THE COLLAPSE OF NATM TUNNELS AT HEATHROW AIRPORT. A REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION BY THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE INTO THE COLLAPSE OF NEW AUSTRIAN TUNNELLING METHOD (NATM) TUNNELS AT THE CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA OF HEATHROW AIRPORT ON 20-21 OCTOBER 1994

This document reports on the investigation by the UK's Health & Safety Executive (HSE) into the collapse of the tunnels at the Central Terminal Area of Heathrow Airport on 20 and 21 October 1994. The tunnels were constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). The report provides an account of engineering failures in a complex construction project, especially failures to identify hazards and manage risks. The incident could have been prevented if proper consideration had been given to identifying the hazards and consequences and to controlling the risks. The report's sections give details of: (1) the trial tunnel and later preconstruction developments; (2) the construction phase, including the NATM consultancy, design, and monitoring, and the events leading to failure; (3) the failure incident itself; (4) emergency response and damage; (5) the HSE investigation and related actions; (6) the investigators' key findings; (7) the resuls of the investigation; and (8) the lessons learned from the incident. There are also ten appendices on various subjects, including the processes and progress of the construction, major cracking problems, the probable collapse mechanism, the main conclusions of the HSE's NATM Report, and legislation current at the time. The report provides an opportunity for further action.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0717617920
• Corporate Authors:

  HSC BOOKS

  PO BOX 1999
  SUDBURY, SUFFOLK  United Kingdom  CO10 6FS
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 110 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Airports; Construction; Cracking; Evaluation and assessment; Failure; Hazards; Legislation; Policy; Prevention; Railroad tracks; Risk taking; Shotcrete; Tunneling; Tunnels
• Identifier Terms: Austrian tunneling method
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 1037: Airport; 3386: Austrian tunnelling method; 3655: Construction; 5211: Cracking; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 5520: Failure; 1556: Legislation; 173: Policy; 9149: Prevention; 9150: Risk; 2259: Risk taking; 4730: Shotcrete; 3374: Tunnel; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Aviation; Bridges and other structures; Construction; Law; Policy; Railroads; Security and Emergencies; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00801768
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-7176-1792-0
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Nov 8 2000 12:00AM