Proceedings:
Fire Australia 2008
Publication Date:
Oct 2008
Authors:
Nick Agnew and Bob Allen
On the 3rd and 4th of March 2008, a fire exercise was conducted in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel (SHT). Two cars were burnt at different locations in the northern land tunnel segment of the southbound tunnel. the goals of the tests were to provide:
a) A familiarity exercise for the New South Wales Fire Brigade (NSWFB).
b) An opportunity for quantifying smoke duct and tunnel temperatures for car fire incidents.
c) An opportunity to observe and video smoke movement in two particular modes of tunnel ventilation response.
d) Training and familiarity for tunnel operations staff.
This paper provides a commentary on the video footage of the tests and summarises the data collected including smoke duct, tunnel and car temperatures, and radiation in the near vicinity of the fires. Qualitative observations such as smoke movement and deluge effects are discussed.
For the two tests conducted, some of the characteristics of deluge which have been considered in the past as increasing life safety risk were seen not to be so significant. Both the burns were conducted with a low longitudinal air speed at the fire site (less than 1.5m/s). The SHT deluge system was highly effective at suppressing single large car fires and cooling the tunnel environment.
The tests highlight the value that can be gained, especially by the tunnel operator, from conducting real fire exercises.
a) A familiarity exercise for the New South Wales Fire Brigade (NSWFB).
b) An opportunity for quantifying smoke duct and tunnel temperatures for car fire incidents.
c) An opportunity to observe and video smoke movement in two particular modes of tunnel ventilation response.
d) Training and familiarity for tunnel operations staff.
This paper provides a commentary on the video footage of the tests and summarises the data collected including smoke duct, tunnel and car temperatures, and radiation in the near vicinity of the fires. Qualitative observations such as smoke movement and deluge effects are discussed.
For the two tests conducted, some of the characteristics of deluge which have been considered in the past as increasing life safety risk were seen not to be so significant. Both the burns were conducted with a low longitudinal air speed at the fire site (less than 1.5m/s). The SHT deluge system was highly effective at suppressing single large car fires and cooling the tunnel environment.
The tests highlight the value that can be gained, especially by the tunnel operator, from conducting real fire exercises.
