TramStore21 Report Building sustainable and efficient tram depots for cities in the 21st century
Fire Prevention in Tram Depots
© TramStore21, 2012
Contents Contents ..................................................................................................................... 2 Contacts of TramStore21 Partners ............................................................................. 3 Introduction................................................................................................................. 4 Applications by the partners ....................................................................................... 5 Blackpool Council ................................................................................................... 5 Le Grand Dijon........................................................................................................ 7 RET....................................................................................................................... 10 STIB ...................................................................................................................... 13 External applications ................................................................................................ 15 Recommendation ..................................................................................................... 15
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Contacts of TramStore21 Partners This is a list of resource people responsible for this issue within TramStore21 partnership. The resource people are your experts in this field. They can work within your organisation or at another local authority of your country or can be your consultant.
Name
Organisation
Department or Function
E-mail
Fernand van de Plas STIB
Department of Rolling Stock, Drawing Office
[email protected]. be
Jean-François Colinet
STIB
Department of Tramway, Technical Department – In charge of technical equipment new depot Haren 2 + Marconi
[email protected]
Lode Schildermans
STIB
Direction of Infrastructures – Project Manager
schildermansl@stib. irisnet.be
Daniela Kirsch
Fraunhofer IML
Department of Logistic
Daniela.Kirsch@iml. fraunhofer.de
Henning Schaumann
Fraunhofer IML
Department of Logistic
Henning.Schaumann@ iml.fraunhofer.de
Ludovic Soleil
Keolis
Director Project Tramway
[email protected]
Phil Bowman
Blackpool City Council
M&E Coordinator
Philip.Bowman@ blackpool.gov.uk
REM de Tender
RET
Project Manager
[email protected]
Dick Huybens
RET
Technical Engineering Office Project Manager
[email protected]
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Introduction The issue 'fire prevention in tram depots' is about different existing approaches to fire prevention. Some companies prefer expensive investments that allow a risk free situation for the technical equipment and buildings, while other companies prefer taking a risk by not renewing technical equipment as that often brings potential problems with it. The main topic of this issue is to analyse whether or not it is reasonable to install sprinklers in tram depots. There are different fire prevention systems available, like sprinklers, foam extinguishers, water spray extinguishers, CO2/argon gas extinguishers, fire detection, hydrants, water mist or special extinguishing systems. They also differ in the use of wet pipe systems, dry pipe systems or deluge systems. The goal is to obtain the best compromise between safety and costs, supported by the cooperation with fire brigades.
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Applications by the partners Blackpool Council Description The tram depot at Rigby Road was constructed and opened in 1935. It was not designed in accordance to today’s fire standards and legislation. Due to the combined nature of the facility, there are numerous products and liquids stored, for example up to 120,000 litres of diesel fuel, lubricating oils or various solvents for cleaning. For Starr Gate depot, Blackpool Council chose the “Vesda” fire alarm system which detects smoke in a quarter of the time of conventional fire/heat detector systems. This system is installed in the stabling area and maintenance workshop.
Key figures The Blackpool approach for fire prevention includes a fire risk assessment every 12 months. This provides a full review of fire prevention and fire evaluation procedures. There are qualified persons, the fire marshals and wardens, who have defined responsibilities in case of an alert. They also ensure that regular fire safety audits are carried out in line with the company policy. Fire evacuation drills are carried out twice a year. All staff is familiar with procedures and marshalling points. There are a lot of precautions in the tram maintenance to prevent a fire alert. For example lubricating oils are stored in metal drums and supplied away from any potential source of ignition or all vehicles when parked up over night, or when parked awaiting repairs have the ignition/isolation switches turned off. There are similar precautions in the body shop and the paint shop. In addition to the description of the fire prevention systems in Blackpool’s existing Rigby Road Depot, what follows is a description of the fire prevention measures in the new tramway depot in the course of construction at Starr Gate. Situation in Starr Gate A smoke detection “Vesda” system is installed in the maintenance workshop, stabling area and all high level areas. This system is very sensitive and will detect the TramStore21 | Fire Prevention in Tram Depots 5
slightest presence of smoke and set off the alarm. Apart from being very sensitive the system is excellent for installing in high areas because there is virtually no maintenance or cleaning required. Incorporated in the design of the pipework is the facility, at low level, to blow through occasionally to clear any accumulation of dust.
Figure 1: Sampling pipework installed in the new depot
Where there is a risk of smoke from occasional workshop activities in the bogie and dirty workshop areas, the sampling pipework has been zoned and can be isolated during these activities to avoid false alarms. Otherwise any false alarms would unnecessarily disrupt normal activities in the depot.
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Le Grand Dijon Description The on-site fire prevention of the Centre for Operations and Maintenance (CEM) of Dijon is based on: • a preliminary fire risk assessment • the design of the premises and the establishment of specific facilities • additional preventive measures concerning staff training and work organisation
Key figures Preliminary fire risk assessment The first step is to identify potential sources of fire and ignition that can be caused by normal working operations or by faults / malfunctions. The sources are identified in cooperation with the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS). Design of the premises and establishment of specific facilities Based on the preliminary risk assessment, a specific design of the buildings is created. It is reflected in particular by: • splitting the buildings into separate units by constructing walls and fire doors • isolating the risk areas (battery storage, oil tank storage, storage of hazardous materials, etc.) • staircase enclosures • the choice of materials depending on their fire behaviour • the establishment of exits and clearances for rapid evacuation. In addition to these structural arrangements a number of facilities are planned. A water network separated from the drinking water system provides fire protection for the site. It feeds 6 fire posts and the RIA (fire hose cabinet) system of the buildings. This network should be able to ensure the needs required by the Department Fire and Rescue Service with an amount of water of 120 cubic metres per hour which is TramStore21 | Fire Prevention in Tram Depots 7
sufficient for two open posts for two hours. The network which is mounted on the surface consists of 15 RIA, each with a length of 30 m and serves bus and tramway maintenance workshops. Fire extinguishers appropriate to the risk (multi-purpose powder, water or carbon dioxide, class A, B or C) complete the system. Finally, a fire detection system has been implemented. It is based on the following facilities: • sound alarms audible anywhere in the building • automatic fire stops in large buildings with hinges or sliding doors • manual alarm triggers • local smoke detectors and rate-of-rise detectors in the storage rooms for special materials • linear optical smoke detectors in very large areas • inert gas fire extinguishing system for the plant room of the Centralised Headquarters that accommodates the majority of computer equipment necessary to operate the tramway. Additional preventive measures concerning staff training and work organisation Different measures for staff training and work organisation in the event of fire can be implemented. Among all possible measures, the following ones are considered essential: • the establishment of maintenance and regular checks of electrical wiring, detection systems, etc. • the implementation of appropriate procedures, such as a hot work permit (a hot work procedure), hazardous materials management procedures, fire prevention plans, no smoking on the premises, etc. • the establishment of appropriate lighting and signs which can provide a display of evacuation plans
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Figure 2: Example of evacuation plan
• the general awareness of the staff to the risk of fire by specific training and information. This can be achieved through the formation of a second intervention team for the areas with a significant fire risk, the staff training to use the extinguishing equipment properly (fire extinguishers, RIA, etc.), the organisation of regular evacuation drills, the specific staff training working on processes presenting a fire risk.
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RET Description As requested by RET, DGMR has drawn up a fire prevention and safety report in addition the drawings for the purpose of applying for a building permit for the construction of Beverwaard maintenance depot at Rotterdam.
Key figures The report describes the fire safety design of the building in detail. The various fire safety aspects are each discussed and any equivalence is explained. It is evident from the conclusion of the report that there are still a number of shortcomings in the design that need to be addressed. For example, the design did not meet the prescribed requirements in regards to the size of the area of a fire compartment (partition). If the shortcomings referred to in this report are addressed, then the design, according to DGMR, will meet the fire safety levels in conformance with current legislation. The following topics are discussed in this report: Situation • drawings • legislation • utilisation and degree of occupancy • determination of height of building. Fire resistance and strength • smokeless emergency exit routes • fire resistance of primary bearing structure. Synthesis of fire management and control • fire partitioning in conformance with Building Act 2003 • equivalence (Building Act 2003, section 2.22) • method • measure packages TramStore21 | Fire Prevention in Tram Depots 10
• determination of permanent, variable and average fire-load • determination of the package of measures to be applied • determination of the maximum permissible compartment size. Fire resistance of external facades and internal partitioning structures • general • connections/connecting routes • office section as a separate fire restraining compartment • synthesis of fire management and control. Safe exits • general • partitioning of fire restraining compartments • emergency exit paths • freely accessible door width and rotational direction of doors • recovery/rescue and flow-through capacity • total evacuation time.
Use of material Installations • dry chemical extinguisher line and fire service lift • fire extinguishing hoses • fire alarm system • evacuation alarm system • emergency exit designations • emergency lighting • installation of fire doors • maintaining functionality. TramStore21 | Fire Prevention in Tram Depots 11
Conclusion Attachments 1. Ground plans and smoke partitioning 2.
In conformance with the Netherlands Normalisation Institute Standard 6090:2006, specific permanent fire-load
3.
Determination of the distance contributing to fire flash-overs
4.
Inspection of walking distances in smoke compartments (partitions)
5.
Inspection of freely accessible door width, rotational direction of doors and recovery behind doors.
Advantages and disadvantages A fire detection system provides a high level of safety. The system is very expensive. It does not offer a uniform regulation between the authorities in Rotterdam, Den Haag or Amsterdam. Also, an automatic system is required.
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STIB Description Fire prevention system in Haren Currently the tram store, the stabling hall for regrouping the tram, the technical hall and the administration are all located in one building. Haren uses fire hoses every 25 m, shown in figure 2.
Figure 3: Fire hoses in Haren
The local fire prevention team will be informed by an alert centre and consists of a group of employees. In all departments and tram depots is a fire alert and a first-aid centre which can be contacted by local telephones. The alert centre contacts the first intervention group consisting of two people who are on duty 24 hours every day. They are specially trained to be able to identify and control small fires. If more help is needed or the fire is not controllable, they give the order to evacuate the building and call the fire brigades. Fire prevention system in Marconi For the new Marconi tram depot, STIB and AGT have commissioned a fire risk analysis study to FPC (Fire Protection Consult). The objective is to study and compare the costs and benefits caused by the installation of a sprinkler system.
Key figures The new tram depot Marconi will be equipped with automatic fire alarms as well as every newly built or refurbished STIB depot. Every department and tram depot has got an alarm centre which can be contacted by dialling “12”. Every employee is asked to call this number upon the detection of an abnormal situation or fire.
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For the analysis and the development, STIB divided the depot into two areas, the tram depot and the service hall. The frequency of a fire in a tram depot is about one in 300 years (1/300). That implies that the risk of a total loss is very small. The study considers the most important risks: • the loss of human lives (not calculated) • the loss of buildings (value) • the loss of trams (value) • the business continuity. The cost-benefit analysis has identified that the fire risks are small but the value risks are high. The study assesses the benefits of installing sprinkler systems at Marconi tram depot. It indicates that the installation of a sprinkler system can guarantee the business continuity and protects the property of STIB. The financial impact and the long lifecycle of a sprinkler system justify such an investment as economical.
Advantages and disadvantages The general advantages of a sprinkler system are that there is no need for the personnel to extinguish a fire, it works very fast and effectively and it is a good way to cool the air (which makes it safer to evacuate the staff). General disadvantage of a sprinkler system are for example that it cannot extinguish a fire inside a tram car, that the whole building will be flooded and a risk of area contamination when oil is flushed out with the water.
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External applications There are some tram depots in Germany using a sprinkler system for fire prevention. For example the tram depot Gerwingstraße in Karlsruhe built in 2008 installed a sprinkler system in their stabling area and hall.
Recommendations Fire prevention is a very ambiguous field. In the event of fire, the depot is likely to suffer huge damage. But the chance of a fire is rather low due to precautionary measures such as separate storing of inflammable liquids and bans on smoking. Therefore depots should equip at least endangered areas with fire alarms because they offer a sufficient safety level and are affordable. Some legislations or insurances may even dictate the use of fire alarms in the depot. All partners have their depots equipped with a smoke detection system. The slightest presence of smoke can be detected, even in high areas. STIB installs a sprinkler system at Marconi depot; the other partners rely on fire hoses and fire extinguisher for manual fire extinction. Some partners criticised that there are a number of different legislations throughout Europe and expressed the need for a common European legislation in future in order to create even preconditions.
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