When a rail application is hit by fire, a whole range of consequences could result. The most serious dangers are obviously to the safety of passengers and rail workers. However, there could also be risks of delays, disruption to timetables and routes, and even putting a stretch of track or a station area out of use for some time.

Rail equipment tends to be very expensive and hard to replace, with bespoke items which are built for a specific use and location. So, even if the track and the station are safe, there could still be delays while the operating company is trying to replace machinery damaged in a fire.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FIRE SUPPRESSION SOLUTION FOR RAIL APPLICATIONS

Fire safety is something which everyone involved with railways has to be aware of at all times. There is a whole list of fire precautions to be taken, including installing suitable automatic fire extinguishing systems.

It is important to choose fire safety solutions that can protect a whole area. It is also helpful if they can function without needing complex electronic components which could cut out if there is a power cut or supply failure. Equipment also needs to comply with Railway Group (RGS) standards.
Firetrace fits the bill here, because its suppression systems can be installed throughout an area needing protection. Since our systems operate via pneumatics, they don’t require an electrical supply and will still work even if power is cut off. Our systems for rail applications are highly reliable and can be used either alone or within a larger fire safety system. Because Firetrace fire suppression is fully automatic, it is ideal to use in unmanned or remote areas of the rail network.

Equipment which Firetrace rail application fire suppression systems have previously been approved for includes: 

Rail Head Treatment Trains and Sandite Modules – “Leaves on the line” are a real problem every autumn, when thousands of tonnes of them fall on rail lines in the UK. They can cause train wheels to slip, resulting in delays, unless the leaves are cleared away with specialist rail head treatment trains. Sandite modules are used to apply sandite, a sticky substance, to the lines, helping wheels to grip after leaves have been cleared.

Infrastructure Monitoring Vehicles –To keep railways operating safely, it’s important that all the infrastructure is constantly inspected, including track, overhead wires and buildings alongside the railways. Specially-built monitoring vehicles are used to examine these different areas of railway systems. 

Ballast Wagons and Auto Ballasters – This equipment is used to lay ballast on the trackbed. Firetrace systems can be fitted both to side tipping wagons and to auto ballasters, made up from a set of hopper wagons.

Long Welded Rail Vehicles and EMU Translator Vehicles – These are other types of rail application which can be protected by Firetrace. All of these types of vehicle can pose a fire risk, with the danger that the equipment itself will be damaged and further disruption will be caused. However, choosing a fire suppression system designed to put out a fire right at the start can combat this risk effectively.

As well as these specific applications, our automatic fire protection can also be used for a wide range of other rail applications, including generators, mobile plant, signalling and tunnelling equipment, making it an ideal choice for rail construction projects.

There have been many cases where Firetrace has put out fires on the rail network, preventing larger blazes. Because of these successes, it is recognised by a number of major insurers. Our systems operate by installing pressurised tubing, which will break if a fire is detected nearby, so that the active ingredient can be directed straight to the affected area to extinguish the fire immediately. Firetrace systems can also be used as pneumatic heat detectors, providing an additional safeguard, in areas of the railway where an automatic suppression system may not be suitable.

If you are looking for fire suppression companies with the expertise to protect rail applications, get in touch with Firetrace now.  Follow the link to get in touch and find out about our services.