Stat-X® Fire Suppression
Fire Suppression for Rolling Stock Depots and Train Stations
This article first appeared in the Railway-News Magazine Issue 1 2024.
When considering fire protection for rolling stock, the train itself receives the most attention. Firstly, it is on the conveyance where passengers and crew will concentrate. And secondly, when in transit, the risk of a fire occurring in rural areas away from fire suppression resources is high.
But depots, train stations, support buildings and rooms also contain a myriad of components which, from a fire protection standpoint, also require careful consideration.
The Problem
By their nature, rolling stock depots are often crowded places, so there is a significant safety exposure. Many stations are also underground or partially enclosed. This makes egress problematic and can result in exposure to the toxic by-products of combustion.
When you examine the fire risks contained within a rolling stock depot or station, you will find many electrically oriented or Class C risks such as:
- Tech rooms
- Battery back-up and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) rooms
- Control rooms
- Switch rooms
- Power generator rooms
- Electrical substations
Fires with an electrical origin are all too common. When a Class C fire erupts, it often becomes large quickly and can be difficult to extinguish. If a fire occurs in an underground station, then the difficulty in extinguishing it increases exponentially
While fires in train stations are fortunately not common, they do happen. A notable train station fire occurred in London in 2021. Named for the London Underground station where it occurred, the “Elephant and Castle Fire” began suddenly and spread rapidly. Witnesses reported hearing several loud bangs and were then confronted with a fast-moving fire. Six people were injured, and it took hours for over 100 firefighters to control the blaze. The cause of the fire was not disclosed, but experts suspect it was electrical in nature due to the loud bangs heard by witnesses.
