Development of Fire Resistant Electronic Configurations for Use in Oxygen Enriched Environments

The flammability requirements of the various manned space programs have required development of electronic configurations that would eliminate any flammability hazard to crews or missions.

Initial test and development efforts were directed at the development of nonflammable or self-exsinguishing materials. It was soon realized that a more relevant approach in eliminating flammability hazards was to consider materials as to their application and configuration.

Design concepts for electronic black boxes and modules were tested in oxygen enriched atmospheres, and it was found that various types of sealed configurations would generally eliminate any flammability hazard. The type of configuration and its construction was found to be of more importance in the elimination of flammability hazards in electronic configurations than the types of materials utilized in them.

The design concepts developed for fire hazard free electronic configurations for use in manned space programs of electronic configurations for use in manned space programs are applicable for the design of electronic hardware for any use or environment.