Railway Group Standard GM/RT2130, Issue 4 – Vehicle Fire, Safety and Evacuation
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The Railway Group Standard, GMRT2130 (Issue: 5.1) – Vehicle Fire Safety - sets out technical rules for the design of rail vehicles for fire safety. It is applicable to passenger rolling stock and locomotives intended for use on the mainline railway in Great Britain to minimise the probability of a fire starting, to control the rate and extent of fire development and, consequently, to minimise the impact of fire on passengers and staff. GMRT2130 Iss 5.1,Is supported by RIS -2730-RST Vehicle Fire Safety and Evacuation. The Rail Industry Standard RIS-2730-RST (Issue: 1.1) - Vehicle Fire Safety and Evacuation - sets out requirements and guidance for rail vehicle fire safety provisions, including vehicle design, maintenance and servicing, and engineering change. Specifically, it addresses emergency lighting, emergency and safety equipment, signs and labels, as well as evacuation issues. Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 - This Directive establishes the conditions to be met to achieve interoperability within the Union rail system. It includes provisions in design, construction, placing in service, upgrading, renewal, operation and maintenance of the parts of that system, and health and safety conditions applying. Thus, these standards and regulations requires the provisions of rail vehicle safety arrangements. According to the clause 2.4 of Directive (EU) 2016/797, the Emergency exits must be provided and indicated:  According to Rail Industry Standard RIS-2730-RST, the ability of passengers to evacuate and escape will be influenced namely by adequate information, signage and lighting, emergency equipment available  The Internal doors (clause 2.10.2) shall a) Slide open in opposing directions at each end of the passenger saloon; or b) Be bi-parting; or c) Be fitted with a means of escape within the door opening which allows through egress in the event of the door becoming jammed.  In clause 2.8 Emergency and safety equipment of RIS-2730-RST indicates that where emergency and safety equipment are provided, it should be suitably labelled. The signs below are examples of safety signs to identify the location of emergency and safety equipment:  The clause 2.6 Emergency stop and isolation devices of RIS-2730-RST,establishes thatEmergency stop and isolation devices shall be clearly labelled  Positioning Emergency and safety signs shall be positioned so as to be easily read and the information easily understood in relation to any necessary action. The image right side illustrates a simple but effective positioning of safety signs. At the entry/ exit point of this vehicle there is an evacuation plan positioned at eye level to make it easy for the passenger to read and to become familiar with the emergency exits available as well as the locations of the emergency and fire-fighting equipment provided in the vehicle. Over the exit door, there is an exit sign which can clearly be seen by all passengers irrespectively of where they may be travelling in this car. There is a emergency evacuation chair sign showing the location of that particular emergency equipment. The window shown in the image also features and emergency exit sign proving the information to the passengers that it can be used as an exit point in case of an emergency.  Materials According to RIS-2730-RST (clause 2.9) signs provided for passenger emergency equipment, egress facilities and routes shall use photoluminescent materials and shall not rely solely on the availability of emergency power supplies. The RIS-2730-RST standard also requires that, safety and emergency signs shall be subjected to a recognised validation process of review and evaluation designed to demonstrate a high probability of comprehension on the part of the travelling public.  For more information on the available solutions in compliance with this or any other standard please e-mail us at commercial@everlux.com. |
