Safe on the rails: Fire protection for rolling stock

Detecting fires as early as possible is of immense importance in rail transportation for two reasons: First, personal safety and therefore evacuation as early as possible in the event of an emergency is paramount. Secondly, you want to keep fire-related damage to your vehicles and thus to your fixed assets as low as possible in order to guarantee your operational capability at all times.

Our TITANUS^®­ early fire detection system detects even the smallest quantities of smoke particles in the early phase of a fire (pyrolysis) and thus before open flames develop. The fire parameters, smoke and temperature, in the protected areas are monitored by a wide range of automatic detectors. Our innovative TITANUS^®­ aspirating smoke detectors have proven themselves for years in numerous applications in the railroad sector. They are used in combination with a fire alarm control panel, but can also be implemented as a stand-alone solution. Our aspirating smoke detectors are characterized by a high immunity to false alarms and are therefore particularly suitable for use in the passenger area of trains.

Based on the current national and international standards and guidelines as well as the requirements of the operators, we at WAGNER generally recommend the installation of automatic fire extinguishing systems in addition to fire detection systems.

Typical areas of protection are:

• Sleeping and couchette wagons
• Passenger compartments
• Other passenger areas

When selecting a suitable extinguishing system, we primarily consider the requirements of the respective protected area and distinguish between areas with and without passenger traffic. For example, water mist extinguishing technology is used exclusively in passenger compartments in order to avoid endangering people with extinguishing gases. Further advantages of using water mist extinguishing technology are the limitation of the spread of a fire to the next stop and the containment of smoke development, so that people present can be brought to safety.

We protect enclosed areas such as control and switch cabinets, as well as electrical systems in underfloor areas and locomotives with risk-appropriate gas extinguishing systems. We typically use natural extinguishing gases such as nitrogen. By introducing nitrogen into the protected area, we reduce the oxygen concentration and thus prevent the fire from starting and spreading. We do it completely residue-free and non-destructive.

In conjunction with the earliest possible fire detection, the use of gas extinguishing technology enables the rapid, reliable and residue-free extinguishing of an incipient fire. The extinguishing agent does not pose a risk to electrical systems. As modular systems, gas extinguishing systems are designed according to the size of the areas to be protected.

Aerosol systems are ideal for use in technical containers and power packs. When triggered, these extinguishing systems release fine aerosols that can safely extinguish a fire in the enclosed area. Aerosol systems are used where gas extinguishing systems with cylinders in the container are too expensive.