Ongoing project – L-surF
Since March 2005 STUVA has been engaged in the L-surF (Large-Scale Underground Research Facility on Safety and Security) project, a design study aimed at setting up a major European research facility for safety in underground transportation facilities. The project is sponsored by the European Union (EU) within the scope of its 6th Research Framework Programme and is scheduled to run till March 2008. Towards this end, STUVA is a part of a consortium of actively involved research organisations for tunnel safety from a total of 5 European countries:
- VHS, Test Gallery Hagerbach AG, Switzerland
- SP, Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, Sweden
- TNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, Netherlands
- INERIS, Institut National de l’environnement industriel et de risques, France and
- STUVA, Germany.
The design study became necessary on account of the substantial need for research in the field of safety issues in the case of underground facilities such as transport tunnels, Underground, urban railway and rapid transit system stops or for shopping centres etc. In the recent past, this need has unfortunately been confirmed by a large number of serious accidents (vehicle fires, terror attacks on Underground and other regional transport services). Up till now within the EU the prevailing competences and experience relating to safety issues for underground transportation facilities have largely been geared to national requirements. Currently though a research facility coordinated at European level, which would make large-scale tests for the challenges resulting from future projects possible, is lacking. L-surF’s objectives are to overcome the fragmentation prevalent throughout the EU in fire-related experimental research, to concentrate existing European structures and point to possible solutions for current and future risks and problems.
