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Why Use Fire-Smoke-Toxicity Standards Compliant Materials? >

A demand for increased mobility and a mode of transport that is safe and reliable combined with environmental concerns and a commitment to the needs of citizens and sustainable development place rail as the best solution to modern transport problems for the twenty first century. In recent months the partners of the European Rail Research Advisory Council made a long term commitment to making the railway an attractive, affordable, safe, clean, competitive and reliable transport mode across the continent. In embracing the future the rail sector faces some difficult challenges and tough decisions. Demands for quality, sustainability, safety and affordability often leads to conflicting requirements. This conflict can result in compromise on materials used in Industrial design. The continuing push towards a safer, more efficient travelling environment must then inevitably lead to the investigation and development of new materials.

Materials used by the Rail Industry are almost always selected based on their reaction to fire. Materials need to have low smoke and toxic emissions and should not be easily ignitable. There are a number of safety standards that should be complied with in any new build or rolling stock refurbishment, BS 6853 and NFF-16-101 are the most common. In the past these standards have been ignored or an unsuitable material has been selected in order to meet safety requirements. It is however no longer true to say that in order to meet these safety requirements other conditions such as chemical resistance, weight savings, longevity or mechanical considerations cannot also be satisfied.

There is a new generation of silicone foam and sponge materials that are particularly well
suited to the requirements of the modern rail industry. They have a number of attributes that mean they are ideally placed to meet safety standards whilst also conforming to the demands of design and manufacture. As well as meeting the requirements of rail industry standards, BS6853:1999, GM/RT 2125, NFF-16-101 and the LUL safety standards these new materials also:
– have unique mechanical attributes,
– have longevity
– which can lead to a lower life cycle cost,
– have good sealing attributes
– are available in a wide range of widths and thickness

The materials are already being used in the Rail Industry worldwide in a range of applications. Solid silicone rubber is available in sheeting for gasketing, strips and fabrication needs. It can also be moulded into complex shapes to provide solutions for difficult problems. It can be extruded into profile sections and colour matched. Silicone sponges have been used in gasketing and sealing applications and for anti-vibration components and cushioning. Innovative applications of this material have also seen it used for floating floors.

Continuing innovation is vital within the modern rail industry if manufacturers are to be able to meet the demands of the train operators, government bodies and the end user. Only a railway with access to leading edge materials will be capable of attaining the scales of performance and efficiency needed to be successful within the marketplace. Indeed this is the only way that railways can ensure their own survival. The aim of the modern rail supply industry should be to produce innovative, attractive, comfortable products, which are environmentally friendly, reliable and affordable. Finding the right material to meet the demands of what is, always, a demanding job is the first step.

For more information please contact:

Paul Kennedy
Technical Director
C.B. Frost & Co Ltd
info@cbfrost-rubber.com
+44(0)121 773 8494