| Numbered comments are based upon NFPA 130, and 49 CFR Appendix B
to Part 238. These comments have been either quoted, combined
from both, or adapted/edited to passenger transit applications.
1) Materials tested for
surface flammability shall not exhibit any flaming running or
dripping unless an appropriate fire hazard analysis is conducted
and approved by the Transit Authority.
2) The ASTM E 662-97
maximum test limits for smoke emission (specific optical density)
shall be measured in both the flaming or non-flaming mode, values
shall be provided for both cases.
3) Testing of a complete
seat assembly (including cushions, fabric layers, upholstery)
according to ASTM E 1537 using the pass/fail criteria of California
Technical Bulletin 133, and testing of a complete mattress assembly
(including foam and ticking) according to ASTM E 1590 using
the pass/fail criteria of California Technical Bulletin 129
shall be permitted in lieu of the test methods prescribed herein,
provided the assembly component units remain unchanged or new
(replacement) assembly components possess equivalent fire performance
properties to the original components tested. Testing shall
be at 50 kW/m2 applied heat flux with a retainer
frame. A fire hazard analysis must also be conducted that considers
the operating environment within which the seat or mattress
assembly will be used in relation to the risk of vandalism,
puncture, cutting, or other acts which may expose the individual
components of the assemblies to an ignition source. The requirements
of Notes 5, 6, 7, and 8 shall be met.
4) Testing is performed
without upholstery.
5) The surface flammability
and smoke emission characteristics shall be demonstrated to
be permanent after dynamic testing according to ASTM D 3574,
Test I 2 (Dynamic Fatigue Test by the Roller Shear at Constant
Force) or Test I 3 (Dynamic Fatigue Test by Constant Force Pounding)
both using Procedure B, except that the test samples shall be
a minimum of 6 inches (154 mm) by 18 inches (457 mm) by the
thickness of the material in its end use configuration, or multiples
thereof. If Test I 3 is used, the size of the indentor described
in paragraph 96.2 shall be modified to accommodate the specified
test specimen.
6) The surface flammability
and smoke emission characteristics shall be demonstrated to
be permanent by washing, if appropriate, according to FED-STD-191a
Textile Test Method 5830.
7) The surface flammability
and smoke emission characteristics shall be demonstrated to
be permanent by dry-cleaning, if appropriate, according to ASTM
D 2724-87.
8) Materials that cannot
be washed or dry-cleaned shall be so labeled and shall meet
the applicable performance criteria after being cleaned as recommended
by the manufacturer.
9) As a minimum, all
combustible materials used anywhere in the vehicle (except as
noted in 10) are required to be tested including interior, cab
components as well as exterior components. Combustible signage
shall not be required to meet flame spread or smoke emission
requirements if (a) the actual thickness of the signage is no
greater than 1.5 mm (0.060 in.); (b) the aggregate area of combustible
signage does not exceed 10 percent of the wall area of the car,
including windows; and (c) no single sign is larger than 0.47
m2 (5.0 ft2). Items that
can not be made compliant due to other dominating engineering
requirements may not be required to meet the flammability or
smoke emission performance criteria specified, but still must
be tested to establish the relative risk and evaluated, and
waived, by the Transit Authority.
10) Materials used to
fabricate miscellaneous, discontinuous small parts (such as
knobs, rollers, fasteners, clips, grommets, and small electrical
parts) that will not contribute materially to fire growth in
end use configuration are exempt from flammability and smoke
emission performance requirements, provided that the surface
area of any individual small part is less than 16 square inches
(100 cm2) in end use configuration and an
appropriate fire hazard analysis is conducted which addresses
the location and quantity of the materials used, and the vulnerability
of the materials to ignition and contribution to flame spread.
11) If the surface area
of any individual small part is less than 16 square inches (100
cm2) in end use configuration, materials used
to fabricate such a part may be tested in accordance with ASTM
E 1354 as an alternative to both (a) the ASTM E 162 flammability
test procedure, or the appropriate flammability test procedure
otherwise specified in the table, and (b) the ASTM E 662 smoke
generation test procedure. Testing shall be at 50 kW/m2
applied heat flux with a retainer frame. Materials tested in
accordance with ASTM E 1354 shall meet the following performance
criteria: average heat release rate (q˙ ´´ 180) less
than or equal to 100 kW/m2, and average specific
extinction area (sf) less than or equal to 500 m2/kg
over the same 180-second period.
12) Carpeting used as
a wall or ceiling covering shall be tested according to ASTM
E 162 and ASTM E 662 and meet the respective criteria of I s
less than or equal to 35 and D s (1.5) less than or equal to
100 and D s (4.0) less than or equal to 200. Notes 1 and 2
apply.
13) Floor covering shall
be tested with padding in accordance with ASTM E 648, if the
padding is used in the actual installation.
14) For double window
glazing, only the interior glazing is required to meet the requirements
specified herein. (The exterior glazing is not required to
meet these requirements.)
15) Average flame propagation
shall be less than 4 inches and no specimen shall be completely
consumed.
16) Penetrations (ducts,
access openings, etc.) shall be designed against acting as passageways
for fire and smoke and representative penetrations shall be
included as part of test assemblies.
17) A structural flooring
assembly separating the interior of a vehicle from its undercarriage
shall meet the performance criteria during a nominal test period
as determined by the railroad. The nominal test period must
be twice the maximum expected time period under normal circumstances
for a vehicle to stop completely and safely from its maximum
operating speed, plus the time necessary to evacuate all the
vehicle's occupants to a safe area. The nominal test period
must not be less than 15 minutes. Only one specimen need be
tested. A proportional reduction may be made in the dimensions
of the specimen provided it serves to truly test the ability
of the structural flooring assembly to perform as a barrier
against under-vehicle fires. The fire resistance period required
shall be consistent with the safe evacuation of a full load
of passengers from the vehicle under worst-case conditions.
18) Portions of the vehicle
body which separate major ignition sources, energy sources,
or sources of fuel-load from vehicle interiors, shall have sufficient
fire endurance as determined by a fire hazard analysis acceptable
to the railroad which addresses the location and quantity of
the materials used, as well as vulnerability of the materials
to ignition, flame spread, and smoke generation. These portions
include equipment carrying portions of a vehicle's roof and
the interior structure separating the levels of a bi-level car,
but do not include a flooring assembly subject to Note 17.
19) Testing shall be
conducted in accordance with ANSI/IEEE Standard 383-1974, section
2.5, with the additional requirement that circuit integrity
shall continue for 5 minutes after the start of the test. |