DESCRIPTION AND RESULTS OF FIELD TESTS EVALUATING FIRE-RETARDANT COATING MATERIALS, PERFORMED BY THE ATCHISON TOPEKA AND SANTA FE RAILWAY SYSTEM AT ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

A description and the results of tests designed to evaluate the protective features of fire-retardant coating materials applied to treated structural timbers is presented. Preliminary tests used to screen coating materials consisted of placing 5-minute fuses on the top and side surface of a coated block cut from a treated tie. Coating materials passing this test were then applied to the ties and guard timbers of a full scale open deck trestle replica and again tested with fuses. Most of those tested were bituminous based coatings and required mechanical aids on the timber surface for satisfactory adherence. These were glass fabric and glass mat wrapped around the timber forming a base to which the coatings were applied. A tumbleweed fire was chosen for the ground phase study where a large surface area, such as the underside of a deck, is subjected to heat. Specimens, individual piles and full scale replicas of end and interior panels of ballasted-deck pile trestles were tested by burning. Temperatures developed by these fires were recorded by thermocouples. Attempts to confer fire-resisting properties to new timbers were made by introducing various materials in conjunction with the preservative oils during the treating process.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1954

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 135-159
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 55
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fire resistant coatings; Fire retardants; Wooden bridges
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052411
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM