Cargo Pit Tape Guide — Polyken 296FR, 290FR & 225FR
What Is Cargo Compartment Tape? Cargo Pit Tape, Specs & Cost
What cargo pit tape is, which cargo-pit specifications apply — including BMS 5-146 and FAR 25.855 — how Polyken 296FR, 290FR and 225FR compare, and what a roll costs.
The white cloth tape sealing the liner seams inside a freighter's belly isn't ordinary gaffer or duct tape. It's a flame-retardant, aerospace-qualified cargo compartment tape — often called cargo pit tape — held to the aircraft and material specifications that apply to the job, so that if a fire starts in the hold the liner and its sealed seams resist flame penetration long enough for the suppression system and crew to act.
Verify: 296FR data sheet (PDF) · Boeing BMS5-146M
Verify: 290FR data sheet · FAR 25.853(a) & 25.855(d)
Verify: 225FR data sheet · Douglas DMS 1968E
Of these three, only 296FR lists the Boeing BMS 5-146 qualification on its data sheet. 290FR and 225FR are flame-retardant cargo-pit grades approved under other authorities — Airbus ABD0031 and Douglas DMS 1968E respectively. If your drawing or work order calls out BMS 5-146, specify 296FR and confirm against its current data sheet.
Not duct tape, not a structural repair. Cargo pit tape is a regulated, technician-applied material for seaming liner panels and minor, approved liner repairs under the aircraft's maintenance program. It never substitutes for an approved structural repair, and the specific product and application must be approved for the task.
What cargo pit tape is (and what it isn't)
Cargo pit tape is a fiberglass (glass-cloth) tape with a high-tack, high-tensile adhesive engineered for the cargo-hold environment. The glass-cloth backing gives it strength and flame resistance; the adhesive bonds aggressively to metal, composite, and the liner material itself, and holds a seal under the load and vibration of flight. It conforms around pins, rivets, and liner joints without flagging or lifting, and the bromide-free adhesive on grades like 296FR is repositionable and removes cleanly without residue. Because these are fiberglass tapes, most grades carry a coating that keeps the glass fibers from contacting skin during handling.
What cargo compartment tape is used for
Licensed maintenance technicians use cargo pit tape for flame-rated sealing and repair work inside the hold, under approved procedures. Common uses:
Joining liner panels — sealing the seams between cargo-compartment liner panels so the fire barrier stays continuous.
Minor approved repairs to cargo liner material to maintain its flame-penetration resistance.
Covering fasteners and hardware to maintain a smooth, sealed surface.
High-adhesion areas where both aggressive adhesion and flame resistance matter at once.
Is cargo pit tape regulated? Which specs it meets
Yes. Cargo compartment tape sits at the center of the cargo-hold fire-protection system, so it's held to recognized flammability and material specifications. The ones you'll see most on a data sheet:
| Spec | What it covers | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing BMS 5-146 | Boeing material spec for flame-retardant cargo-compartment tape (commonly Rev. B, Type 1, Class 1, Grade A) — the number most buyers search for | BMS 5-146 → |
| FAR 25.853(a) | Flammability of cabin/compartment materials — the vertical-burn requirement | FAR 25.853 → |
| FAR 25.855(d) | Cargo & baggage compartment construction — liner flame-penetration resistance | — |
| FAR 25.856(a) | Thermal/acoustic insulation flammability (flame-propagation) requirements | FAR 25.856 → |
| Airbus ABD0031 | The Airbus equivalent flammability standard (e.g., Paragraphs 7.3.2 and 7.4) | — |
The paperwork is what separates aerospace-grade tape from a look-alike. Genuine cargo pit tape carries the spec qualification plus a Certificate of Conformance confirming the roll meets it — included with every order where available.
Compare the three grades
At a glance
Full specification comparison
| Specification | 296FR | 290FR | 225FR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier | FR fiberglass cloth | PE-coated fiberglass | PE-coated cloth |
| Adhesive | Bromide-free acrylic | Rubber-based | Natural rubber |
| Liner | None | None (linerless) | None |
| Thickness | 7.0 mil (0.178 mm) | 13 mil | 12 mil |
| Tensile strength | 134 lb/in — ASTM D-1000 | 150 lb/in | 29 lb/in |
| Adhesion to steel | 45 oz/in — ASTM D-1000 | 38 oz/in | 40 oz/in |
| Temperature range | −40 to 275°F (−40 to 135°C) | 40 to 200°F | 40 to 200°F |
| Boeing BMS 5-146 | Yes — BMS5-146M | No | No |
| FAR 25.853(a) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FAR 25.855(d) | Yes | Yes | — |
| FAR 25.856(a) | Yes | — | — |
| Burn length | 3" — FAR 25.853(a)/25.855(d) | 0 sec burn time | — |
| Extinguishing time | 0.66 sec · 0 sec afterglow | — | — |
| Total mass loss | 0.36% — ASTM E 595 | — | — |
| Other approvals | Boeing SL-25 service letters (737/747/757/767/777); Airbus ABD0031 §7.3.2 & §7.4; ASTM E 595 low outgassing | Airbus ABD0031; Bombardier DSC 91-8-2 & -2A | Douglas DMS 1968E; Fokker FK05-006/113; Lockheed LCP-86-1226-A |
| Roll length | 36 yd | 60 yd | 60 yd |
| Widths | 2″ · 3″ · 4″ | 2″ · 3″ | 2″ · 3″ |
| Cross-reference | 3M 398FR · Nitto P629 | — | — |
| Price from (single roll) | $59.99 | $48.99 | $47.99 |
| Case pricing | from $1,007.83 | from $671.90 | from $691.06 |
| Data sheet | TDS (PDF) ↓ | TDS (image) ↓ | TDS (image) ↓ |
Qualifications shown are taken from each product's current manufacturer data sheet, linked in the Data sheet row above. Prices are current single-roll starting prices for the 2″ width and may change; case quantities lower the per-roll cost, and wider 3″ and 4″ rolls cost more than 2″. Confirm the live price on each product page. Values are typical and provided for reference — always confirm against the controlling drawing and current data sheet for your application.
Get pricing, lead time and a Certificate of Conformance
Send us these five things and we'll come back with the correct grade, stocked widths, lead time and pricing — with a Certificate of Conformance included where available.
- Spec callout or part number
- Width
- Quantity
- Aircraft or application
- Required delivery date
Replacing a 3M or Nitto part? Our cross-reference guides line up the specs side by side.
3M 398FR → 296FR →Can't use ordinary duct tape. The cargo-compartment liner is a certified fire barrier. Only tape qualified to the applicable spec (such as BMS 5-146) and approved for the task may be used — even a flame-retardant duct-style grade like Polyken 225FR must be the correct, approved material for the job.
Frequently asked questions
What is cargo compartment tape?
Cargo compartment tape (or cargo pit tape) is a lightweight, flame-retardant fiberglass cloth tape used to seam and repair the liner panels inside an aircraft cargo hold. It's qualified to aerospace flammability specs so the cargo-compartment fire barrier stays intact, and is much more specialized than ordinary cloth or duct tape.
What spec does cargo pit tape have to meet?
The most common Boeing material spec is BMS 5-146 (often Rev. B, Type 1, Class 1, Grade A), with flammability tested to FAR 25.853(a), 25.855(d) and 25.856(a); the Airbus equivalent is ABD0031. Genuine aerospace cargo tape ships with a Certificate of Conformance confirming it meets these, supplied where available.
Which cargo pit tape actually meets BMS 5-146?
Of the three grades we stock, only Polyken 296FR is qualified to Boeing BMS 5-146. Polyken 290FR is approved under the Boeing 737/747/757/767/777 SL-25 service letters and Airbus ABD0031, and Polyken 225FR under Douglas DMS 1968E, Fokker and Lockheed specs — both are flame-retardant cargo-pit tapes, but neither is a BMS 5-146 product. Match the callout on your drawing.
What's the difference between Polyken 296FR, 290FR, and 225FR?
All three are flame-retardant cargo-pit grades. 296FR is the lightest at 7 mil, meets BMS 5-146, and is the most-requested general cargo tape. 290FR is the strongest at 13 mil and 150 lb/in, supplied linerless in 60-yard rolls for heavy-duty seam sealing. 225FR is a 12-mil duct-style tape that conforms to irregular surfaces, in 60-yard rolls.
Is Polyken 296FR the same as 3M 398FR or Nitto P629?
They are cross-referenced for the same applications. Polyken 296FR is cross-referenced against 3M 398FR and Nitto P629 for BMS 5-146 cargo-compartment applications. Substituting one qualified product for another still has to be approved for your specific task under the operator's and OEM's procedures — a cross-reference is not automatic approval. See our 3M 398FR alternative and Nitto P629 alternative pages for side-by-side specs.
How much does cargo compartment tape cost?
Across our stocked grades a single roll starts at $47.99, with case quantities lowering the per-roll price; wider 3-inch and 4-inch rolls cost more than 2-inch. Our cargo pit tape ships with free US shipping and a Certificate of Conformance included where available. Tell us the width and quantity for a current quote.
Can I use regular duct tape instead of cargo pit tape?
No. The cargo-compartment liner is a certified fire barrier, and only tape qualified to the applicable spec (such as BMS 5-146) and approved for the task may be used. Ordinary cloth, gaffer, or duct tape does not meet the flammability requirements and is not approved.
Need aerospace-grade cargo pit tape?
Tell us the grade, width, and quantity you need and we'll confirm stock, lead time, and pricing. BMS 5-146 tape from $47.99/roll with free US shipping and a Certificate of Conformance included where available.
Shop Cargo Pit Tape →This guide is provided for general informational purposes. Cargo compartment tape is a regulated material; its use on any aircraft must follow the applicable structural repair manual, engineering order, maintenance manual, and the operator's FAA-approved procedures. Spec references (BMS 5-146, FAR 25.853/25.855/25.856, ABD0031, DMS 1968E) are provided for identification; confirm the current revision and applicability for your task. Typical performance figures are stated at time of manufacture and are not for use in writing specifications; confirm current values against each product's manufacturer data sheet. Prices shown are current starting prices and may change; confirm the live price on each product page. Boeing and BMS are trademarks of The Boeing Company; other marks belong to their respective owners.