Railway Inspections - fire safety management:
Railway premises can be anything from small open air stations to large underground complexes and the fire safety measures that are required in them vary according to the risk.
NFPA 130 Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems gives guidance and the following points are in line with that guidance:
Each platform should have a minimum of two safe ways off. Different platforms are permitted to share common escape routes.
Escalators and lifts can be used to provide part of means of escape. Escalators are allowed to reverse in direction to carry people towards an exit.
Care is required to ensure that people will not be carried towards a fire. The rate at which people are evacuated via escalators depends on the speed of those escalators. The rate at which people are evacuated via lifts depends on the circulation period for the lifts and the number of lifts. It may be necessary to have protected holding areas at the base of escalators or lifts so that people can wait while being safely separated from the fire. It should be assumed that one lift is not working.