building and refurbishments on Central, Metropolitan, Jubilee, Picadilly, Hammersmith and City and Northern lines have been fitted with Arc Barriers supplied by British Mica. These components ensure the safety of passengers should an electric arc occur underneath a train. The resin used offers advantages over phenolic systems and is fully pigmentable. The excellent fire performance of this low smoke composite is also borne out by the results obtained in a series of international fire test standards. The product achieves a Class 1 surface (zero) spread of flame to BS 476 Part 7 and an index of performance 1 on BS 476 Part 6 below 12. It therefore conforms to the class 'O' requirements of the UK building regulations. It passes the French M1 standard on the Epiradiateur test (NFP-92-501) and the FO standard on the French test for combustion gases (NFF 16 101/102). With an oxygen index of 100% and a temperature index in excess of 350°C, this polyester system is in the premier division of the fire retardent composites. Other key features of the material are that it is free from Halogens and that Smoke and Toxic emissions are only a fraction of other more conventional materials used in public vehicles. The components are hand laid in open moulds with barriers up to 80kg in weight having been produced. This composite should also be considered for applications in the building industries, offshore, mining and chemical plants. |
