Skip to main content

Fire Suppression and Detection in Tunnels

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Tunnel Fire Dynamics

Abstract

The basic concepts of fire suppression systems are depicted. There are mainly two water-based fire suppression systems used in tunnels, i.e. water spray systems and water mist systems. The main differences are the water density, pressure and droplet size. The extinguishment mechanisms are explored, and the critical conditions at extinction are discussed. Further, suppression of realistic fires is discussed considering both the water flow rate and the total water flow rate used for fire suppression. A summary of fire suppression tests conducted in tunnels is presented followed by a short discussion of tunnel fire detection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    An open sprinkler is a sprinkler that does not have actuators or heat-responsive elements.

  2. 2.

    An open spray nozzle is an open water discharge device that will distribute the water in a specific, directional pattern. Spray nozzles are typically used in applications requiring special water discharge patterns, directional spray or other discharge characteristics.

References

  1. NFPA 13 – Standard for the installation of sprinkler systems (2013). National Fire Protection Association,

    Google Scholar 

  2. Carvel RO, Marlair G (2005) A history of tunnel fire experiments. In: Beard AN, Carvel RO (eds) The handbook of tunnel fire safety. Thomas Telford Publishing, London, pp 201–230

    Google Scholar 

  3. NFPA 502 – Standard for road tunnels, bridges, and other limited access highways (2011 Edition). National Fire Protection Association.,

    Google Scholar 

  4. NFPA 502 Standard for road tunnels, bridges, and other limited access highways. National Fire Protection Association, 2023 Edition

    Google Scholar 

  5. SOLIT (2012) Engineering guidance for a comprehensive evaluation of tunnels with fixed fire fighting systems scientific report of the SOLIT2 research project, prepared by the SOLIT2 consortium. Annex 3 – engineering guidance for fixed fire fighting Systems in Tunnels

    Google Scholar 

  6. UPTUN (2008) Workpackage 2 fire development and mitigation measures – D251. Engineering guidance for water based fire fighting systems for the protection of tunnels and sub surface facilities

    Google Scholar 

  7. UPTUN (2008) Workpackage 2 fire development and mitigation measures – D253. Summary of water based fire safety systems in road tunnelsand sub surface facilities

    Google Scholar 

  8. PIARC (2016) Fixed fire fighting systems in road tunnels: current practices and recommendations – 2016R03EN

    Google Scholar 

  9. Cheong MK, Cheong WO, Leong KW, Lemaire AD, Noordijk LM (2013) Heat release rates of heavy goods vehicle fire in tunnels with fire suppression system. Fire Technol 50:249–266

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cheong MK, Cheong WO, Leong KW, Lemaire AD, Noordijk LM (2013) Tarada F heat release rates of heavy goods vehicle fires in tunnels. In: 15th international symposium on aerodynamics, ventilation & fire in tunnels, Barcelona, Spain, 2013. BHR Group, pp 779–788

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lemaire T, Kenyon Y (2006) Large Scale fire tests in the second Benelux tunnel. Fire Technol 42:329–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Arvidson M Fixed fire suppression system concepts for highway tunnels. In: International conference on tunnel fires and escape from tunnels, Lyon, France, 5–7 May 1999. Independent Technical Conferences Ltd., pp 129–136

    Google Scholar 

  13. Harris KJ Water application rates for fixed fire fighting Systems in Road Tunnels. In: Fourth international symposium on tunnel safety and security, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 2010

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jönsson J, Johnson P Suppression System – trade-offs & benefits. In: Fourth international symposium on tunnel safety and security, Frankfurt am Main, 2010. pp. 271–282

    Google Scholar 

  15. Stroeks R (2001) Sprinklers in Japanese road tunnels. Bouwdienst Rijkswaterstaat, Directoraat-Generaal Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of Transport, The Netherlands,

    Google Scholar 

  16. OTA O (December 2002) Automatic fire extinction (sprinkler) system. OTA Engineering, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  17. Li YZ, Ingason H (2013) Model scale tunnel fire tests with automatic sprinkler. Fire Saf J 61:298–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ingason H, Li YZ (2019) Large scale tunnel fire tests with different types of large droplet fixed fire fighting systems. Fire Saf J 107:29–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ingason H, Li YZ, Arvidson M, Jiang L (2022) Fire tests with automatic sprinklers in an intermediate scale tunnel. Fire Saf J 129:103567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Mawhinney J (2013) Fixed fire protection systems in tunnels: issues and directions. Fire Technol 49:477–508

    Google Scholar 

  21. Arvidson M Large-scale water spray and water mist fire suppression system tests. In: Fourth international symposium on tunnel safety and security, Frankfurt am Main, 2010. pp 283–296

    Google Scholar 

  22. Brandt A, Wighus R (2006) Real-scale tests of compressed air foam system in Runehamar test tunnel 2005. Sintef NBL

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lönnermark A, Kristensson P, Helltegen M, Bobert M Fire suppression and structure protection for cargo train tunnels: macadam and HotFoam. In: Lönnermark A, Ingason H (eds) 3rd international symposium on safety and security in tunnels (ISTSS 2008), Stockholm, Sweden, 12–14 March 2008. SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, pp 217–228

    Google Scholar 

  24. Mawhinney JR, Trelles J (2007) Computational fluid dynamics modelling of water mist systems on large HGV fires in tunnels. Paper presented at the Journée d’Etude Technique: Brouillard d’Eau – Quoi de Neuf?, at Pôle Européen de Sécurité CNPP – Vernon, France, 22 Nov

    Google Scholar 

  25. State of the road tunnel equipment in Japan – ventilation, lighting, safety equipment (1993). Public Works Research Institute, Japan

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ingason H (2008) Model scale tunnel tests with water spray. Fire Saf J 43(7):512–528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Development of new innovative technologies (2006). UPTUN Work Package 2

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ingason H, Li YZ (2017) Spilled Liquid Fires in Tunnels. Fire Saf J 91:399–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Kim AK, Dlugogorski BZ, Mawhinney JR (1994) The effect of foam additives on the fire suppression efficiency of water mist 1994

    Google Scholar 

  30. Tuomisaari M (2008) Full scale fire testing for road tunnel applications – evaluation of acceptable fire protection performance. In: Lönnermark A, Ingason H (eds) Third international symposium on tunnel safety and security, Stockholm, pp 181–193

    Google Scholar 

  31. Mawhinney JR Evaluating the performance of water mist systems in road tunnels. In: IV Congreso Bienal Apci Ingenieria de Pci Madrid, 21–23rd of February 2007

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lemaire AD, Meeussen VJA (2008) Effects of water mist on real large tunnel fires: experimental determination of BLEVE-risk and tenability during growth and suppression. Efectis Nederland BV

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kratzmeir S, Lakkonen M (2008) Road tunnel protection by water mist systems - implementation of full scale fire test results into a real project. In: Third international symposium on tunnel safety and security, Stockholm. SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, pp 195–203

    Google Scholar 

  34. Ingason H, Appel G, Li YZ, Lundström U (2014) Becker C Large scale fire tests with a fixed fire fighting system (FFFS). In: Proceedings from the sixth international symposium on tunnel safety and security, Marseille, pp 83–92

    Google Scholar 

  35. Hue-Pei C, San-Ping H, Chao-Shi C, Shen-Wen C (2017) Performance of a spray system in a full-scale tunnel fire test. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 67:167–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Li J, Li YF, Bi Q, Li Y, Chow WK, Cheng CH, To CW, Chow CL (2019) Performance evaluation on fixed water-based firefighting system in suppressing large fire in urban tunnels. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 84:56–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Rasbash DJ (1985) The extinction of fire with plane water: a review. In: Fire safety science – proceedings of the first international symposium, pp 1145–1163

    Google Scholar 

  38. Beyler C (1992) A unified model of fire suppression. J Fire Prot Eng 4(1):5–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Tewarson A (2002) Generation of heat and chemical compounds in fires. In: PJ DN, Drysdale D, Beyler CL et al (eds) The 3rd edition of SFPE handbook of fire protection engineering, 3rd edn. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, p 3-82–83-161

    Google Scholar 

  40. Tewarson A, Pion RF (1976) Flammability of plastics. I. Burning intensity. Combust Flame 26:85–103

    Google Scholar 

  41. Ingason H, Li YZ (2010) Model scale tunnel fire tests with longitudinal ventilation. Fire Saf J 45:371–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Rasbash DJ, Rogowski ZW, Stark GWV (1960) Mechanisms of extinction of liquid fires and water sprays. Combust Flame 4:223–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Rasbash DJ (1962) The extinction of fires by water sprays. Fire Research Abstracts and Reviews 4

    Google Scholar 

  44. Kung H-C (1977) Cooling of room fires by sprinkler spray. J Heat Transf 99(3):353–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Heskestad G (2003) Extinction of gas and liquid pool fires with water spray. Fire Saf J 38:301–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Kung H-C, Hill JP (1975) Extinction of wood crib and pallet fires. Combust Flame 24:305–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Tamanini F (1976) The application of water sprays to the extinguishment of crib fires. Combust Sci Technol 14:17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Yu H-Z, Lee JL, Kung H-C (1994) Suppression of rack-storage fires by water. In: Fire safety science – proceedings of the fourth international symposium, pp 901–912

    Google Scholar 

  49. Xin YB, Tamanini F (2008) Assessment of commodity classification for sprinkler protection using representative fuels. In: Ninth international symposium, International Association For Fire Safety Science (IAFSS), pp 901–912

    Google Scholar 

  50. Cleary T, Chernovsky A, Grosshandler W, Anderson M Particulate entry lag in spot-type smoke detectors. In: Fire safety science – proceedings of the sixth international symposium, Poitiers, France, 5–9 July 1999. IAFSS, pp 779–790

    Google Scholar 

  51. Heskestad G (1988) Quantification of thermal responsiveness of automatic sprinklers including conduction effects. Fire Saf J 14:113–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Schifiliti RP, Meacham BJ, Custer RLP (2002) Design of detection systems. In: DiNenno PJ (ed) The SFPE handbook of fire protection engineering, 2nd edn. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, pp 4-1–4-43

    Google Scholar 

  53. Zalosh R, Chantranuwat P (2003) International road tunnel fire detection research project – phase I, review of prior test programs and tunnel fires. The Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy

    Google Scholar 

  54. Ingason H, Appel G, Gehandler J, Li YZ, Nyman H, Karlsson P, Arvidson M (2015) Development of a test method for fire detection in road tunnels, series = SP Rapport, ISSN = 0284–5172

    Google Scholar 

  55. Li YZ, Du X Fire tests with a line type heat detection system in the Runehamar tunnel. In: Proceedings from the ninth international symposium on tunnel safety and security, Munich, March 11–13 2020, pp 529–544

    Google Scholar 

  56. Ingason H (2006) Fire testing in road and railway tunnels. In: Apted V (ed) Flammability testing of materials used in construction, transport and mining. Woodhead Publishing, pp 231–274

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  57. Huijben IJW (2002) Tests on fire detection and sprinkler. Paper presented at the ITC Conference, Basel, 2–4 December

    Google Scholar 

  58. Aralt TT, Nilsen AR (2009) Automatic fire detection in road traffic tunnels. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 24:75–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Liu ZG, Crampton GP, Kashef A, Lougheed G, Muradori S (2008) International road tunnel fire detection research project – phase II, task 4: field fire tests on performance of fire detection systems in an operating road tunnel in Montreal. The Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ingason, H., Li, Y.Z., Lönnermark, A. (2024). Fire Suppression and Detection in Tunnels. In: Tunnel Fire Dynamics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-53923-7_16

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-53923-7_16

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-53922-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-53923-7

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics