance criteria
An agreed fire test report or data pack aligned to the quotation scope
Book cabin flammability testing or cargo liner fire penetration testing for aerospace materials and aircraft components. Use the contact route to share the requirement, drawing, material details or specification for review.
Whether you’re looking to contact us for the first time or have another testing requirement, we’d love to hear from you.
