New Research Programme: "Analysis and Risk Appraisal of Fire Incidents in Public Commuter Transportation Tunnels"
The STUVAtec GmbH has been commissioned to undertake the research project "Analysis and Risk Appraisal of Fire Incidents in Public Commuter Transportation (ÖPNV) Tunnels" within the scope of the urban transport Programme of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, Bonn/D.
The necessary technical and constructional fire protection for trackbound ÖPNV Underground tunnels is first and foremost determined by evacuation and fire Simulation analyses. Adequate fire protection exists e.g. providing that the established evacuation time is shorter than the time a facility fills up with smoke. An Underground stop is said to be filled with smoke when defined limit values for fire Simulation are no longer adhered to in the layer thickness. This process of furnishing proof has so far been undertaken without a risk appraisal as in recent years fire protection for Underground transportation facilities (new structures and existing ones) for trackbound ÖPNV Systems has not been assessed in conjunction with the issues of risks.
If however the facility-related risk can be assessed by means of suitable risk appraisals or if cost effective aspects are taken into consideration when measures are being planned, it can be assured that the measures are adequate relating to the actual risks and in turn the necessary means are applied optimally. As currently there are no binding terms of reference for undertaking risk analyses for trackbound ÖPNV tunnels and furthermore very few findings are available on this sector, general acceptance of proof of this nature is really difficult to arrive at.
