ASTM F3231/F3231M-23

Standard Specification for Electrical Systems for Aircraft with Combustion Engine Electrical Power Generation

ABSTRACT
This specification applies to the electrical systems aspects of airworthiness and design for ”small” aircraft. It establishes the Aircraft Type Code (ATC) compliance matrix based on airworthiness level, number of engines, type of engine(s), stall speed, cruise speed, meteorological conditions, altitude, and maneuvers. An ATC is defined by taking into account both the technical considerations regarding the design of the aircraft and the airworthiness level established based upon risk-based criteria. The requirements established by this specification cover power source capacity and distribution, electrical systems and equipment, storage battery design and installation, circuit protective devices, master switch arrangement, switches, electrical cables and equipment, electrical system fire protection, and electronic equipment.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers electrical systems, electrical equipment, and electrical power distribution aspects of airworthiness and design for aeroplanes with combustion engine generation of electrical power. The material was developed through open consensus of international experts in general aviation. This information was created by focusing on Normal Category Aeroplanes. The content may be more broadly applicable; it is the responsibility of the applicant to substantiate broader applicability as a specific means of compliance.  
1.2 An applicant intending to propose this information as Means of Compliance for a design approval shall seek guidance from their respective oversight authority (for example, published guidance from applicable civil aviation authorities (CAAs)) concerning the acceptable use and application thereof. For information on which oversight authorities have accepted this specification (in whole or in part) as an acceptable Means of Compliance to their regulatory requirements (hereinafter “the Rules”), refer to ASTM Committee F44 web page (www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/F44.htm). Annex A1 maps the Means of Compliance described in this specification to EASA CS-23, amendment 5, or later, and FAA 14 CFR Part 23, amendment 64, or later.  
1.3 Units—This standard may present information in either SI units, English Engineering units, or both; the values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2022
• ICS: 49.020 - Aircraft and space vehicles in general
• Technical Committee: F44 - General Aviation Aircraft
• Drafting Committee: F44.50 - Systems and Equipment

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:F3231/F3231M −23
Standard Specification for
Electrical Systems for Aircraft with Combustion Engine
1
Electrical Power Generation
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF3231/F3231M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This specification covers electrical systems, electrical
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
equipment, and electrical power distribution aspects of airwor-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
thiness and design for aeroplanes with combustion engine
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
generation of electrical power. The material was developed
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
through open consensus of international experts in general
aviation. This information was created by focusing on Normal
2. Referenced Documents
Category Aeroplanes. The content may be more broadly
2.1 Following is a list of external standards referenced
applicable; it is the responsibility of the applicant to substan-
throughout this specification; the earliest revision acceptable
tiate broader applicability as a specific means of compliance.
for use is indicated. In all cases later document revisions are
1.2 An applicant intending to propose this information as
acceptableifshowntobeequivalenttothelistedrevision,orif
Means of Compliance for a design approval shall seek guid-
otherwise formally accepted by the governing CAA; earlier
ance from their respective oversight authority (for example,
revisions are not acceptable.
published guidance from applicable civil aviation authorities
2
2.2 ASTM Standards:
(CAAs)) concerning the acceptable use and application
F2490Guide forAircraft Electrical Load and Power Source
thereof. For information on which oversight authorities have
Capacity Analysis
accepted this specification (in whole or in part) as an accept-
F2639Practice for Design, Alteration, and Certification of
able Means of Compliance to their regulatory requirements
Aircraft Electrical Wiring Systems
(hereinafter “the Rules”), refer to ASTM Committee F44 web
F3060Terminology for Aircraft
page (www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/F44.htm). Annex A1
F3061/F3061MSpecification for Systems and Equipment in
maps the Means of Compliance described in this specification
Aircraft
to EASACS-23, amendment 5, or later, and FAA14CFRPart
F3066/F3066MSpecification forAircraft Powerplant Instal-
23, amendment 64, or later.
lation Hazard Mitigation
1.3 Units—This standard may present information in either
F3117/F3117MSpecification for Crew Interface in Aircraft
SI units, English Engineering units, or both; the values stated
F3235Specification for Aircraft Storage Batteries
ineachsystemarenotnecessarilyexactequivalents;therefore,
F3316/F3316MSpecification for Electrical Systems forAir-
to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be
craft with Electric or Hybrid-Electric Propulsion
3
used independently of the other, and values from the two
2.3 FAA Standards:
systems shall not be combined.
14CFRPart 23Airworthiness Standards: Normal Category
Airplanes
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the DOT/FAA/AR-00/12Aircraft Materials Fire Test Handbook
4
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2.4 EASA Standard:
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
CS-23Normal,Utility,AerobaticandCommuterAeroplanes
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
1
ThisspecificationisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeF44onGeneral Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Aviation Aircraft and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F44.50 on the ASTM website.
3
Systems and Equipment. Available from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 800 Independence
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2023. Published January 2023. Originally Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20591, http://www.faa.gov.
4
approved in 2017. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as F3231/F3231M–22. Available from European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Konrad-
DOI: 10.1520/F3231_F3231M-23. Adenauer-Ufer 3, D-50668
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F3231/F3231M − 22 F3231/F3231M − 23
Standard Specification for
Electrical Systems for Aircraft with Combustion Engine
1
Electrical Power Generation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3231/F3231M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers electrical systems, electrical equipment, and electrical power distribution aspects of airworthiness
and design for aeroplanes with combustion engine generation of electrical power. The material was developed through open
consensus of international experts in general aviation. This information was created by focusing on Normal Category Aeroplanes.
The content may be more broadly applicable; it is the responsibility of the applicant to substantiate broader applicability as a
specific means of compliance.
1.2 An applicant intending to propose this information as Means of Compliance for a design approval shall seek guidance from
their respective oversight authority (for example, published guidance from applicable civil aviation authorities (CAAs)) concerning
the acceptable use and application thereof. For information on which oversight authorities have accepted this specification (in
whole or in part) as an acceptable Means of Compliance to their regulatory requirements (hereinafter “the Rules”), refer to ASTM
Committee F44 web page (www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/F44.htm). Annex A1 maps the Means of Compliance described in this
specification to EASA CS-23, amendment 5, or later, and FAA 14 CFR Part 23, amendment 64, or later.
1.3 Units—This standard may present information in either SI units, English Engineering units, or both; the values stated in each
system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used
independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 Following is a list of external standards referenced throughout this specification; the earliest revision acceptable for use is
indicated. In all cases later document revisions are acceptable if shown to be equivalent to the listed revision, or if otherwise
formally accepted by the governing CAA; earlier revisions are not acceptable.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F44 on General Aviation Aircraft and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F44.50 on Systems
and Equipment.
Current edition approved April 1, 2022Jan. 1, 2023. Published April 2022January 2023. Originally approved in 2017. Last previous edition approved in 20212022 as
F3231/F3231M–21.–22. DOI: 10.1520/F3231_F3231M-22.10.1520/F3231_F3231M-23.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F3231/F3231M − 23
2
2.2 ASTM Standards:
F2490 Guide for Aircraft Electrical Load and Power Source Capacity Analysis
F2639 Practice for Design, Alteration, and Certification of Aircraft Electrical Wiring Systems
F3060 Terminology for Aircraft
F3061/F3061M Specification for Systems and Equipment in Aircraft
F3066/F3066M Specification for Aircraft Powerplant Installation Hazard Mitigation
F3117/F3117M Specification for Crew Interface in Aircraft
F3235 Specification for Aircraft Storage Batteries
F3316/F3316M Specification for Electrical Systems for Aircraft with Electric or Hybrid-Electric Propulsion
3
2.3 FAA Standard:Standards:
14 CFR Part 23 Airworthiness Standards: Normal Category Airplanes
DOT/FAA/AR-00/12 Aircraft Materials Fire Test Handbook
4
2.4 EASA Standard:
CS-23 Normal, Utility, Aerobatic and Commuter Aeroplanes
3. Terminology
...