Composite materials
For one of its OEM customers,
MCI reduced the panel count
in the passenger area of the
coaches by 66%
FAR LEFT: A phenolic
composite floor system
LEFT AND BELOW: MCI’s
heated floor system being
tested on the bench
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ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2019 Railway Interiors International 71
OEM customers in Canada has been using
its contour parts successfully to meet ADA
compliance since 2011.
For one of its OEM customers, MCI reduced
the panel count in the passenger area of the
coaches by 66%. This reduced the need to
manage more inventory, sped up installation time
and decreased weight. The company adds that
the single panel helps to minimize the number
of opportunities for fire to spread. The panels
have successfully passed tests for internal load,
pressure, impact and fatigue.
Heated floor technology
MCI has also produced and patented a phenolic
composite radiant heated floor. The heated floor system works
in combination with a control system to continuously regulate the
floor panel temperature to ensure a consistent, safe and controlled
environment in the train.
One of the safety benefits of MCI’s heated floors is apparent
when passengers bring in snow from outside, which eventually
melts, creating potential slipping and falling hazards. MCI’s floors
have enough thermal energy to evaporate excess standing water
to prevent any hazardous conditions for passengers, as well as
mitigating the possibility of the standing water turning to ice and
creating a secondary hazard. Other safety features integrated into
MCI’s heated floor system include high temperature protection,
stray current monitoring and insulation dielectric strength
monitoring. Additionally, since the heated floors eliminate the need
for sidewall heaters, there are no concerns for fires that can be
caused from trash being thrown into that area. MCI adds that its
heated floor technology improves air quality as the surface is easier
to clean than sidewall heaters and prevents potential burns that can
result from the metal surrounding sidewall heaters getting too hot.
MCI’s heated floors also have temperature sensors that provide
feedback to the control system. This control system allows for
independent temperature control of each panel or zone of panels
to precisely control the temperature regardless of changes in
conditions for optimal comfort. This patented technology is
currently being used in Canada and the USA.
/prii