EQUIPPING NETHERLANDS ROAD TUNNELS

This article describes the equipment used in the major and minor road tunnels in the Netherlands. Major tunnels require an electricity supply, normally at high voltage from a nearby power station; an emergency power system must be provided in the tunnel, because electricity must always be available for lighting, signalling and ventilation. All new tunnels are fitted with strip fluorescent lighting, usually neon but sometimes sodium; special grids of slats are also needed at tunnel entrances, to enable drivers to adjust to changes of light level more easily. Three methods of ventilation are used: (1) transverse ventilation, pumping in fresh air through vents on one side and drawing polluted air into a vent on the other side; (2) longitudinal ventilation, where fresh air enters at one end and is drawn out at the other end; (3) a combination of (1) and (2). Major tunnels are equipped with security systems that include: (1) a programming unit; (2) a programmed monitoring unit; (3) data collectors and processors; (4) a vdu for observing the system; (5) a fault notification and recording system; (6) an emergency services display; (7) a telephone network with direct lines to emergency services and linked to the public telephone system; (8) a high frequency fm radio communication system. Tunnel firefighting equipment must be simple to use and need no special operating instructions. Adequate pumping installations are needed for removing groundwater, rainwater and used liquids from cleaners and fire extinguishers.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09568700
• Corporate Authors:

  Mining Journal Limited

  60 Worship Street
  London EC2A 2HD,   England 
• Authors:
  • Schouten, A
• Publication Date: 1989-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 217-218
• Serial:
  • WORLD TUNNELLING
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: THE MINING JOURNAL LTD
  • ISSN: 0956-8700

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drainage; Driver information systems; Electricity; Emergencies; Errors; Pumps; Radio; Safety; Street lighting; Telephone; Traffic signs; Tunnels; Ventilation systems
• Geographic Terms: Netherlands
• ITRD Terms: 2937: Drainage; 6954: Electricity; 2184: Emergency; 6440: Error; 545: Lighting (street); 8078: Netherlands; 3833: Pumping; 6947: Radio; 1665: Safety; 390: Telephone; 553: Traffic sign; 3374: Tunnel; 3392: Ventilation
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00498975
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM