Smoke movement tests in subway stations actually in service - Smoke movement characteristics in side platforms station in the early stage of a fire - Smoke m

Smoke movement tests conducted at an side-platforms subway station actually in service in Tokyo in October 2003 using 320-480kW methanol pool fires as fuel are reported. The fire safety design of the station is essentially based on the currently effective underground station design guide, and operation of the existing smoke extraction system and the fire shutters in the stairway between the platform and the concourse was the major experimental parameters. Distribution of temperature, velocity and static pressure throughout the platforms, the tunnel and the concourse were measured. In comparison with the center platform station reported earlier by the same authors(JAFSE Bulletin Vol.56, No.2), there has been general anticipation that smoke movement and threat to life safety in side-platforms station can be different in 1) the larger volume on the platform level and 2) the possible delay of the approach of smoke and detection of fire on the opposite-side platform. In addition to the significant influence of the operation of fire shutters as also seen on the center-platform stations, the test results reveal generally wider spread of smoke toward the ends of the platforms. Performance of the smoke extraction was also found to be significantly affected by the operation of the shutters and is less effective than in center-platform station probably for the larger volume of the platform level.