A Presentation on

Fire Safety Measures

Norms and Standards

The objective of this

presentation is to give a brief
description of different
aspects related to fire safety
in Metro stations

Fire Safety-Objectives
Occupant protection
the system is designed to protect occupants
for the time needed to evacuate or relocate
them

Structural Integrity
to be maintained for the time to evacuate or
relocate the occupants

Causes of fire
70-80% fires are electrical fires due to
short circuiting leading to fire because of

Overloading
Loose Connection
Sub-standard and naked Wires
Fractured Insulation
Improper Earthing

Code & References

NFPA 130

Standard for fixed Guideway Transit

and passenger Rail Systems
2007 Edition

NFPA 130 clause 4.4

stipulates
There will be
A single fire source

The Fire Safety Design

Includes the following :

Fire Prevention Measures

Fire Detection Measures
Fire Control Measures
Means of Escape
Access for Firemen
Means of fire Fighting
House Keeping and Staff Training

Fire Prevention Measures

Potential sources of fire can be reduced by
Use of non-combustible or smoke retardant materials
Appropriate choice of location and installation of
equipment
Provision of layouts which permit ease of
maintenance and cleaning of stations i.e. all parts of
stations are accessible
Special storage for combustible materials
Prohibition of smoking no smoking zone

Contd.
To prevent electrical fires

Only 1st certified Appliances & Cables

Use electrical cables as per the designed Load
Use good quality Fuses of correct rating
Use MCB/ELCB
Fuses & switches should be mounted on metallic cubical
Always have good earthing connection
Switches should confirm to correct rating.

Fire Detection Measures

Automatic Smoke/ Heat Detectors and Manual Call
Points- break glass units connected to Fire Control Panel
located in Station Control room along with
Mimic panel indicating fire status on Zone to Zone basis
Fire panel controls detection of all designated areas of
coverage including remote equipment locations
On receipt of fire signal Audible and visual alarms raised
in staff areas only
Links to telecommunications, sprinkler discharge
controls, fire dampers, ventilation equipment and other
suppression systems

Fire Control Measures

Spread of fire and smoke controlled by
Compartmentation of Fire risk Areas
Smoke Extraction
Smoke Containmentment
Compartment is a portion of building which is separated from
adjoining portions by walls, floors and/or doors
Every opening protected to contain fire and spread of smoke
I. All openings sealed
II. Ducts opening sealed with fire dampers
III. Fire rated doors

Contd.
Depending upon the degree of fire load and the degree of
protection required for life safety, Fire Resistance Periods
(FRP) are prescribed for different areas of station.
Compartments

Underground Structures

Substations, Cable tunnels,

Signaling, Telecommunication,
UPS Rooms, Station Control Room, Tunnel
Ventilation, Ancillary Buildings, Protected staircases,
DG ,Pump, and Fuel Storage Rooms

Under platform Cable Ducts, Ventilation Shafts

Lift, Escalator Machine rooms, Refuse store

Station Facilities, offices and staff Areas

Non Transit occupancies

Contd.
All plant rooms separated from the public
circulation spaces
by Fire Resistance Period of 2 hrs.
Each plant room
a separate compartment
Staff and other areas
separated from public spaces
For staff areas only, place of safety is the area
outside the compartment of the fire

Contd.
Typical compartmentation plan

Platform plan

Concourse Plan

Contd.
Fire Doors
3 criteria door i.e. Stability, Integrity and Insulation
(NFPA specifies temperature differential on the unexposed
surface in 30 mins as a measure of insulation)
Conforms to NFPA 101 Specifications
Installation as per NFPA 80
Tested as per NFPA 252
Doors used in stairway- the max. temperature increase on
the unexposed surface of the door should not exceed 232
C above ambient at the end of 30 mins. of exposure

Contd.
Smoke Management
To ensure that the escape routes are not full of smoke
To provide a safe passage to fire fighters to reach fire
location

Smoke extraction system

Smoke containment
1. Pressurization- firemen and emergency staircase
2. Smoke barrier 3mts from the floor up to ceiling
every 60 mts, around all openings around staircases,
escalators
3. Mechanical ventilation - tunnels

Means of Escape
To evacuate passengers from platform and train to a point of safety
without hindrance
Calculations made for each station, at least 2 means of egress
remote from each other planned
NFPA 130 guidelines followed
The total Evacuation time (NFPA 5.5.6)
From platform to a point of relative safety
4 mins
To a point of ultimate safety
6 mins
Travel distance (NFPA5.5.6.1.1)
the max. travel distance on the platform to point of egress shall not be exceed
100 mts.

Contd.
Occupant Load (NFPA 5.5.5.6)
the peak period occupant load for each platform calculated
for the following scenario and checked for each situation
Normal Operation
entraining load + detraining load for peak direction & off-peak direction
platforms

Delayed Operation
2 missed headway entraining load + detraining load for peak direction
platform & entraining load + detraining load for off-peak direction
platform
Minimum area of 0.5sq.mts / passenger is provided at the platform

Emergency Operation
1 missed headway entraining load for peak direction platform +
entraining load for off-peak direction platform + 1 full train load
Minimum area of 0.2sq.mts / passenger is provided at the platform

Contd.
Tunnels (NFPA 6.2.2)
A walkway 610 mm wide planned inside the tunnels to
evacuate passengers at any point so that they can
proceed to the nearest station
The max. distance permitted between 2 exits
762 mts
The max. distance permitted between 2 cross passages
244 mts
Walkway provided on cross passage side
Cross passages permitted if the two track ways separated
by 2 hr rated fire walls
Cross passages distance from platform end
Door in cross passage 1 hr fire rating

503 mts

Contd.
Emergency lighting (NFPA 6.2.5)

Includes Exit Lights, Essential Signs, and emergency lights

Wired separately from emergency distribution panels
Min illumination level 2.7 lux and < Uniformity Ratio of 10:1
Fire resistive cables of 1 hr fire rating used

Emergency Ventilation (NFPA 7)

To provide a safe environment along the path of egress
To produce airflows sufficient to prevent backlayering of
smoke in the path of egress
Capable of reaching full operational mode within 1 min

Access for firemen

A separate, totally independent staircase for the use of firemen
and operational staff to reach out to all levels of station from
access point at ground level in open air
Firemens staircase planned for each station close to a
designated space for off road parking for two firemens vehicles
A protected route from access point to station control room
Firemen staircase provided with leaky Co axle cable for the fire
service and police communication, an auxiliary fire panel,
station drawings and PBX telephone
Pressurized to provide a safe passage
Not included in emergency calculations

Means of fire fighting

Fire hydrant and hose reel system (Stations)
Fire hydrant and hose reel system for the public areas at
each station to protect occupants as a first means of fire
fighting while waiting for the arrival of local fire authority
Fire fighting water supply fed from a storage tank of 30 mins
capacity (2 lakh liters)
Water supply to water tank from the water main inside tunnel
Alternate source of water supply from a bore well
A minimum of 2 fire pumps including one stand by together
with a pressurizing jockey pump provided in a pump room
adjacent to water tank

Contd.
One hose reel provided to cover every 45 mts of floor
space in the concourse area
wet fire main provided to cover the platform and
concourse level and supply water to fire hoses
A uniform fire fighting pressure maintained
65mm dia, 30 mts long 4 nos. coiled synthetic hoses and
1 multi purpose branch pipe with shut off facilities
provided in Hose cabinet

In tunnels
A wet fire main 150 mm in dia provided in each tunnel
with twin outlets at 50 mts interval

Contd.
Portable extinguishers
Portable CO2 extinguishers installed in all electrical
switch rooms substations, platform equipment cabinets,
operational rooms and communication rooms

Automatic Sprinkler System

Fusible link type with standard temperature ratings

Provided for stores and other enclosed areas
Escalators pits and lift shafts
Under the platform towards tracks to fight train fire

Contd.
Gas flooding
For the Auxiliary/ Traction substation
Comprises of inergen gas released automatically by the
fire detection system
Monitored by fire detection system
Interlinked with ECS so that supply, return and relief
dampers are closed on release of gas
Capable of operating manually too

Important to note
All the measures will fail and not work
at the time of need
if they are not properly maintained. It will only
give a false sense of safety.
Also if persons who are supposed to operate do
not know how to operate or what to do in case of
fire

Need for Good House Keeping, Staff

Training should not be underestimated

Good House Keeping

Non accumulation of garbage in the metro station
premises and inside the trains All receptacles for
waste emptied at regular intervals
Total ban on carriage of inflammable/ explosive
substance within Metro Premises and in trains
Welding & Cutting jobs carried out as per laid
procedure under strict supervision
Keep means of escape clear of obstruction
Keep Fire/Smoke check door closed

Contd.
Switch off appliance after use and remove plug
from the socket
Faulty electrical appliance should be repaired/
replaced immediately
Use one socket for one plug
Keep the electrical wires away from hot & wet
surfaces

Staff Training
Fire/Evacuation Drills carried out regularly
All persons know what to do in case of Fire
Imparted elementary training to all the staff at the
time of induction
Regular refresher courses held at regular intervals
Emergency Organization for fire management set
up set up

Contd.
In case of fire
Alert Station staff and line controller, inform Fire Brigade
Initiate operation of fire suppression equipment
Initiate automatic public address system message on
confirmation of station manager
Initiate smoke extraction measures
Close all doors, windows behind you
Leave the premises by nearest Exit

Thank You