Fire resistance testing of technical cabinets in accordance with EN

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1 Fire resistance testing of technical cabinets in accordance with EN - Pierre-Yves MAZILLE 0/0/07

2 Introduction In depth look into specification of..h) in EN - Review of standard fire resistance test methods acc. to EN - Understanding gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Conclusion Questions & Answers ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

3 Introduction Definitions (/) Fire resistance (EN -:0.) Ability of a test specimen to withstand fire or give protection from it for a period of time - Note to entry: Typical criteria used to assess fire resistance in a standard fire test are fire integrity, thermal insulation and radiation. - Note to entry: Fire-resistant (adj.) refers only to this ability. Fire integrity (EN ISO 9:00.) Ability of a separating element, when exposed to fire on one side, to prevent the passage of flame(s) and hot gases or the occurrence of flames on the unexposed side for a stated period of time in a standard fire resistance test Thermal insulation (EN ISO 9.8) Ability of a separating element, when exposed to fire on one side, to restrict the transmission of heat ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

4 Introduction Definitions (/) Insulation criterion I (EN -:0.9) Criterion by which thermal insulation is assessed - Note to entry: It is based on the measurement of temperature rise on the unexposed side of the test specimen - Note to entry: The insulation criterion can vary and depends on the fire-safety objective(s). Integrity criterion E (EN -:0.0) Criterion by which the ability of a separating element to prevent the passage of flames and hot gases is assessed Product (EN -:0.7) The material or assembly about which information is required Technical cabinet (EN -:0.) Container of mechanical and/or electrical equipment - Note to entry: A technical cabinet can generate a fire resulting from a technical defect such as an electric arc or overheating, and it is not occupied during normal operation ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

Introduction different ways of mitigating Fire & Smoke risk from a technical cabinet containing products, introduced by EN Assess fire reaction Methodology already in place acc.

standard for testing cabinets Automatic detection & extinguishing In cabinet supplier s hands Less data to be communicated on products to integrator Additional system to be installed and interfaced

5 Introduction different ways of mitigating Fire & Smoke risk from a technical cabinet containing products, introduced by EN Assess fire reaction Methodology already in place acc. to NF F-0 Time consuming Relies on products suppliers Functional necessities Assess fire resistance In cabinet supplier s hands Less data to be communicated on products to integrator No clear standard for testing cabinets Automatic detection & extinguishing In cabinet supplier s hands Less data to be communicated on products to integrator Additional system to be installed and interfaced with train EN - EN - EN - ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

6 Introduction In depth look into specification of..h) in EN - Review of standard fire resistance test methods acc. to EN - Understanding gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Conclusion Questions & Answers ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

7 In depth look into specification of..h) in EN - Mechanical or electrical products contained in a technical cabinet may be considered as unclassified products if: The technical cabinet satisfies the requirements of integrity criterion E0, based on the definitions described in EN - and EN - and the enclosed volume is m³; Or the technical cabinet satisfies the requirements of integrity criterion E and insulation criterion I to surfaces adjacent to passenger area and staff area and integrity criterion E to other surfaces, based on the definitions described in EN - with no volume limitations Or the technical cabinet is protected by an automatic fire detection and fire extinguishing system; ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P 7 ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

8 Introduction In depth look into specification of..h) in EN - Review of standard fire resistance test methods acc. to EN - Understanding gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Conclusion Questions & Answers ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P 8 ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

9 Standard fire resistance test methods acc. to EN - How to assessing E and I criteria acc. to EN -?..: reference to EN 0- Criterion E - Cracks or opening in excess of given dimension - Sustained flaming on exposed face - Ignition of cotton pad Criterion I.. - T mean 0 C - T max 80 C Criterion E - Cracks or opening in excess of given dimension - Sustained flaming on exposed face - Ignition of cotton pad Criterion I - Heat transmission shall be limited.: reference to EN - Criterion E - Cracks or opening in excess of given dimension - Sustained flaming on exposed face - Ignition of cotton pad, unless specified otherwise Criterion I - T mean 0 C - T max 80 C st issue: Use of cotton pad or not? ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P 9 ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

10 Standard fire resistance test methods acc. to EN - Which test method to be used? : Zone to protect : Fire originating in a technical cabinet inside carbody shell EN - and EN - : Fire originating in a technical cabinet underfloor EN - nd issue: EN - or EN -? ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P 0 ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

11 Introduction In depth look into specification of..h) in EN - Review of standard fire resistance test methods acc. to EN - Understanding gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Conclusion Questions & Answers ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

12 Gaps between existing standards and cabinets features D test spec. vs. D technical cabinets: Volume approach EN refers to walls and ceilings = surfaces Test specimen design features are given for directions only Accreditation of laboratories only for tests performed according those standards Cabinets are closed volumes and need to be assessed from the inside toward the outside need to open the cabinet to perform the test ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

13 Gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Volume approach How to position the cabinet on the furnace? On top? On the side? ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

14 Gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Volume approach How to position the cabinet on the furnace? On top? On the side? Better spreading of heat by gravity inside the cabinet Better over pressure management Temperature delta between cabinet volume and furnace volume Over pressure issues Temperature delta between cabinet volume and furnace volume Not representative of the way of mounting on vehicle Should the furnace be piloted via cabinet T C or furnace T C? ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

15 Gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Temperature monitoring Plate thermometers to be positioned 00 mm from the nearest point of the exposed surface Plate thermometers is 00 x 00 mm² space issue for implementation in the cabinet Cabinet = new volume to be heated furnace burners power issue? Symmetry Opened face is not tested need tests with different openings Applicability of accreditation for D cabinets Laboratories apply D test methods (EN and EN ) as they are. - Are these standards really applicable for D systems? ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

16 Gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Alternative approach: faces approaches Test each face of the cabinet independently As close as possible to the standard test methods No over pressure issue No temperatures issue Constraints introduced by thermal dilatation of adjacent faces not taken into account Representativeness of end use conditions? ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

17 Gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Alternative approach: faces approaches Thermal dilatation of adjacent faces Seems to be acceptable for cabinets of small dimensions for which height and/or width m (e.g. Ethernet switch, Electronic rack, very low power electric equipment, etc.) Can t be neglected for wider cabinets (e.g. Electrical traction case, Auxiliary converters; typically 000 x 800 x 00 mm³ high power electric equipment) ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P 7 ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

18 Introduction In depth look into specification of..h) in EN - Review of standard fire resistance test methods acc. to EN - Understanding gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Conclusion Questions & Answers ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P 8 ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

19 Conclusion Some issues remain univocal in order to have a clear and accepted way of testing fire resistance of technical cabinets as per..h) in EN -. In particular, EN and EN standards seem not appropriate for fitting technical cabinets features for railway vehicles. Requirements and test methods should therefore be clarified in next EN revisions. ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P 9 ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

20 Introduction In depth look into specification of..h) in EN - Review of standard fire resistance test methods acc. to EN - Understanding gaps between existing standards and cabinets features Conclusion Questions & Answers ALSTOM FPRS Conference ARENA Fire resistance of technical cabinets 0/0/07 P 0 ALSTOM SA, 0. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct

ASSESSMENT REVIEW. Review of Assessment Report WFRA C91415

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