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Promat Tunnel
Bormstraat 24 - 2830 Tisselt
Tel. : +32 (0)15 71 81 00
Fax : +32 (0)15 71 81 09 |
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Tunnel Fire Protection > Expert articles
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"Tunnel safety - underground traffic and risks",
"by: dr.ir. C. (Kees) Both, Technical director Efectis Nederland BV
(the former TNO Centre for Fire Research)" |
 TUNNEL SAFETY - Underground traffic and risks
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In the infra-structural system in Europe, several thousands of kilometres of road, rail and masstransit tunnels are an essential part. Large new tunnel projects are on the drawing board or already under construction (Dublin Port, Green Heart and Betuwe Route, etc.) Recent incidents however have drawn widespread attention to the risks of fires in road, rail and mass-transit tunnels (e.g. King’s Cross, Channel Tunnel, Mont Blanc, Tauern, Gotthard). The incidents have resulted in casualties as well as large direct and indirect economic damage, due to lengthy non-operational time of the tunnels. Also, the public acceptance of fires causing major damage is diminishing. |
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 Lorry waiting for Gotthard,
closed after severe fire
(CNN, 25-10-2001) |
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| An expert view |
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With a view to control losses and damage and keep the European economy competitive, tunnel and safety experts, throughout Europe, are of the opinion that research and discussion panels should be started and should join forces to improve the (fire) safety in road, rail and mass-transit tunnels.
Points of concern are: |
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- The need for an integral safety approach for existing as well as new tunnels, comprising all aspects (limiting probability, mitigating consequences, human response, fire fighting and emergency response, tunnel operating) in a well balanced scientific based fashion;
- A commonly supported European legislation and guidelines framework;
- Upgrading of the fire safety levels of existing tunnels.
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| A safety network |
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Upgrading the safety level in tunnels is, with existing technology and within the legislation and guidelines frameworks of the member states, in most cases, however either nearly impossible or too costly. Therefore, large European research projects and discussion and knowledge dissemination platforms, so-called thematic networks, are undertaken in the forthcoming years. In order to create (public) support all stakeholders are represented: tunnel owners, tunnel project initiators, designers, contractors, end-users, emergency response organisations, research institutes, traffic control, insurance companies, etc.
It is expected that these projects and networks result in a commonly supported safety approach, embedded in the legislation systems of the member states in a period of 3-5 years. |
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| The role of Efectis and TNO |
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TNO, the largest independant Dutch research organisation, participated in the four major tunnel safety research projects, and has gained extensive knowledge and expertise to solve your questions and problems. In particular in the field of fire safety, TNO has launched and embarked upon the cooperation under the name of Efectis, with French, Norwegian, Spanish and German fire safety specialists; please contact Efectis Nederland for more information. |
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Please contact:
dr.ir. C. (Kees) Both
Technical director Efectis Nederland BV (the former TNO Centre for Fire Research)
Co-ordinator EU 5FP project "UPTUN": Upgrading Fire Safety of Existing Tunnels www.uptun.net
Member EU 5FP thematic network "FIT": Fire in Tunnels www.etnfit.net
Tel.: +31 (0) 15 276 3480
Fax.: +31 (0) 15 276 3025
Mobile: +31 (0) 6 537 60 343
E-mail: C.Both@bouw.tno.nl
Website: http://www.tno.nl
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 Postal address:
P.O. Box 49 - 2600 AA Delft
Visiting addresses:
Office: Van Mourik Broekmanweg 6
2628 XE Delft
Laboratory:
Lange Kleiweg 5 - 2288 GH Rijswijk
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