Early detection saves life: Hi-tech systems for fire detection: Fid-Bau Portal

Early detection saves life: Hi-tech systems for fire detection

Schinkinger, H.

In case of a fire in a road tunnel the objective is to achieve the earliest possible detection of the fire in order to prevent further traffic access into the danger zone and to avoid vehicles from blocking rescue and escape routes. The advantage of the optical detection principle of intelligent air sampling smoke detection systems is the speed at which reliable detection of a fire can be achieved, gaining decisive seconds for the implementation of counter measures which will result in saving life. Even before a driver or passenger has realized that a fire danger exists, reliable detection and respective alarm procedures can take place. Most important of all, only a real fire scenario will result in an alarm. The proposed detection system is immune to the deceptive phenomena common to traffic tunnel environments. Tests lasting several months have been carried out in the 10 km long Plabutsch Tunnel, proving impressively the advantages of air sampling smoke detection. The systems high reliability and detection integrity is based on the analysis of the particles seen by the detection system when plotted against typical fire pattern algorithms stored individually in each and every detection systems CPU. Traffic lights in future will change to 'red' at the earliest possible stage of fire development, allowing the fight against smoke and fire to be implemented whithout any delay. With the solution presented here today, the Plaubutsch tunnel is exemplary, and can be regarded as being the safest traffic tunnel in Europe.