Making rail systems more efficient by using on-board Fire Protection Systems Jonathan Redding Area Sales Manager FOGTEC Fire Protection Cologne, Germany
Key Presentation Take-Aways Holistic approach to fire protection including on-board fire protection system Fire fighting with water mist Case Study: Reduced infrastructure requirements by installing on-board fire suppression
The standards for rolling stock, trackways and stations NFPA 130 NFPA 220 EN 45545 IEC 60331 and many others But usually each sub-system is described separately
The current approach The car builder designs to reduce fire risk. However: The heat release rate for a fully burning train is usually the value taken as a basis for the fire safety design of: The station The tunnel The ventilation
The current approach
A holistic approach Increase safety and cost efficiency with the right composition of fire protection measures Infrastructure Building materials Egress routes Ventilation ducts Rolling stock Materials used (passive protection) Physical barriers (passive and active protection Fire detection and suppression (active protection)
Main targets of following the holistic approach by Smart Concepts Minimize the heat release rate as far as possible Avoid a fully developed fire Create a safe area for evacuation for a given time Fight the cause not the result!
Fire Fighting with Water Mist
Water Mist definition according to NFPA 750 Droplet Diameter / µm Definition 1000 Sprinkler 400 1000 Class 3 (low pressure) 200 400 Class 2 (low pressure) 1 200 Class 1 (high pressure)
How does high pressure water mist work? Cooling due to heat absorption by large water surface Local displacement of oxygen on vaporization
Water mist: Cooling / Radiant heat reduction Safe environment for people Protection of nearby objects from radiant heat Prevention from flash over Energy binding potential of 1 l of water: - 335 kj heating from 68 F to 212 F - 2257 kj by transition from liquid to gas
O2 [%] Water Mist: Local Oxygen Displacement Volume enlargement of 1 gallon of water by evaporation: 1 gallon liquid 1650 gallons gaseous 22 21 20 19 18 17 Oxygen reduction only at the source of the fire 16 0 120 240 360 480 600 time [s] A C T I V A T I O N
High Pressure Water Mist System on a Train System components Section valve Nitrogen cylinder Water cylinders Nozzles
Rapid and uniform cooling Minimal water consumption (typically 25 gallons per train) Highly effective fire fighting Safe for people Minimal maintenance Water Mist System Benefits
Case Study On-Board Fire Suppression System influences Infrastructure Requirements Fire Protection System for P89 of EVAG ( former London docklands train)
Case Study The approval body required the upgrade of the underground stations related to fire protection, main aspect: evacuation concept Given scenario for concept: a train under full developed fire in the station
Case study: Given scenario FREE FIRE DEVELOPMENT FIRE (HRR) I II III I: Early development II: Growth III: Stabilization TIME
Case Study: The Smart Concept Many stations 30 to 40 years old Significant capital investment necessary Technically very challenging The Smart Concept: Reduce the given scenario by taking active measures on-board, In this particular case by using a fire detection and fire suppression system.
Case Study Validation process Step 1: Fire detection verification Smoke tests on board of the different running trains to develop a fire detection concept on the base of the ARGE guidelines Step 2: Fire suppression verification Full scale fire test to demonstrate the effectiveness of the fire suppression system
Case Study Validation process Step 3: Prototype system installation on a train to demonstrate the feasibility and to get a clear view of the costs Step 4: Safety approval for the complete system and the software
Case Study Step 1 EVAG Project Step 1 Smoke Tests to develop detection concept
Step 1: Smoke tests
Validation of smoke detector s position Example of test during tunnel running Window closed Window open
Case Study Step 2 EVAG Project Step 2 1:1 Full scale tests to validate the effectiveness of the suppression system
Suppression sections to optimize water use
Mock-up fire testing Selected section of the train Cross section, Seating arrangement
Mock up fire testing
Fire Test with activation of the system
Fire test without the activation of the system
Fire test without the activation of the system
Cushion on seats without activation of the system Interruption of the test after 11 minutes! Extreme damage of complete mock up
Comparison with and without system (cushion on seats) With activated System Without activated System
Case Study Step 3 EVAG Project Step 3 Build a prototype
Case Study The design layout
Case Study The installation
Case Study: The installation
Case Study Step 4 EVAG Project Step 4 Approvals
Case Study: The Approvals Test Assessment done by IFAB and TÜV Nord
After all the fire and approval tests a new scenario
Smart concept: The result As a result of the study, the city of Essen in Germany benefitted from: An increase in safety A decrease in investment of 89% Smoke extraction systems, Evacuation concept, Less materials replacement Wider and open spaces
Standards: NFPA 130 A 4.2.1: The inclusion of automatic fire suppression systems in stations, tunnels, or trains provides an active system that can limit fire growth and thereby assist in reducing risk to life and property. Where such systems are provided, variations to requirements in this standard for materials, communications, systems, or reliability can be considered where supported by engineering analysis as permitted by Section 1.4 and in accordance with good fire protection engineering practice.
Conclusion A holistic approach takes all the railway sub-systems into account when defining fire safety requirements Water mist is very effective for on-board suppression Case Study: Real cost savings achievable