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UK


The British classification is in accordance with BS 6853 "Code of practice for fire precautions in the design and construction of passenger carrying trains".This classification regards essentially three vehicles categories:
  • Category Ia and Ib (underground),
  • Category II (surface).
In this Standard each material (except mass loss materials and seat components) is classified by their position on the vehicle.

The most important classification regards all the materials/item with important surface (both interior and exterior of vehicle). For these are provided 3 positions:
  • Horizontal prone "ceiling-like" (HP surface),
  • Horizontal supine "floor-like" (HS surface),
  • Vertical "wall-like" (V surface).
The fire behaviour parameters evaluated by the British Standard are:
  • Ignitability,
  • Spread of flame,
  • Heat release (using BS476 part6),
  • Smoke opacity,
  • Smoke toxicity.
For the exterior and interior horizontal surfaces the above parameters are evaluated by BS 476-7  (surface spread of flame); smoke density by a 27 meters cube chamber according to Annex D of the standard and smoke toxicity by the test method described in the Annex B of the above Standard. 



Figure 1: 27 meters cube chamber


The determination of the weighted summation of toxic gas is obtained by two different methods:
  • The first one is available for the "minor use material" and is based on the mass of the material using NF X 70-100,
  • The second one is available to the "surfaces materials, seat and mattress" using the cone calorimeter ISO 5659-2apparatus at 25kW/m2.

Table 1: DIN 5510-2 requirements 

ProductTest
SeatingBS 476-6 Fire propagation box
BS 476-7 Surface spread of flame
27 m cube smoke density test
ISO 5659-2 Toxic fume emission
Wall and CeilingsBS 476-6 Fire propagation box
BS 476-7 Surface spread of flame
27 m cube smoke density test
ISO 5659-2 Toxic fume emission
FlooringISO 9239-1 Radiant panel test for floorings
27 m cube smoke density test
NF X 70-100 Toxic fume emission
CablesBS 4066 Flammability temperature index on sheath
27 m cube smoke density test
NF X 70-100 Toxic fume emission
Subpages (1): BS 6853