Vehicle Fires: Significant Fire Hazard in Transportation Infrastructure

Abstract

Vehicle flammability poses a critical threat to transportation infrastructure, with recent fires in depots, tunnels, and car parks highlighting systemic vulnerabilities. These incidents often result in the total loss of vehicles and buildings, revealing the inadequacy of current fire safety standards for vehicle materials. Unlike trains and aircraft, road vehicles rely on outdated regulations that fail to address the high heat release and toxic smoke emissions of modern automotive materials. This paper argues for a paradigm shift: enhancing material safety standards for vehicles to protect infrastructure more effectively. Ongoing experimental studies aim to support this transition by evaluating the fire behavior and toxicity of commonly used bus interior materials.