FIRE HAZARD EVALUATION OF BART VEHICLES

A fire hazard evaluation of the subway cars used on the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District was performed. After analyzing the cars' interior and exterior design, five recommendations were made that, if implemented, would improve passenger safety by decreasing the probability of developing a hazardous fire situation. Among these recommendations were the upgrading of current upholstered urethane seat assemblies and the need for the development of a fire detection system appropriate for rapid rail transit vehicles. Those system improvements would not only provide passengers a safer traveling environment but would also provide a modest level of protection for the heavy investment in rail vehicles.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Bureau of Standards

  Center for Fire Research
  Washington, DC  United States  20234

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Braun, E
• Publication Date: 1978-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 24 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Evaluation; Fire causes; Fire detection systems; Fire prevention; Fires; Flammability; Hazards; Materials; Passenger cars; Polymers; Prevention; Protection; Public transit; Rapid transit; Rapid transit cars; Recommendations; Risk analysis; Safety; Seats; Urban transportation; Urethane; Vehicle design
• Identifier Terms: San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fire hazards
• Old TRIS Terms: Passenger car design; Rapid transit railways
• Subject Areas: Design; Materials; Public Transportation; Railroads; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00176291
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NBSIR-78-1421 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-AT-70007
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 19 1981 12:00AM