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Investigation on the Performance of Fire Detection Systems for Tunnel Applications––Part 1: Full-Scale Experiments at a Laboratory Tunnel

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Abstract

A two-year international road tunnel fire detection research project (Phase II) was completed recently. As part of this project, a series of fire tests were conducted in a laboratory tunnel facility under minimum and longitudinal airflow conditions. In addition, fire tests were also conducted in the Carré-Viger tunnel in Montreal. This paper presents the results of the full-scale experiments conducted in the laboratory tunnel under minimum airflow conditions. The performance of nine fire detection systems representing five types of fire detection technologies was investigated using representative tunnel fire scenarios. Test results showed that the response of fire detection systems to a tunnel fire was dependent on the size, location and growth rate of the fire, the type of fuel as well as the method of detection.

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Notes

  1. At the time of tests conducted in this paper, it was not known if hydrocarbon pool fires could be used in the tunnel in Montreal used for the tests discussed in Part 2 of this paper. A propane burner fire was used for a limited number of tests to provide baseline data in case such a system was used for the tests in Montreal. The results are included in this paper as they provide useful data for several of the detection systems.

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Acknowledgements

The project was conducted under the auspices of the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF). The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Technical Panel and Sponsors for the project. A special acknowledgement is noted to Kathleen Almand of the FPRF for managing the project. The support of the technical staff that conducted the tests is also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fire Research Program, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada

    Z. G. Liu, A. H. Kashef, G. D. Lougheed & G. P. Crampton

Authors
  1. Z. G. Liu
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  2. A. H. Kashef
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  3. G. D. Lougheed
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  4. G. P. Crampton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. D. Lougheed.

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**Present Address: Z. G. Liu, CAFS UNIT Inc., Ottawa, ON, Canada.

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Liu, Z.G., Kashef, A.H., Lougheed, G.D. et al. Investigation on the Performance of Fire Detection Systems for Tunnel Applications––Part 1: Full-Scale Experiments at a Laboratory Tunnel. Fire Technol 47, 163–189 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-010-0142-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-010-0142-4

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