Citation

Maevski I. NCHRP Res Rep. 2017; (836): 1-81.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP); National Academies Press)

DOI

10.17226/24729

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This report provides guidance to the owners and agencies, law enforcement agencies, first responders, designers, and vendors in reference to emergency tunnel ventilation. It can also be used by state departments of transportation (DOTs) for implementing best practices within their tunnel operation program in order to improve public and emergency responder safety. The tunnel ventilation system is the main tunnel fire life safety system. An objective of the tunnel ventilation system is to control and/or extract smoke and heated gases and to provide a non-contaminated environment for egress of tunnel users. Another objective is to support firefighting and rescue operations. In both cases, the primary goal is to control smoke and hot gases as the result of fire. Choosing the type of ventilation system is one of the most important decisions when designing a tunnel. While every situation has its unique features, some general conclusions are drawn about the relative usefulness and efficiency of the various types of ventilation systems for smoke control.


Memorial Tunnel fire tests sponsored by FHWA, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and others concluded that full transverse and semi-transverse ventilation systems used in many old U.S. tunnels designed to the old standards and installed over 40 years ago, were ineffective in the management of heat and smoke for fires of 20 MW (bus fire) or larger. To manage large fires, the old systems may need to be modified...

Language: en