Now, RDSO to set up its own fire safety lab

In order to ensure the safety of train passengers, especially during major fire breakouts, the Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO) is going to set up its own laboratory to test the combustibility of material used for making coaches.

It will also determine the presence of harmful components emanating from the smoke during the burning of the material.

“It will be our first laboratory and will be named the fire safety lab,” said AK Mathur, executive director administration and public relation, RDSO.

“Up till now, we have had to depend upon various institutes, like the CPRI, the CIPET and the Sriram Institute for Industrial Research for fire testing. But, in the days to come, fire testing would be carried out at our own laboratory,” said Mathur, while talking to Hindustan Times.

The fire safety laboratory, which will also be among the country’s most advanced fire labs, would come up on the premises of RDSO. The laboratory, Mathur said, would con- duct gruelling tests in order to test the combustibility of the material used for making coaches. “Along with combustibility, it will also check the fire retardant properties of the material,” said Mathur.

Besides, the laboratory, Mathur said, would also conduct a series of tests to check the components in smoke emanating from the burning material.

“On finding any harmful components in the smoke, or anything that could choke a person to death in case of a fire breakout, the material would be rejected,” Mathur said.

For the purpose, the RDSO has also floated tenders, inviting companies for installing equipment at the laboratory.

“Many foreign companies have showed their interest in our project,” Mathur said.

About whne the project would be completed, Mathur said, “It’s establishment will start soon after the work contract is awarded. We are already preparing the building for the fire safety laboratory. It may take a few months for us to make this dream project a reality.”