Nitto P-629 Alternative — Polyken 296FR Cargo Compartment Tape
Direct specification comparison for aircraft cargo pit and cargo liner seam tape — Boeing BMS 5-146, FAR 25.853(a), FAR 25.855(d), Airbus ABD0031
Our Product
Polyken 296FR
Berry Global / Covalence Specialty Adhesives — Bristol, RI
7-mil flame-retardant fiberglass cloth tape with bromide-free acrylic adhesive and LDPE film liner. Meets Boeing BMS 5-146 Rev B, Type I, Class 1, Grade A. Approved for Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 and Airbus ABD0031 cargo compartment applications. Repositionable with clean removal. Lot-specific COC with measured flammability data included.
Competitor
Nitto P-629 / SL / PRL
Nitto Denko America — made in USA
Modified-acrylic, single-coated flame-retardant glass cloth seam tape with a bright-white backing tuned to blend with Tedlar (PVF) cargo liner panels and a blue PE liner for easy application. A long-established cargo pit seam tape offered in standard (P-629), skip-slit (P-629SL), and printed skip-slit (P-629PRL) liner versions.
Both are flame-retardant glass cloth cargo compartment tapes meeting Boeing BMS 5-146 Type I, Class 1, Grade A and compliant with FAR 25.853(a) and 25.855(d) — the substitution is direct. Polyken 296FR matches Nitto P-629 on the core specs and pulls ahead on documentation: the newer BMS 5-146 Rev B, measured flammability values on a lot-specific COC, published ASTM E595 outgassing data, and FAR 25.856(a) radiant-heat-panel compliance. Nitto P-629 publishes a higher tensile strength (150 vs. 134 lb/in) and an adhesion-to-PVF figure — though both tapes exceed application requirements by a wide margin.
Overall comparison score
Full specifications comparison
| Property | Polyken 296FR | Nitto P-629 / SL / PRL | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | |||
| Backing | Fiberglass cloth | Glass cloth (bright white) | Tie |
| Total thickness | 7.0 mil (0.178mm) | 6.8 mil (0.152mm) | Comparable |
| Adhesive type | Bromide-free acrylic | Modified acrylic, flame retardant | Bromide-free |
| Liner type | LDPE film | Blue PE film; skip-slit on SL / PRL | Nitto skip-slit option |
| Color / print | White printed or unprinted | Bright white; printed liner on P-629PRL | Tie |
| Construction type | Single-coated | Single-coated | Tie |
| Physical Properties | |||
| Tensile strength | 134 lb/in (234.67 N/cm) | 150 lb/in (263 N/10mm) | Nitto higher* |
| Adhesion to steel | 45 oz/in (4.92 N/cm) | 45 oz/in (4.91 N/10mm) | Tie |
| Adhesion to PVF (cargo liner) | Not published | 35 oz/in (3.81 N/10mm) | Nitto data |
| Elongation | Not published | 5% | Nitto data |
| Weight per square yard | 6.8 oz/sq yd (210 g/m²) | Not published | 296FR data |
| Operating temperature | −40°F to 275°F (−40°C to 135°C) | Not published | 296FR data |
| Conformability | High — curves and corners | High — over contours and fasteners | Tie |
| Abrasion resistance | High — resists flagging and lifting | High — "abrasion resistant, outstanding durability" | Comparable |
| Flammability Performance | |||
| Burn length (FAR 25.853a) | 0.39 in avg (3 specimens: 0.49, 0.29, 0.38) | Compliant — value not published | Quantified data |
| Flame time (FAR 25.853a) | 0 seconds avg (all 3 specimens) | Compliant — value not published | Quantified data |
| Drip time (FAR 25.853a) | 0 seconds avg (all 3 specimens) | Compliant — value not published | Quantified data |
| Burn through (FAR 25.855d) | 0 — No penetration (all 3 specimens) | Compliant — value not published | Quantified data |
| After glow (FAR 25.855d) | 0 seconds (all 3 specimens) | Compliant — value not published | Quantified data |
| Total mass loss | 0.36% (ASTM E595) | Not published | Outgassing data |
| Collected VCM | 0.01% (ASTM E595) | Not published | Outgassing data |
| EU bromide compliance | Bromide-free adhesive | Without Penta/Octa/Deca BDE per EU 2003/11/EC; antimony-trioxide-free; RoHS | Both compliant |
| Specifications & Documentation | |||
| Boeing BMS 5-146 revision | Rev B | Rev A | Newer rev |
| Airbus ABD0031 | Para 7.3.2 & 7.4 (product line) | Para 7.3.2 & 7.4 — base P-629 only | Line-wide |
| FAR 25.856(a) Radiant Heat Panel | Listed | Not listed | Polyken 296FR |
| Boeing SL approvals | 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 listed individually | Not individually listed | Polyken 296FR |
| Standard sizes | 1", 2", 3", 4" × 36 yd | 50, 75, 100mm × 33m (≈2", 3", 4" × 36yd) | Comparable |
| Lot-specific COC | Yes — included with test data | Not standard on datasheet | Polyken 296FR |
| Warranty | Per Berry Global terms | 6 months; replacement or credit only | Comparable |
| Country of origin | USA | USA | Tie |
*Both tapes' tensile strength is far in excess of what cargo seam sealing requires; the difference is not a practical performance limitation for either product.
Flammability test data — actual measured values (Polyken 296FR)
FAR 25.853(a) — Vertical Burn
Burn length (avg)0.39 in
Flame time (avg)0 sec
Drip time (avg)0 sec
Nitto P-629Compliant only
FAR requirement: burn ≤8.0 in, flame ≤15 sec, drip <5 sec
FAR 25.855(d) — 45° Burn Test
Burn through (avg)0 — No penetration
Flame time (avg)0 sec
After glow (avg)0 sec
Nitto P-629Compliant only
FAR requirement: no penetration, flame ≤1 sec, after glow ≤1 sec
Outgassing — ASTM E595
Total mass loss0.36%
Collected VCM0.01%
Nitto P-629Not published
Relevant for sealed cabin environments and sensitive equipment
Certifications & approvals
✓Boeing BMS 5-146 Rev B — Type I, Class 1, Grade A (lot COC included)
✓FAA FAR 25.853(a) — Vertical burn 0.39 in avg
✓FAA FAR 25.855(d) — 45° burn, no penetration
✓FAA FAR 25.856(a) — Radiant Heat Panel vs. P-629
✓Airbus ABD0031 — Para 7.3.2 & 7.4 (product line)
✓Boeing 737-SL-25-085-B
✓Boeing 737-SL-25-115-B
✓Boeing 747-SL-25-195-B
✓Boeing 767-SL-25-112-B
✓Boeing 777-SL-25-037-B
✓Bromide-free adhesive — EU compliant
✓ASTM E595 outgassing data published
Nitto P-629 / SL / PRL
✓Boeing BMS 5-146 Rev A — Type I, Class 1, Grade A (all variants)
✓FAA FAR 25.853(a) — compliant (all variants)
✓FAA FAR 25.855(d) — compliant (all variants)
✓Airbus ABD0031 — Para 7.3.2 & 7.4 (base P-629 only)
–FAR 25.856(a) — not listed
–Boeing SL approvals — not individually listed
✓Without Penta/Octa/Deca BDE per EU 2003/11/EC
✓Antimony-trioxide-free; RoHS compliant
–ASTM E595 outgassing — not published
Where each product wins
Polyken 296FR advantages
- Qualified to the newer Boeing BMS 5-146 Rev B — Nitto datasheet lists Rev A
- Fully quantified flammability on a lot COC: 0.39 in burn length, 0-sec flame time, 0 drips, no burn through, 0-sec after glow — Nitto publishes compliance only
- ASTM E595 outgassing data published (0.36% TML, 0.01% VCM) — not on the Nitto datasheet
- FAR 25.856(a) Radiant Heat Panel listed — Nitto P-629 does not list this
- Five Boeing SL approvals individually listed (737, 747, 757, 767, 777)
- Airbus ABD0031 across the product line; Nitto's ABD0031 covers the base P-629 only
- Bromide-free acrylic adhesive; published −40°F to 275°F operating range
- Lot-specific Certificate of Compliance included with every order
Nitto P-629 advantages
- Higher published tensile strength — 150 lb/in vs. 134 lb/in (both far exceed application needs)
- Publishes adhesion to PVF (35 oz/in) — the directly relevant value for Tedlar cargo liner work
- Bright-white backing tuned to blend with Tedlar (PVF) liner panels for an appearance-matched seam
- Three liner options off the shelf: standard, skip-slit (SL), printed skip-slit (PRL)
- Long-established product, broadly stocked and familiar across aerospace MRO
Which tape to specify
| If your requirement is… | Specify | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Documented flammability values — not just compliance | Polyken 296FR | Lot COC carries measured burn length, flame time, drip, burn through, after glow |
| Boeing BMS 5-146 Rev B specifically | Polyken 296FR | 296FR lists Rev B; Nitto datasheet lists Rev A |
| ASTM E595 outgassing data required | Polyken 296FR | 0.36% TML, 0.01% VCM published; not on Nitto datasheet |
| FAR 25.856(a) Radiant Heat Panel compliance | Polyken 296FR | Listed on 296FR; not listed on Nitto P-629 |
| Lot-specific COC required with every order | Polyken 296FR | COC with test data included standard |
| Maximum published tensile strength | Nitto P-629 | 150 lb/in vs. 134 lb/in (both well above requirement) |
| Published adhesion-to-PVF figure on file | Nitto P-629 | 35 oz/in to PVF published; 296FR publishes adhesion to steel only |
| Appearance-matched seam on Tedlar (PVF) panels | Nitto P-629 | Bright-white backing tuned to blend with PVF liner panels |
| Skip-slit or printed liner for fast field application | Nitto SL / PRL | Skip-slit and printed-liner versions stocked; 296FR uses standard LDPE liner |