Airbus Standard ABD0031: What It Means for Aircraft Cover Materials

A fabric can meet every mechanical requirement, pass every weather resistance test, and still fail Airbus qualification. ABD0031 certifies the materials of the aircraft not only for their fire resistance but also for the toxicity of the gases emitted while burning.

Why does ABD0031 exist?

The standard traces back to the 1985 British Airtours Boeing 737 accident at Manchester Airport. Post-incident analysis determined that the majority of casualties during evacuation were caused not by the fire itself, but by the highly toxic fumes emitted by burning cabin materials. In response, aviation authorities mandated new safety frameworks: FAR25 in the United States and JAR25 in Europe. Aircraft manufacturers then integrated these standards into their own specifications, giving birth to the Boeing Safety Standard (BSS) and the Airbus Directives (ABD) and Procedures, Fireworthiness Requirements: ABD0031.

What does the ABD0031 standard test?

Compliance with ABD0031 requires passing 15 Airbus Industries Test Method (AITM) protocols. The most critical for material suppliers is AITM 3.0005, which evaluates both the toxicity and opacity of smoke produced during combustion. It applies to all materials used in an aircraft, including fabrics, foams, and wire insulation.

To pass, the smoke produced must not exceed the following concentration limits:

 

How does the AITM 3.0005 test protocol operate?

This protocol evaluates toxicity and smoke opacity simultaneously.

In a sealed chamber, a sample of the material is ignited. A pump captures the fumes produced during combustion, analyzing carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in real time. The exhaust smoke then passes through an aqueous solution, which is subsequently analyzed for full compositional breakdown against the concentration limits above.

Which applications does Abd0031 cover?

ABD0031 applies to all materials used in Airbus aircraft, not only interior cabin components. This includes materials used in:

• Protective covers for engines, inlets, and exhausts during ground storage and maintenance
• Helicopter covers and rotor protection equipment
• Military aircraft covers used during deployment or long-term storage
• Any textile or composite material that comes into contact with or is stored aboard an Airbus aircraft

If your product is used in any of these applications and your customer operates Airbus aircraft, ABD0031 compliance is not optional. It is a procurement requirement.

Note: For Boeing aircraft, the equivalent standard is the Boeing Safety Standard (BSS). ABD0031 applies exclusively to Airbus aircraft.

What does this mean for material sourcing?

For procurement and engineering teams at aircraft cover manufacturers, ABD0031 compliance shifts material selection from a performance question to a qualification question. The fabric you choose must have been tested under AITM 3.0005. Substituting a non-certified material, even one with comparable physical properties, resets the qualification process.

When evaluating fabric suppliers, the questions that matter are:

• Has this specific fabric formulation been tested under AITM 3.0005?
• Can the supplier provide test reports or certification references?
• Does the supplier’s product range cover the full range of cover applications you manufacture?

These are the questions to bring to any supplier conversation, including ours.

OTEGO Aircraft cover fabrics

OTEGO manufactures technical fabrics and protective covers for commercial and military aircraft, including inlet and exhaust covers, helicopter covers, and military aircraft covers. Our materials are developed for use in Airbus aircraft applications.

If you are qualifying materials for a new cover program, updating your approved supplier list, or sourcing for a specific aircraft type, contact our technical team directly. We will respond with the product specifications relevant to your application.

Want to learn more about our ADB0031-certified textiles?