EVALUATION OF RPI-AAR AND BRL TORCH FIRE TESTS OF TANK CAR INSULATIONS

This report covers an analysis of torch fire (approximately 2150 degrees F flame temperature) tests of thermal shield systems of the insulated-jacketed type for railroad pressure type tank cars (class 112A, 114A). Similar systems were tested on both RPI-AAR laboratory equipment and on full scale equipment installed by the Ballistic Research Laboratory at the DOT Transportation Test Center at Pueblo. The systems tested comprised one inch of ceramic fiber and mineral fiber insulations of varying densities covered by an 11 gage steel jacket. The purpose of the tests was to com- pare the behavior of the two pieces of equipment with the objective of providing information which may prove useful toward establishing the RPI-AAR equipment as a final quali- fication tool for candidate systems. Although comparisons were not entirely consistent, the RPI-AAR apparatus showed reasonably good repeatability. The analysis shows it to be conservative; and this, combined with its economy of opera- tion, confirmed the RPI-AAR belief that it has merit and should be adopted as the qualifying fire test for thermal shields.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This report documents Phase 11 of the Tank Car Research Project.
• Corporate Authors:

  Association of American Railroads Technical Center

  RPI-AAR Railroad Tank Car Safety Research and Test Project
  Chicago, IL  United States  60616
• Authors:
  • Porter, R W
• Publication Date: 1976-9-9

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 20 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fire resistant coatings; Fire retardants; Fires; Heat insulating materials; Railroad safety; Safety; Tank cars; Test facilities
• Old TRIS Terms: Fire retardant coatings; Tank car safety; Tank car safety research and test project
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00142509
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: RA-11-8-36 Res. Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 1 1976 12:00AM