Boeing BMS 5-146 Cargo Compartment Tape Guide
Boeing BMS 5-146 Cargo Compartment Tape — Type, Class & Grade Explained
What BMS 5-146 covers, why cargo-liner seam sealing is a fire-safety requirement, and the Polyken 296FR fiberglass tape that carries the qualification — in stock, free US shipping.
Boeing Material Specification BMS 5-146 covers flame-retardant, pressure-sensitive cargo-liner joint sealing tape — the tape that seals the seams and edges of cargo-compartment liner panels so smoke, fire and Halon stay contained inside the cargo bay. The product we stock for the Rev. B, Type 1, Class 1, Grade A callout is the Polyken 296FR, a lightweight flame-retardant glass-cloth tape built for this job.
New to Boeing specs? BMS 5-146 is a material specification: it defines what the cargo tape is, not how it is installed. See our BMS vs BAC guide → for how Boeing material and process specs differ when you order.
Verify: 296FR data sheet (PDF) · FAR 25.853(a) · 25.855(d) · 25.856(a) · Airbus ABD0031
Why BMS 5-146 is a fire-safety spec, not just a tape spec
A cargo compartment is lined with fire-resistant panels designed to contain a fire long enough for the suppression system to work. Those panels meet at seams — and a seam is only as good as its seal. BMS 5-146 governs the tape that seals them. A wrinkle, gap or lifted edge could let smoke or Halon escape into the passenger cabin during a cargo fire, which is why the specification sets requirements for flame penetration resistance, adhesion, and a wrinkle-free, non-lifting application.
What the BMS 5-146 callout codes mean
A BMS 5-146 callout is written by Revision, Type, Class and Grade. Below is what the 296FR carries in each position — your drawing will state which combination is required.
The specification revision the 296FR is listed to. Older drawings may cite an earlier revision, so confirm the revision your drawing calls out before you order.
The construction category within the specification. The 296FR — a lightweight glass-cloth tape — is listed as Type 1.
The class the 296FR carries, and the one most cargo-liner seam-sealing callouts reference.
The grade the 296FR carries. What each grade requires is defined in the Boeing specification itself, which is the controlling document.
Read the codes off your drawing, not off this page. The definitions behind Type, Class and Grade live in the Boeing specification, and we do not republish them. What we can tell you is which combination the 296FR is listed to — Rev. B, Type 1, Class 1, Grade A. If your drawing calls out anything else, send it to us and we will check it before you buy.
Polyken 296FR — specifications
Typical values from the manufacturer's published product data. The 296FR data sheet (PDF) is the controlling source.
| Product | Polyken 296FR — Lightweight Flame Retardant Cargo Compartment Tape |
| Construction | Single-coated flame-retardant glass-cloth tape, flame-retardant adhesive, blue easy-release liner |
| Backing | Fiberglass (glass cloth) |
| Color | White |
| Total thickness | 7.0 mil (0.178 mm) |
| Weight | 6.8 oz/yd² (210 g/m²) |
| Adhesion to steel | 45 oz/in — ASTM D-1000 |
| Operating temperature | −40 to 275°F (−40 to 135°C) |
| Tensile strength | 134 lb/in — ASTM D-1000 |
| Adhesive | Flame retardant, bromide free (Deca-BDE / PBDE free) |
| Roll length | 36 yd |
| Widths stocked | 2″, 3″, 4″ — single rolls, 3, 6 and 10 packs, and full cases |
| BMS 5-146 callout | Rev. B, Type 1, Class 1, Grade A |
| Other approvals | FAR 25.853(a); FAR 25.855(d); FAR 25.856(a); Airbus ABD0031 Para 7.3.2 & 7.4; Boeing Service Letters 737-SL-25-115-B, 757-SL-25-085-B, 747-SL-25-195-B, 767-SL-25-112-B, 777-SL-25-037-B |
Typical values are stated at time of manufacture and are not for use in writing specifications. Verify against the controlling drawing and the current manufacturer data sheet for your application.
What BMS 5-146 cargo tape is used for
Per the manufacturer data sheet, the Polyken 296FR is used for:
| Cargo-liner seam sealing | Sealing the edges and seams of cargo-compartment liner panels to contain smoke, fire and Halon |
| Liner repair | Seaming and repairing cargo-compartment liner panels in freight and passenger aircraft |
| Pins & rivets | Covering protruding pins, rivets and fasteners in the cargo bay |
| Flame penetration resistance | The glass-cloth backing resists flame penetration for added containment safety |
| Wrinkle-free application | Hangs straight and resists curling and lifting, so no air gaps form at the seam |
| Clean removal | Repositionable during application; removes with minimal adhesive residue when a panel is serviced |
What Polyken 296FR costs
Sold in 36-yard rolls in three widths, singly or in quantity packs. A full case is exactly 30% off the single-roll price in every width:
| Width (36 yd) | 1 roll | 3 rolls | 6 rolls | 10 rolls | Full case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2″ | $59.99 | $56.99/roll | $53.99/roll | $47.99/roll | $41.99/roll 24 rolls · $1,007.83 |
| 3″ | $89.99 | $85.49/roll | $80.99/roll | $71.99/roll | $62.99/roll 16 rolls · $1,007.89 |
| 4″ | $128.99 | $122.54/roll | $116.09/roll | $103.19/roll | $90.29/roll 12 rolls · $1,083.52 |
Scroll the table sideways on a phone. Per-roll figures are the pack price divided by the roll count.
Prices are the listed prices at the time of writing and can change — confirm on the product page, or ask us for pricing on a quantity that is not listed.
Cargo-bay tapes that are not BMS 5-146
Other jobs in the cargo pit call for related Polyken tapes that do not carry the BMS 5-146 qualification. Both are tested to FAR 25.853(a), and the 290FR also to FAR 25.855(d) — but if your drawing says BMS 5-146, neither is a substitute.
| Specification | 296FR | 290FR | 225FR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing BMS 5-146 | ✓ Rev. B, Ty 1, Cl 1, Gr A | No | No |
| Backing | Glass cloth | PE-coated fiberglass | Flame-retardant cloth |
| FAR 25.853(a) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FAR 25.855(d) | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| FAR 25.856(a) | ✓ | — | — |
| Roll length | 36 yd | 60 yd | 60 yd |
| Widths stocked | 2″, 3″, 4″ | 2″, 3″ | 2″, 3″ |
| Price from, single roll | $59.99 | $48.99 | $47.99 |
Browse everything for the cargo bay in our cargo pit tapes collection, and confirm your drawing's callout before choosing. A cell marked "—" means the approval is not published on the data sheet we hold, not that the tape failed a test.
Get pricing, lead time and a Certificate of Conformance
Send us these five things and we'll come back with the right cargo tape, stocked widths, lead time and pricing. A Certificate of Conformance is included with every order where available.
- Full BMS 5-146 callout
- Width
- Quantity or case count
- Aircraft or program
- Required delivery date
Need the data sheet, or want to see how this specification sits among the others?
Data Sheets → Specs Page →Frequently asked questions
What is Boeing BMS 5-146?
BMS 5-146 is a Boeing Material Specification for flame-retardant, pressure-sensitive cargo-liner joint sealing tape. It covers the tape used to seal the seams of cargo-compartment liner panels so that smoke, fire and Halon are contained inside the cargo bay, alongside FAA flammability requirements such as FAR 25.853(a) and 25.855(d).
Which tape meets BMS 5-146?
The Polyken 296FR is the tape we stock for BMS 5-146 Rev. B, Type 1, Class 1, Grade A. It is a lightweight flame-retardant glass-cloth tape that also carries FAR 25.853(a), FAR 25.855(d), FAR 25.856(a), Airbus ABD0031 and five Boeing service letters.
What does BMS 5-146 Rev. B, Type 1, Class 1, Grade A mean?
It is the combination the Polyken 296FR is listed to: Revision B is the specification version, Type 1 the construction category, Class 1 the class and Grade A the grade. What each code requires is defined in the Boeing specification, which is the controlling document — so confirm the callout on your drawing rather than assuming this combination applies.
Is the Polyken 296FR the same as the 290FR or 225FR cargo-pit tapes?
No. The 296FR is the BMS 5-146 cargo-liner sealing tape. The Polyken 290FR (PE-coated fiberglass cargo-pit sealing) and Polyken 225FR (flame-retardant cargo-pit duct) are related cargo-bay tapes that share some applications but do not carry BMS 5-146. Match your drawing's callout before choosing.
Why does cargo compartment tape have to be flame retardant?
Cargo-liner panels are designed to contain a fire inside the cargo bay. The tape that seals their seams must resist flame penetration so that smoke and Halon do not escape into the passenger cabin during a fire. That is why BMS 5-146 sets flammability, adhesion and wrinkle-free application requirements.
Does Polyken 296FR meet FAA flammability requirements?
Per the manufacturer data sheet, the Polyken 296FR meets FAR 25.853(a), FAR 25.855(d) and FAR 25.856(a) — the FAA flammability criteria for interior materials, cargo-compartment liners and thermal/acoustic insulation — in addition to its Boeing BMS 5-146 listing. Confirm current values against the data sheet for your application.
How much does Polyken 296FR cargo compartment tape cost?
A single 36-yard roll starts at $59.99 for 2 inch, $89.99 for 3 inch and $128.99 for 4 inch. Quantity packs and full cases bring the per-roll price down to about $41.99, $62.99 and $90.29 respectively, which is exactly 30 percent off the single-roll price. Prices can change, so confirm on the product page.
What widths and roll lengths does Polyken 296FR come in?
The 296FR is stocked in 2, 3 and 4 inch widths on 36-yard rolls, available as single rolls, 3, 6 and 10 packs, or full cases of 24, 16 and 12 rolls respectively. Other widths can often be slit on a lead time — send us the width your drawing calls out.
Need a BMS 5-146 quote or a cross-reference?
Send us your spec callout — revision, type, class, grade — plus width and quantity, and we'll confirm the right Polyken cargo tape, stocked sizes, lead time and pricing. A Certificate of Conformance is included with every order where available.
Get Pricing, Lead Time & COC →Specification details are provided for reference and are drawn from the current Polyken 296FR product data; the linked data sheet is the controlling source. BMS 5-146 is a Boeing Material Specification — Boeing and BMS are trademarks of The Boeing Company. Airbus and ABD are trademarks of Airbus; Polyken is a brand of Berry Global. Typical test values are stated at time of manufacture and are not for use in writing specifications. Prices shown are the listed prices at the time of writing and may change; confirm the live price on each product page. Always verify requirements against the controlling drawing and the current manufacturer data sheet before purchase.