Design fires for passenger trains: how do we know we have them right?

The purpose of this paper is to present a thorough review of experiments and research into passenger train fires with the aim of providing an increased understanding of the development and nomination of design fires. With design fires and Heat Release Rates (HRR) used by engineers internationally ranging from 10MW to over 100MW, how do we know we have them right? This paper will focus on the research and experiments that have been undertaken and made readily available by others and in particular the most recent rail car fire tests carried out in the last 10 years. The outcomes and conclusions of this research paper are intended to provide engineers with further informed knowledge as a basis for developing design fires in order to reduce the amount of uncertainty currently embedded within fire safety strategies. Design fires are the basis by which the fire engineering study is undertaken by engineers. They are critical to the fire safety of trains, tunnels and associated infrastructure. The consequences of getting the design fires wrong can be costly, not just in terms of the risk to life, but also in regards to installing potentially unnecessary fire safety systems. Current research is limited and results can vary significantly. The outcome is design fires based on a high number of assumptions and uncertainty. This can lead to uncertainty in the holistic fire safety strategy for trains, tunnels and associated infrastructure. The undertaking of further research into design fires for trains is significant as the urban scrawl continues to develop throughout the world and rail infrastructure is expanded to meet demands.

• Record URL:
  • http://railknowledgebank.com/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MTk4MTRjNDUtNWQ0My00OTBmLTllYWUtZWFjM2U2OTE0ZDY3&rID=MjM0NA==&sID=MjY=&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&qcf=MTk4MTRjNDUtNWQ0My00OTBmLTllYWUtZWFjM2U2OTE0ZDY3&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==
• Authors:
  • Darmody M
  • Weaver S
• Conference:
  • CORE 2014, Rail transport for a vital economy, conference on railway engineering, Adelaide, South Australia, 5-7 May 2014
• Publication Date: 2014-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 7p. ; PDF
• Monograph Title: Rail transport for a vital economy: CORE 2014: conference on railway engineering, 5-7 May 2014, Adelaide, South Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fire; Passenger transportation; Railroad trains; Research; Safety
• ATRI Terms: Fire; Passenger transport; Research and development; Safety; Train
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Railroads; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01545129
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 25 2014 10:19AM