# Below Deck Cargo Compartment Smoke Penetration Into Occupied Areas
**AGENCY:**
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
**ACTION:**
Notice of final policy.
**SUMMARY:**
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the availability of final policy on smoke penetration tests conducted under the provisions of § 25.857.
**DATES:**
The final policy was issued by the Transport Airplane Directorate on November 4, 2005.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Stephen Happenny, Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Airplane Directorate, Transport Standards Propulsion and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANM-112, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2147; fax (425) 227-1320; e-mail: *[email protected].*
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Disposition of Comments**
A notice of proposed policy was published in the *Federal Register* on February 19, 2003 (68 FR 8073). Seven (7) commenters responded to the request for comments.
**Background**
The final policy further simplifies the certification process pertaining to the acceptable amount of smoke penetration permitted into the cabin during a below deck cargo compartment smoke penetration test. It clarifies the test criteria for the means of compliance addressed in AC 25-9A and supplements that material.
The final policy as well as the disposition of comments received is available on the Internet at the following address: *http://www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl.* If you do not have access to the Internet, you can obtain a copy of the policy by contacting the person listed under *FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.*
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 4, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.