Development of U.S. Passenger Train Fire Safety Standards.
Development of U.S. Passenger Train Fire Safety
Standards.
(968 K)
Markos, S. H.; Tsai, N. T.; Bukowski, R. W.
International Conference on Fire Safety, 28th
Proceedings. July 28, 1999, Columbus, OH, 1-11 pp,
1999.
Keywords:
passenger trains; fire safety; safety standards;
regulations; heat release rate; test methods;
flammability; smoke; fire hazard analysis
Abstract:
A main focus of current U.S. passenger train fire safety
requirements is the use of individual test methods to
evaluate the flammability and smoke emission
characteristics of individual materials. The use of fire
hazard analyses using test methods based on heat release
rate (HRR) data could provide a means to more
realistically predict the actual fire performance of
rail car materials and component assemblies at lower
cost. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is
sponsoring a major fire research program to investigate
the applicability ofthis alternative approach to
evaluate the fire safety of intercity and commuter rail
passenger trains. The intent is to provide the necessary
information to permit a more systems-oriented approach
to passenger equipment fire safety regulations. This
paper discusses the fire safety requirements for
passenger equipment recently issued by the FM and the
related research program.
