Materials for compartment interiors

This regulation sets fire safety standards for materials used inside Part 121 airline cabins. The specific requirements depend on when the airplane was manufactured or type certificated, its passenger capacity, and whether the interior has been substantially replaced.

For airplanes with 20+ passenger seats manufactured after 1988, interior materials must meet progressively stricter heat release and smoke emission standards. These standards limit how quickly materials burn and how much smoke they produce during a fire.

Seat cushions (except flight crew seats) must meet specific flammability requirements—for transport category planes certificated after 1958, and for older nontransport category planes as of 2010.

When airlines substantially replace cabin interiors, the new materials must meet the flammability standards that were current at specific dates, generally requiring newer, safer materials. Some exceptions exist for galley carts manufactured before 1995 and for special circumstances where the FAA grants deviations.

These rules aim to slow fire spread and reduce toxic smoke in cabin fires, improving passenger survival chances during emergencies.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*