NEWS UPDATES:
TESTCORP has been accepted by the FAA for the new "Thermal/Acoustic Flame Propagation" test.
TESTCORP is in the development stage of building the test apparatus
for the upcoming "Thermal/Acoustic Burn Through.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Some of the most commonly asked questions:
I am a manufacturer
of materials. Can I obtain FAA certification paperwork to deliver
with my material our customers? The short answer is
no. The FAA does not allow testing for certification unless it
is for a known application. A
copy of the FAA's answer to this question can be found at the
following link:FAA's
letter regarding issuing FAA Form 8110-3 to manufacturers
If I need an FAA form 8110-3 issued along with the test results,
what do I need to do? In order for
us to issue an FAA form 8110-3 with the test results several conditions
must be met prior to us performing the testing. Most of the time
we need in hand the following items along with the samples: An
FAA project number, an FAA approved test plan that has an accompanying
FAA form 8110-3, the samples with an accompanying FAA form 8130-3
showing parts conformity. As always, the
FAA has the final guidance on this matter so it is best to confirm
with them when the project is opened.
Can I send samples for testing without all of the above FAA
paperwork? We commonly test "engineering
qualification" samples without any FAA paperwork. In fact
we even encourage it. The reason for this is that if you do the
entire FAA paperwork approval process and your samples fail to
pass the certification requirements it delays your final approval.
Most companies send us various samples to do "preliminary
engineering qualification" testing in order to have some
assurance that their samples will pass during final certification
testing. One word of caution, if the sample changes configuration
in between the qualification test and the certification test you
should be prepared for possible different results. Also, some
airframe manufacturers accept test data sheets without a final
FAA form 8110-3 if the sample is used on a non-U.S. registered
aircraft.
How many specimens should I send? For most tests, the
results are found by averaging a minimum of three samples. See
our specimen requirements page.
However, it is always advisable to send at least 4 just in case
of an anomaly during testing of one of the specimens. There are
exceptions to the three specimens rule. The smoke density requires
3 specimens for each mode (flaming and non-flaming). Another exception
is the new flame propagation test, where allowances can be made
to test up to 10 specimens for each sample. See the flame propagation
advisory circular for guidance:AC
25.856-1
Where do I ship the samples to? Ship all samples and
paperwork directly to our
office location.
Saturday delivery is acceptable.
If I am testing wire, how long should each specimen be? See our specimen
requirement page and be sure you are
looking at the test that you require and read any pertinent notes
at the bottom of the page.
How do I know if I need flaming and non-flaming mode for the
smoke density/toxicity testing? The FAA only requires
the flaming mode. However some manufacturers (most notably Airbus)
require non-flaming mode under certain applications. We have provided
a sample of their matrix
which would give you an example. This is
not kept current and you should consult with the specific manufacturer
for your application.
What is the turnaround time? Most of the testing
requires a "conditioning cycle" of 24 hours prior to
testing. With that in mind, we routinely receive, condition, test,
report within one weeks time. Exceptions to this would be custom
setups and/or very large amounts of samples. Expedite service
is available on request.