Aircraft Cabin Dividers & Soft Furnishings
Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers the current Cabin Divider and Soft Furnishing landscape within Commercial Aircraft.
Soft furnishings must embrace flame-retardant fabrics throughout the cabin, including seat covers, carpets, curtains, and wall coverings.
>> Before the issue of any certification, the testing must comply with FAR/CS 25.853 regulation,
>> Curtain fabric is required to be wear-resistant, stain-resistant, non-toxic, and lightweight.
Introduction – Concerning Part 21 J & Part 21 G Relationship
>> To Engage in Design Work related to Soft Furnishing requires Part 21 Subpart J (DOA) Design Organisation Approval - the oversight of its activities is carried out by EASA.
>> To Manufacture seat covers, carpets, curtains & other soft furnishings requires EASA Part 21 G Approval - The oversight of Part 21 Subpart G (POA) Product Organisation Approval is carried out by the National Aviation Authority (Competent Authority).
>> Production against EASA-approved design data needs to be in accordance with Part 21 and may be released by a Part 21 Subpart G-approved production organisation (POA).
Certification of Product During Installation
For Minor Modification, the Product is supplied with appropriate release documentation. However, If the installation is considered major there can be a risk associated with the modification certification process. To mitigate the potential exposure, it is important to clearly define certification roles and responsibilities related to compliance coordination.
Technical Changes in the Available Materials – Cabin Dividers
The manufacturing process of the aircraft cabin interior panels is expensive and time-consuming.
>> Where it is necessary for the aircraft interior panels to meet structural requirements typically sandwich composites of a honeycomb core covered with two layers of pre-impregnated fibreglass skin are used.
>> Flat sandwich composites can be transformed into panels with complex shapes or geometries using the compression moulding process.
>> Where aircraft interiors are used for non-structural applications sandwich composites can be substituted with alternative materials enabling cost savings.
>> For example, honeycomb and fibreglass skin layer cores can be replaced with rigid polyurethane foams and thermoplastic polymers.
Seat Fabrics – E Leather
Engineered leather is an advanced material made with up to 50% traditional leather fibres. It retains the luxurious look and feel of traditional leather at the same time providing enhanced comfort associated with soft trimmings.
>> Benefits of E-Leather
o Synthetic composition leather made of natural leather fibres.
o Lower maintenance than traditional leather interiors.
o Highly durable – useful life nearly twice as long as traditional cloth or leather interior.
o Cost-effective when compared to leather and woven cloth seating alternatives.
o Reduces seat weight and density.
o Environmentally-friendly manufacturing.
Cabin Dividers - Modern designs offer multiple product lines of sound-absorbing fabric, with an opaque inlay that prevents galley lights from disturbing passengers at night.
Cabin Dividers must satisfy a vast amount of functional and material criteria.
>> They must be lightweight, occupy a minimal amount of space, and be flame retardant in the event of an accident.
Cabin Dividers primarily serve as
>> Acoustic,
>> Visual, and
>> Psychological privacy barriers between the passenger classes.
Benefits include
>> Lowering noise levels and softening sounds in the cabin,
>> Sound-absorbing curtains can cut down up to 18 to 53 dB depending on the frequency of the sound.
Next Steps
Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) Provides Classroom & Webinar Training including the following course EASA CS 25 Compliant Cabin Certification & Mods Training Program – 5 Days
Please see our websites www.sassofia.com and www.sofemaonline.com or email us at team@sassofia.com
