NTL Record

Title Fire Safety of Passenger Trains, Phase II: Application of Fire Hazard Analysis Techniques [December 2002] [NISTIR 6525]
Record ID 49479
Personal Name
Creator
Peacock, Richard D.; Reneke, Paul A.; Averill, Jason D.; Bukowski, Richard W.; Klote, John H.
Source 194p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S.)
Corporate
Contributor
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
Publication Date 20021201
Language English
Abstract On May 12, 1999, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued regulations for passenger rail equipment safety standards that included small-scale fire tests and performance criteria to evaluate the flammability and smoke characteristics of individual materials used in intercity passenger and commuter rail systems. A major conclusion of an FRA funded 1993 study was that the use of fire hazard analysis techniques, based on computer modeling and supported by measurement methods using heat release rate (HRR), could provide a more credible and cost effective means to predict real-world fire behavior of passenger rail car materials. A comprehensive multi-phase fire safety research program is being conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of HRR-based test methods and hazard analysis techniques when applied to passenger train fire safety. The results of the research program will assist the FRA in determining appropriate revisions to the fire safety requirements for inclusion in Phase II of the passenger equipment final rule. This document presents the results of Phase II of the program which focused on the application of hazard analysis techniques using HRR data and computer modeling to evaluate passenger rail car fire performance. In addition to materials, the impact of car geometry, detection and suppression systems, and egress time on the safety of passengers and crew for representative intercity passenger coach, dining, and sleeping car designs were evaluated.
Rosap ID dot:10922
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10922
TRT Terms Computer models; Fire; Hazard analysis; Passenger cars; Railroad cars by type; Safety; Sleeping cars; Test procedures
General Subjects Passenger-cars; Safety aspects; Railroads; Fires and fire protection; Flammability; Hazard analysis; Railcar structural components; Fire detection system; Smoke
Classification NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Vehicle Design;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - SAFETY AND SECURITY;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Rail Safety;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Accidents;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - RAIL TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Safety;
AGR - SAFETY AND SECURITY - SAFETY AND SECURITY
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number DOT-VNTSC-FRA-01-11; DOT/FRA/ORD-01/16; PB2003-103397; NISTIR-6525
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/49000/49400/49479/IR6525.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository