Flame Retardant Aircraft Tape Guide
Fire-Resistant & Flame-Retardant Aircraft Tape — What the Terms Really Mean
Why no tape is "fireproof," what flame retardant means under FAA rules, which regulation applies where on the aircraft, and which tape to use for each job.
Search for "fireproof tape" or "fire resistant tape" and you will find products making all kinds of claims. In aviation those words have precise meanings. The FAA defines fireproof, fire resistant and flame resistant as three different levels of performance, and no pressure-sensitive tape is fireproof. What an aircraft tape can be is flame retardant: formulated so that it stops burning once the flame is taken away, and tested to prove it under the applicable FAR 25 rule. This guide explains the terms, the rules behind them, and which tape fits which job.
Need the test details? Our FAR guides cover the burn criteria for cabin materials and insulation in full.
FAR 25.853 Guide → FAR 25.856 Guide →Fireproof, fire resistant, flame resistant: the FAA definitions
These terms are defined in 14 CFR 1.1, the FAA's definitions section. They describe a ladder of performance, and tapes sit on the third rung:
Able to withstand the heat of a severe, prolonged fire at least as well as steel. Reserved for firewalls and fire-zone parts. No tape meets this.
For sheet and structure, withstanding fire heat at least as well as aluminum alloy; for lines, ducts and wiring, continuing to work during a fire. Still a structural and systems term, not a tape term.
Not susceptible to combustion to the point of propagating a flame beyond safe limits once the ignition source is removed. This is what flame-retardant aircraft tapes are built and tested to do.
Not susceptible to burning violently when ignited. A lower bar than flame resistant.
"Flame retardant," the term on tape data sheets and in part numbers like 108FR and 296FR, describes how the tape is formulated. Whether it is acceptable on an aircraft depends on passing the burn test the regulation calls for, which is covered below.
Flame retardant is not the same as heat resistant
The two get confused constantly. A heat-resistant tape survives high temperatures; a flame-retardant tape stops burning when the flame is removed. One does not imply the other, and the products on our own shelves show it:
| Flame retardant | Heat resistant / high temperature | |
|---|---|---|
| What it means | Self-extinguishes after the ignition source is removed, within the limits of a burn test | Keeps its properties at high service or process temperatures |
| How it is proven | FAR 25 Appendix F burn test: burn length, flame time and drip time | Temperature rating on the data sheet |
| Example | Polyken 108FR carpet tape: tested to FAR 25.853(a), but rated only 40 to 200°F | KPT-1 polyimide tape: handles 392°F for 30 minutes, but is not flame retardant for aircraft interiors |
| Choose it when | The material goes in the cabin, cargo compartment or insulation system and the drawing calls out a FAR 25 flammability rule | The job is masking, splicing or insulating through heat, such as an oven cure or plating |
Some tapes are both. Polyken 345SW aluminum foil speed tape is rated −40 to 350°F and also meets FAR 25.853(a). But never assume one property from the other: check the data sheet for each.
Which FAA rule applies where
Where the tape goes on the aircraft decides which flammability rule applies. All three rules below point to test methods in Appendix F of Part 25:
| Where the tape is used | Rule and test | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin interior: floor coverings, trim, galleys, lavatories, ducting | FAR 25.853(a). Appendix F Part I vertical burn: 12-second test with an 8 in burn-length limit for most tape applications, or the stricter 60-second, 6 in test for panels and structure | FAR 25.853 guide |
| Cargo compartment: seam tape, pit sealing, other materials | FAR 25.855(d). Materials other than the liner panels themselves must meet the Appendix F Part I tests. Ceiling and sidewall liner panels in Class C compartments meet the separate Part III flame-penetration test under 25.855(c) | Cargo tape guide |
| Thermal and acoustic insulation blankets | FAR 25.856(a). Appendix F Part VI radiant-panel test for flame propagation. 25.856(b) adds a burnthrough test for lower-fuselage insulation on airplanes seating 20 or more | FAR 25.856 guide |
| Boeing drawing callouts | Boeing material specs such as BMS 5-133, 5-146, 5-157 and 8-346 add their own requirements, and often cite Boeing's flammability test method BSS 7230 | BMS vs BAC guide |
Flame-retardant aircraft tape by application
Every tape below is listed by its manufacturer as meeting the FAR rule shown. Match the application first, then confirm the spec on your drawing.
| Application | Tape | Flammability and specs |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin carpet installation | Polyken 108FR | FAR 25.853(a) · BMS 5-133 Type II · BAC5034-4 |
| Cargo liner seams and repairs | Polyken 296FR | FAR 25.853(a), 25.855(d), 25.856(a) · BMS 5-146 Type 1, Class 1, Grade A |
| Cargo liner seams (glass cloth) | 3M 398FR, Nitto P-629 | FAR 25.853(a), 25.855(d) |
| Cargo pit sealing | Polyken 290FR | FAR 25.853(a), 25.855(d) |
| Cargo pit duct, bundling and patching | Polyken 225FR | FAR 25.853(a) · Douglas DMS 1968E |
| Floor-joint waterseal in galleys and lavatories | Patco D9100 | FAR 25.853(a) · BMS 8-346 Type I & II, Class 1 |
| Lightweight moisture barrier, seat tracks | Patco 9425FR | FAR 25.853(a) · BMS 8-346 Type I, Class 3 |
| Galley and lavatory wet seal | Patco 1800 | FAR 25.853(a) · Fokker FK05-159/160 |
| Insulation blanket cover splicing | E&H 743-MT, 743-T, 753-MP, 753-MPE | FAR 25.856(a) · BSS 7230 · BMS 5-157 (guide) |
| Insulation blanket splicing (Douglas) | E&H 770-3FRD, 770-3FRS, 743-BLK | FAR 25.856(a) · BSS 7230 · DMS-1984 |
| Aluminum foil speed tape | Polyken 345SW | FAR 25.853(a) · SAE AMS-T-23397B (speed tape guide) |
| Double-sided interior mounting | BioLink ReLink 2318B | FAR 25.853(a) · Airbus AIMS 10-05-014 |
| Temporary interior protection during maintenance | Patco 5565FR | FAR 25.853(a): 4.96 in average burn length against the 8.0 in limit, 0 s flame time |
Not sure which applies? Our specifications page lists every product by the spec it carries.
What a flame-retardant claim should come with
- A named paragraph. "FAA approved" on its own means little. Look for the specific rule: FAR 25.853(a), 25.855(d) or 25.856(a).
- Test results. A proper data sheet or certificate gives burn length, flame time and drip time against the limits, such as 4.96 in against an 8.0 in limit.
- A Certificate of Conformance. The COC ties the roll you receive to the spec and lot that was tested. We include one with every order where the manufacturer provides it.
- The installed combination. Flammability compliance is established for the material as installed on the aircraft, so a tape's test data supports your compliance rather than replacing it. Follow your approved procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Is there such a thing as fireproof tape?
Not in aviation terms. The FAA defines fireproof as withstanding the heat of a severe, prolonged fire at least as well as steel, a standard meant for firewalls and fire-zone parts. Pressure-sensitive tapes do not meet it. What aircraft tapes can be is flame retardant, meaning they stop burning once the flame is removed and pass the applicable FAR 25 burn test.
What is the difference between flame retardant and fire resistant tape?
In FAA usage, fire resistant describes structure that withstands fire heat about as well as aluminum alloy, or systems that keep working during a fire. Flame resistant, which is what flame-retardant tapes achieve, means the material will not keep burning or spread flame beyond safe limits once the ignition source is removed. In everyday sales language the terms are mixed up, so check which FAR test the tape actually passed.
What does FAR 25.853(a) require of a tape?
FAR 25.853(a) sends cabin interior materials to the Appendix F Part I vertical burn tests. Most tape applications fall under the 12-second test, which allows an average burn length of no more than 8 inches, flame time of no more than 15 seconds after the burner is removed, and drip flame time of no more than 5 seconds. See our FAR 25.853 guide for the full criteria.
Is high-temperature tape also flame retardant?
Not necessarily. Heat resistance and flame retardance are separate properties. Our KPT-1 polyimide tape handles 392°F for 30 minutes but is not flame retardant for aircraft interiors, while Polyken 108FR is flame retardant but rated only to 200°F. Check the data sheet for both properties.
Which flame-retardant tape is used in aircraft cargo compartments?
For cargo liner seams, Polyken 296FR is qualified to BMS 5-146 and meets FAR 25.853(a), 25.855(d) and 25.856(a). 3M 398FR and Nitto P-629 glass cloth tapes and Polyken 290FR also meet FAR 25.855(d). Polyken 225FR is a flame-retardant cargo pit duct tape. See our cargo compartment tape guide.
Is aircraft speed tape fire resistant?
Aluminum foil speed tape handles heat well, and some grades are also flame retardant. Polyken 345SW, for example, is rated −40 to 350°F and meets FAR 25.853(a) as well as SAE AMS-T-23397B. As with any tape, check the data sheet rather than assuming foil means flame retardant.
What does FR mean in a tape part number?
FR stands for flame retardant, as in Polyken 108FR, 296FR, 290FR and 225FR or Patco 9425FR. It tells you the product is formulated to be flame retardant. The approvals that matter, such as FAR 25.853(a) or a Boeing BMS spec, are listed on the data sheet.
Do flame-retardant aircraft tapes come with a certificate?
We include a Certificate of Conformance with every order where the manufacturer provides one. It ties the roll you receive to the specification and lot that was tested, so tell us the callout on your drawing when you order.
Need a flame-retardant tape for a specific callout?
Send us the FAR paragraph or Boeing spec from your drawing, the application, width and quantity, and we'll confirm the right tape, lead time and pricing. Certificate of Conformance included with every order where available.
Ask Our Team →This guide is a general explanation. Definitions are summarized from 14 CFR 1.1 and flammability requirements from 14 CFR 25.853, 25.855, 25.856 and Part 25 Appendix F; the current regulation is the controlling source. Product approvals and test values are taken from manufacturer data sheets and certifications. Flammability compliance applies to materials as installed and must be shown under the applicable approved procedure. Polyken, Patco, E&H, 3M, Nitto, BioLink and Boeing are trademarks of their respective owners. A cross-reference is not a substitution approval. Always verify requirements against the controlling drawing, the current regulation and the manufacturer's data sheet before purchase.