Tunnel Safety and Ventilation of Tunnels
Real Fire Tests in Tunnels

Real fire tests demonstrate the weak point during acceptance tests and fire drills and help to optimise the ventilation of the tunnel in case of an incident.

I.F.I. offers comprehensive services in the field of real fire tests.  Real fire tests close the gap between the safety planning (theory) and the fire catastrophe to be avoided (pratice).

With the mobile test equipment developed by I.F.I  realistic fire events with a thermal output of 5 MW can be simulated.

Modern measuring and control technology allow a fast and precise run of a specified scenario. Damage of the existing building is prevented by an on-line temperature control.  Problem oriented test programmes are developed after an analysis of the ventilation system and the safety equipment of the tunnel. On the basis of these tests, documented by means of measuring and video technology, the optimisation potentials are pointed out and the necessary safety-relevant proofs are provided.

Specially developed smoke generators provide a large amount of smoke.

Due to the targeted controlled fire together with hot white smoke of about 450 °C a sufficient thermal lift is provided. Under appropriate flow conditions in the tunnel a stable smoke layer  or at high longitudinal velocities a realistic smoke filled tunnel cross section is reached. The smoke harmless, i.e. there is no risk for people participating in this realistic szenario.

I.F.I. offers:
Analysis of the ventilation system and the safety-relevant equipment of the tunnel:

   • Planning and execution of the tests in coordination with the customer/operator
   • Coordination of public relations 
   • Evaluation of the test results 
   • Evaluation and  presentation of the optimisation potential 
   • Documentation of the results by means of a report and of videos 
   • Issue of proofs and expert's report