Abstract
In large transit systems, typical token booths can have up to $10,000 in cash; as a result, they are vulnerable targets for robberies. Over the last several years, at least one mass transit system has experienced incendiary attacks on subway Token Booth (Railroad) Clerks. Since the booths are heavily protected against physical assault, criminals have retooled and have targeted these locations for incendiary assault.
Although not a relatively common fire problem, this type of incendiarism presents a chal lenge for the design and installation of fire protection systems to counteract such attacks on token booths and similar locations.
This paper discusses the design objectives, concepts, system design, testing and imple mentation of an ultra-high speed fire detection/suppression system to defuse an incendi ary attack on the personnel in a token booth.
The majority of the information contained in this report was based on actual incident inves tigations and fire experience, knowledge gained through full-scale testing, input from vari ous entities affected by the system, e.g., internal, system safety and fire departments, and NFPA standards, primarily NFPA 12A (Halon Systems) and the NFPA 72 series (fire detection and alarm). Other transportation authorities were contacted to determine if this type of problem was found in other locations of the country; none were found.
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