Aero Design

HOW TO DETERMINE
SEAT CUSHION/COVER CERTIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS

Seat cushions and covers must meet the vertical burn and fire blocking requirements of FAR 25.853 which refers to parts of appendix F for further details. The vertical burn requirement is met separately for cushions and covers but the fire blocking requirement needs to be met with the cushion and cover together during the certification test. This is why it is important to determine the effect on original fire blocking certification when changing dress covers or cushions.

WHEN LOOKING AT CUSHIONS AND COVERS

1.	Find a vendor and part number on the cushion.
2.	Look for a statement that cushion meets FAR 25.853(c) when used with approved dress cover (these words can vary from vendor to vendor but the key is FAR 25.853(c) or (b) if done when fire blocking was under paragraph b).
3.	Try to trace the information on the cushion tag to the part number on the dress cover tag. If so, the certification is valid. If not, obtain the fire blocking certification report from the cushion vendor and find what dress cover is certified with that cushion.
4.	If no tag is present on the cushion or cover, there is no confidence that either assembly has any approval basis.
5.	If there is damage to the cushion fire blocking layer or the dress cover, the flammability characteristics may have be compromised and it should be replaced.

WHEN LOOKING AT FIRE BLOCKING REPORT

1.	Find the P/N of the cushion and cover in the report and compare with that on the parts in question. If same, the certification is valid.
2.	If the cushion but not dress cover can be found, the dress cover material must be tested with the cushion material per appendix F of FAR 25 or certification by similarity may be possible.
3.	If no part numbers can be found in the report, the vendor may have an internal document that traces the raw materials mentioned in the report to the part numbers stamped on the parts (perhaps a drawing number listed in the report).
4.	Any new testing must be done by a lab with the correct calibrated equipment. Sending a sample of the cushion is not adequate because you do not know the materials and the test cushions are of a different size than the production cushions. FAA conformity inspection of test samples is required for obtaining 8130-3 tag.

APPROVING DRESS COVER CHANGE BY SIMILARITY

The following is required to determine approval by similarity rather than test:

1.	The original fire blocking test report for the cushions being used.
2.	The new dress cover raw material identification number and vendor.
3.	The new dress cover weight, material composition and vertical burn results.

After analysis of the above, a DER can prepare and approve a report if criteria are met.