Passenger transportation is a very responsible service sector in which the safety of passengers plays a key role. First of all, of course, we are talking about immediate safety on the road. But fire safety is no less important.
Why is so much attention paid to fire protection of cars?
Fire protection of cars is extremely important for several reasons at once:
- a huge number of people are close to each other in a cramped space and a relatively small number of wagons;
- at the same time, the cars are distinguished by very inconvenient evacuation routes - there are few exits, including emergency ones, the corridors are narrow, it is uncomfortable to leave;
- despite the absolute priority of passengers in other matters, in the matter of fire safety, it is especially important to protect the driver, otherwise, if he cannot control the train (or rather stop it), everything will end tragically for everyone;
- if the train is in motion, the flames can ignite from the air currents and spread rapidly to neighboring cars.
How is the fire protection of wagons carried out?
According to the rules and regulations, the train interior and the driver's cab must be thermally insulated and airtight. Not only fire, but also smoke and heat should not get into the control cabin. At the same time, it must be protected both from situations if a fire started in the carriage itself, and from external hazards (for example, a flame in a tunnel).
For this, a special heat-resistant partition made of fire-retardant boards such as calcium silicate. This partition is installed between the cab and the passenger compartment; it must perform its function for at least half an hour. This time is enough for the driver to calmly stop the train, inform passengers about the danger and organize the evacuation.
In order for it to pass without unnecessary difficulties, all doors, as well as their constituent elements - frames, hinges and locking devices must also be fire-resistant. To meet this requirement, the same calcium silicate boards are used in the construction of the doors.
Why Calcium Silicate?
This material best meets the requirements for these structures:
- it is non-flammable and not afraid of prolonged direct exposure to fire;
- it can withstand colossal heating up to + 1000 ° C;
- it is practically unable to pass heat due to its very low thermal conductivity;
- it is environmentally friendly and safe, does not contain any poisonous, toxic and harmful components, does not emit any such substances into the air either in a heated or in a normal form;
- it is a lightweight and easy-to-handle material, which, on the one hand, makes it easy to use in car building, and on the other hand, it does not make the structure heavier;
- it is quite budgetary, which makes it possible to make fire protection of wagons affordable.
