Definition
A property of a material that, when exposed to an open flame, will not ignite into a sudden burst of flame. The material may char, smolder, or be damaged by the flame, but it will not produce a flash fire that spreads rapidly across its surface.
Plain English
Made so it won't burst into flame quickly if a fire touches it. It can still be damaged by heat, but it won't catch fire in a sudden flash.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance, fabric covering, interior materials, and fire-safety descriptions.
Derivation
From 'flash,' meaning a sudden, short burst of flame, and 'resistant,' meaning able to withstand or hold off. Together: able to hold off a sudden burst of flame.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces the chance of a small ignition source turning into a cabin or equipment fire during flight or ground operations.
Intuition Check
Do not read flash here as only a bright light. In this context, flash refers to a sudden brief burst of flame or fire.
Example Sentence 1
The cabin upholstery must be made of flash resistant fabric to meet FAA certification standards.
Example Sentence 2
Technicians selected flash resistant sleeving for the wiring runs near the engine compartment.