Transport Special Interest Group

Chairman, Andy James

Andy is currently the Chairman of the Rail Industry Fire Association (RIFA) and is an Associate Director with the Approved Inspector Services Ltd. He previously held the positions of Fire Asset Engineer for Metronet Rail and Head of Product Certification with the Loss Prevention Council (now BRE Global).

Overview of the Group

Following the interest shown by the Rail Industry Fire Association, The Institution of Fire Engineers is in the early stages of setting up new Special Interest Group specifically for transport and the membership of this committee is currently being formed.

With the changes to regulations and the fact that transport hubs are becoming major retail opportunities, the Special Interest Group intends to ensure that successes achieved in one transport area are effectively communicated to others.

At the second steering meeting the following goals were identified and work has started on the first item:

  • Staged evacuation including management, zoning and consideration of people of reduced mobility.
  • A high level strategy for smoke modelling for Transport (link with Modelling SIG to be devised)
  • Risk Assessments
At the third steering meeting James Holland tabled a short paper on staged evacuation for discussion. This paper was biased towards the rail industry and it has been circulated to all SIG steering panel for comment / to amend to cover other transport hubs. The intention is to place the paper on the website for IFE members for comments.

The steering members discussed the introduction of the Guidance to the Regulatory Reform Order with respect to the FIre precautions (Sub-surface) regulations and how the LFEPA are to implement the guidance. A series of meetings will be held internally within LFEPA and then with the stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition.

Due to the work already ongoing within RIFA on modeling on Rail infrastructure, the Transport SIG agreed to review this work and ensure that the Modeling SIG of the IFE were fully engaged to prevent duplication of effort.

The Transport SIG steering panel have identified a suitable panel member to cover the road sector and they are currently being approached.

Steering Panel

Rail - James Holland Network Rail

Rail - Martin Weller London Underground

Air - John Boyce British Airports Authority

Air - Gavin Tiley Defence Fire and Rescue Service

LFEPA - Nigel Firkins

CLG - Peter Wise

Marine - TBA

Road - TBA

If you would like to assist in the work of this group or have information that you feel would assist it in its initial goals please contact info@ife.org.uk . We are currently looking for appropriate members to cover the road and marine transport areas.

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