---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 121.308"
title: "14"
number: "121.308"
heading: "Lavatory fire protection."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/121.308"
---

# §121.308. Lavatory fire protection.

- (a) Except as provided in paragraphs [(c)](#c) and [(d)](#d) of this section, no person may operate a passenger-carrying airplane unless each lavatory in the airplane is equipped with a smoke detector system or equivalent that provides a warning light in the cockpit or provides a warning light or audio warning in the passenger cabin which would be readily detected by a flight attendant, taking into consideration the positioning of flight attendants throughout the passenger compartment during various phases of flight.
- (b) Except as provided in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section, no person may operate a passenger-carrying airplane unless each lavatory in the airplane is equipped with a built-in fire extinguisher for each disposal receptacle for towels, paper, or waste located within the lavatory. The built-in fire extinguisher must be designed to discharge automatically into each disposal receptacle upon occurrence of a fire in the receptacle.
- (c) Until December 22, 1997, a certificate holder described in [§ 121.2(a)](/cfr/14/121.2.md?p=a) (1) or (2) may operate an airplane with a passenger seat configuration of 30 or fewer seats that does not comply with the smoke detector system requirements described in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section and the fire extinguisher requirements described in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section.
- (d) After December 22, 1997, no person may operate a nontransport category airplane type certificated after December 31, 1964, with a passenger seat configuration of 10-19 seats unless that airplane complies with the smoke detector system requirements described in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section, except that the smoke detector system or equivalent must provide a warning light in the cockpit or an audio warning that would be readily detected by the flightcrew.

## Notes

### Amendments

[Docket 28154, 60 FR 65929, Dec. 20, 1995]

### Source

Source: Docket 6258, 29 FR 19205, Dec. 31, 1964, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40103, 40113, 40119, 41706, 42301 preceding note added by Pub. L. 112-95, sec. 412, 126 Stat. 89, 44101, 44701-44702, 44705, 44709-44711, 44713, 44716-44717, 44722, 44729, 44732; 46105; Pub. L. 111-216, 124 Stat. 2348 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note); Pub. L. 112-95, 126 Stat. 62 (49 U.S.C. 44732 note); Pub. L. 115-254, 132 Stat. 3186 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note).

### Amendments

[Docket 28154, 60 FR 65929, Dec. 20, 1995]