Covering Your Bases and NFPA 130 Compliancy
Passenger rail systems are governed by a standard for fire safety known as NFPA 130. The standard has been in effect since the early 1980s and lays out the international guidelines for both reducing fire risks and keeping passengers safe if and when a fire occurs.
Under NFPA 130 guidelines, electrical systems and other potential fire fodder must be limited, proper ventilation systems must be in place, and passengers must be able to safely exit trains and other rail systems in a short matter of time.
There is no single path to achieving NFPA 130 compliancy. Different rail systems throughout the world utilize different ventilation systems, for example. There are also a number of different methods for helping passengers safely and quickly exit in the event of a fire emergency. While most trainways still use electrical emergency exit signs and lights in order to comply with NFPA 130, many mass transit operators have found that nonelectric, environmental exit signs are just as effective, more cost efficient, and better for the earth.
Reliable Path to Safety When the Lights Go Out
Electric emergency signs in trains and subways have the potential to fail in the event of a fire. Electric signs also require their own wiring, which is a potential source of fuel, increasing fire risk. Contrarily, glow-in-the-dark exit signs and path markings require no electricity and therefore will not fail if the lights go out. Such signs use photoluminescent materials to absorb energy from interior overhead lights. When those lights go out, the signs begin to glow brightly, providing railway passengers with a reliable means of egress.
Because glow-in-the-dark exit signs are nonelectric, that also makes them much more cost-efficient. The potential savings of using glow-in-the-dark exit signs in a local rail system run into the thousands every year. Plus, glow-in-the-dark signs last for up to 25 years and have a significantly lower carbon footprint than electric lights.
Consider the possibility of making your local rail system more cost-efficient, energy-efficient, and safer. Contact Jessup Manufacturing Company, maker of GloBrite® Photoluminescent Systems, to speak with a sales team member about our various egress products and your safety options.
2015-02-18 15:18:00
