Fire Hazard Evaluation of the Interior of WMATA Metrorail Cars. Final Report.
Fire Hazard Evaluation of the Interior of WMATA
Metrorail Cars. Final Report.
(578 K)
Braun, E.
NBSIR 75-971; 34 p. December 1975.
Sponsor:
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority,
Washington, DC
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: PB-249776
Keywords:
flame spread; flammability; large scale fire tests;
neoprene (trademark); smoke; subways; transportation;
urethanes
Abstract:
A series of fire tests was conducted for the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to assist them in
assessing the potential or fire hazard in the new
Metrorail subway cars. Results of small-scale
laboratory tests were found inadequate for this
assessment. Results of full-scale tests on mock-ups of
the interior (and on a real car for a smoke penetration
test) show that the potential for hazard arises
primarily from the seat padding and covering and from
the plastic wall lining. The hazard arises both from
smoke development and from spread of flame and heat.
The times to reach unacceptable conditions has been
determined for several test conditions. It is
recommended that the authorities review these times in
the context of what they consider to be appropriate
times for safe escape. Recommendations are made for
increasing the amount of time available for escape.
These would require changes in the seating and wall
lining materials.
