Title: UPGRADING NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT'S EMERGENCY VENTILATION CAPABILITIES
Abstract: The New York Metro is described. The infrastructure dates from 1904 onwards, and while ventilation design criteria were established and implemented in 1916, the metro was not fully upgraded. Two new lines were built in 1989 with larger reversible fan plants. About one third of the tunnel system is currently protected and the upgrading of the system to meet NFPA Standard 130 is required. Four ventilation methods were investigated using a simulation computer program: brute force, tunnel isolation (solid walls separating the twin tracks), inflatable barriers, and tunnel isolation + inflatable barriers. Barrier systems were considered too experimental for implementation, and there is not sufficient space to ventilate by brute force alone. Consequently many miles of porous walls between tracks will have to be closed so that the size of the fan machinery can be reduced. The financing and timescale of the operation are discussed. A major difficulty is the availablity of land both above and below street level so that particular attention to the design of the ventilation systems is required. The design of the upgrade of the 6th Avenue line between West 4th Street and 14th Street Station is given as an example. Ventilation criteria include achieving a critical velocity for a 50 Mbtu/h fire by operating all required fan plants for the tunnel section and the ability to achieve critical velocity for a 150 Mtbu/h fire with any one fan plant out of service. These criteria are not met within 300 feet of a station platform as train evacuation is the better option. Frequent removal of flammable rubbish from tunnels is considered worthwhile.
Publication Year: 2001
Publication Date: 2001-11-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 1
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