Fire Protection of Rolling Stock 2021: Virtual Conference

Welcome to the annual Fire Protection of Rolling Stock Virtual conference 2021. The dynamic programme is set to provide a diverse global attendee base with engaging industry discussions. The immersive exhibition hall will enable interaction with top suppliers to provide the latest fire safety solutions to optimize safety of rolling stock.

Chair’s welcome address

• Assessing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the rail sector and disruption to day-to-day services
• Analyzing to what extent the decline in rail operating has had consequential decrease in fire protection servicing and maintenance
• Tracing the model to reopen fleets and begin to ensure fire protection quality in rolling stock that has been in disuse or reduced service
• Providing context on new challenges with the rolling stock supply chain and how to effectively collaborate with manufacturers and supplier moving forward

• Hear the latest work in progress in CEN TC256 WG01 standardization group for the  revision of EN 45545-3 and -4
• Unpacking the application of EN 45545-2:2020 version, explaining which version applies on projects regarding to TSI LOC&PAS
• Presenting the possible migration to ISO TC269 of the work of CEN TC256 WG01 (EN 45545-1 in first)
• Making the link between CEN TC256 WG01 and TC9X SG29 and SG31 and the work regarding fire safety
• Providing valuable insight on how all these regulations and standards affect the rolling stock industry

• Understand what does it mean to have an EN 50553 compliant vehicle?
• Comparing “Immediate Stop” vs.” Driving to the next station”. How to decide?
• What do operators have to consider.
• Learn how EN 50553 changes the principals of a save vehicle situation (“stopped vehicle is save condition” vs. “moving vehicle is save condition”

• Addressing the ongoing problem encountered when refurbishing rolling stock materials under the EN-45545 standard in current projects
• Explaining the challenge with the current regulatory requirements regarding arranging and testing in full end-use condition
• Identifying suitable material while considering durability and maintainability requirements for interior parts such as ceilings and sidewall panels
• Exploring solutions for exterior preservation and refurbishment strategy

• Making a case for designing well-harmonized fire safety system strategy to prevent fire risk on trains
• Sharing the experience of the approach taken to fire safety with the Crossrail class 345 rolling stock
• Presenting the unique fire protection challenges with heavy rail rolling stock operating in a Metro environment in deep tunnels under London as well as on Network Rail infrastructure
• Describing the success model for ventilation, smoke management, evacuation, and tunnel design to effectively protect new build trains

• Journeying through the South African railway landscape and distinct fire safety risks associated with the geography and infrastructure
• Drawing attention to differences between developed and undeveloped countries rolling stock systems from a safety point of view
• Explaining how the engineering systems, supply chain, and regulatory framework all come together in the South African commuter rail system fire protection strategy
• Providing first-hand insight into how manufacturers can be better prepared to supply material components in line with South Africa’s local regional standards; how can operators and manufacturers around the world can create better partnerships?

• Presenting challenges surrounding global rolling stock materials sourcing, manufacturing operations and supply
• Exploring the fire safety properties of rolling stock floor structures; mapping the journey from floor endurance testing and concept design to localizing production to different regions
• Shedding light on the issues with building rolling stock in Brazil and China, addressing product availability concerns and how to get around them
• Highlighting current success with material sourcing using case study examples

• Understanding the fire risks with alternative fuels in rolling stock, particularly battery and hydrogen fuel cell powered trains and trams
• Laying out the fuel behavior and system safety risks for hybrid and pure alternative fueled trains compared to their diesel and electric powered counterparts
• Discussion of protective measures applicable to battery and hydrogen vehicles, including fire shields, detection systems (for both fire and gas leaks) and hydrogen storage pressure relief strategies
• Exploring the latest advancements and projects in the sector with alternative energy and what the future will look like for rolling stock propulsion systems design and maintenance

• Outlining US requirements for rolling stock floor structures according to the NFPA 130-ASTM E-119 test procedures and output range
• Exploring the options to make floor fire endurance testing more cost-effective for manufacturers
• Offering a case study of small scale flooring tests to protect the performance of full-scale specimens
• Understanding key differences between the US and European floor testing standards

Welcome to the annual Fire Protection of Rolling Stock Virtual conference 2021. The dynamic programme is set to provide a diverse global attendee base with engaging industry discussions. The immersive exhibition hall will enable interaction with top suppliers to provide the latest fire safety solutions to optimize safety of rolling stock.

Chair’s welcome address

• Laying out the road ahead for fire safety of rolling stock with regards to European regulatory changes
• Outlining the upcoming changes in the Technical Specifications for Interoperability relating to ‘rolling stock subsystem – locomotives and passenger rolling stock (TSI Loc&Pas) and EN-45545
• Asking what the changes mean for the industry
• Hear expert insight from fire safety and project engineering experience in vehicle activities

• Hear a unique case study on the preventative and corrective fire safety maintenance of Riyadh driverless metro trains
• Delving into the roles of the linear heat fire detection system in the electrical area, and the smoke detection systems and ventilation supply in the passenger area
• Shedding light on the challenges with using rolling stock passenger carriage smoke detection in the Saudi Arabian climate, such as dust causing false alarms and how to overcome this
• Offering insight on the design modifications to improve smoke detectors such as adding a filter to capture airborne matter and prevent inaccurate readings

• Presenting a the benefits of using the Duggan method for predicting fire size of rolling stock and why this is also critical for fire safety tunnels and infrastructure
• Analysing how some of elements of the Duggan method testing conveniently overlap with requirements of the Australian and international rolling stock standards
• Explaining some of the common challenges with using alternative fire size methodologies both in initial application and through the service life of the analysed rolling stock
• Sharing insight from working on fire safety engineering of an over-ground commuter service in Australia and other projects

• Reviewing the regulatory landscape for fire barrier systems at the front of passenger trains
• Contrasting the American standard ASTM E119 on fire barriers and the focus on fire resistance testing requirements to gain approval
• Unpacking the European EN 50553 requirements, such as factoring train operating location and surrounding conditions into fire protection compliance and the safety benefits of this
• Sharing first-hand experience of working on fire protection projects across continents, such as installing passive fire barriers between rail cars in Europe and active water mist suppression systems in the US

• Hear expert insight from experience of working across the different areas of fire protection and rolling stock
• Delving into the core objectives of fire and life safety systems such as preserving human life, property, and the surrounding environment, and how these feed into rolling stock protection strategy
• Looking holistically at fire safety from detection to passenger behavior during evacuation procedures
• Presenting lessons learned from working on fire risk in rolling stock, tunnels, and infrastructure

• Addressing the ongoing problem encountered when refurbishing rolling stock materials under the EN-45545 standard
• Explaining the challenge with the current regulatory requirements to test the product in the full end-use condition when only one part is being replaced
• Providing real-life examples of refurbishments supply barriers such as with passenger seat upholstery material replacement
• Offering day-to-day solutions such as collaborating with suppliers to borrow parts, enabling full product end-use testing to be compliant

• Highlighting the benefits of running digital simulations to predict fire scenarios on trains
• Making a case for using simulations to make informed recommendations about modifications for rolling stock to prevent onboard fires
• Sharing best practices of fire prevention, protection and mitigation in railway vehicles leveraging engineering processes and software tools
• Presenting the advantages of simulation technology using case studies

• Assessing the bigger picture when designing a new metro system, making the connection between rolling stock design and fire protection needs and tunnel safety
• Considering the role of automatic and manual fire detection and suppression systems, tunnel smoke control and evacuation procedures, and how to maximise efficacy when simultaneously activated whether automatically or manually
• Sharing case studies of helping design new metro systems in Europe, Asia and Latin-America based on the Spanish metro’s model for success
• Breaking down the evacuation options when designing metros such as ‘front and rear evacuation’ on slab track Single Bore Tunnel and how to utilise simulation technology and AI-powered smart systems to plan and carry out evacuation procedures

• Presenting key considerations when refurbishing rolling stock with new products from a maintenance perspective
• Unpacking the latest engineering challenges with managing and controlling change in a vehicle
• Focusing on the wheels and bogies as ultimate safety components of a train
• Making a case for a ‘smart train’ of the future with improved fire safety systems to avoid false alarms and unwanted delays