TUNNELS
TUNNEL SAFETY
AND SECURITY
Tunnels and underground constructions have distinct
safety requirements that must be considered, above the
regular standards. Their subterranean and enclosed
structures have vulnerabilities unique to their position.
They require specialized fire safety protection and
procedures for extreme accident scenarios, as well as the
consideration of intentional threats.
DESIGNING SAFE TUNNELS
Throughout the various stages of the road and railway
processes, there are numerous requirements on
consideration and analysis of risks. WSP works with risk
management in all planning and design stages and with
numerous kinds of services in both the consultant and the
client organisation, to arrive at the safest solution. For the
Mälarbanan tunnel in Stockholm, Sweden, WSP Fire & Risk
coordinated the risk management work within the project in
close collaboration with Trafikverket and the project
management team.
In a feasibility study, the focus is generally on identifying
which risk factors need closer attention in the work ahead
and whether these factors pose a threat to the
implementation of the project. Thereafter, the amount of
detail gradually increases and the focus during the
investigation stage is on evaluating risk-related difference
between the proposed alternatives. For the Stockholm Metro
extension to Arenastaden, whose construction will start in
2018, WSP Fire & Risk are responsible for fire and evacuation
modelling as well as technical risk analysis within the
concept design and detailed design.
For the Slussen Bus Terminal, Stockholm, Sweden, WSP was
responsible for fulfilling the client's demands for technical
risk analysis within the concept design and detailed design.
The contract consists of several working tunnels, parts of the
city line tunnel and terminals. The new bus terminal will be
connected to existing tramlines and subway lines. The entire
terminal is housed in a 250,000 m3 rock cavern with a waiting
area located between departure and arrival halls. Each hall is
300m long, 22m wide and 10m high, separated by 10mx10m
rock pillars.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models are used for the
advanced computation of the fire and smoke spread along
with evacuation simulations designed to calculate walking
speeds, identify bottlenecks and validate evacuation
strategies. Advanced temperature calculations are used when
designing and validating the fire resistance of load-bearing
structures.
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 TUNNELS

EXTREME ACCIDENT SCENARIOS IMPLEMENTING TARIF

Proposals for action plans are also discussed for possible
The steps for performing Blast Analysis for Tunnels include:
extreme accident scenarios in tunnels, involving hazardous
materials. It is often necessary to study risk exposure with 1 Determining the Design Threat Level(s) that should be
regard to both road-users and third parties. adopted for the facility;
6 Determining the structural vulnerability of the facility
PROTECTION AGAINST INTENTIONAL when subjected to internal and/or external explosions;
THREATS 7 Performing comprehensive analyses to consider a
variety of explosive size, location, and delivery methods;
Tunnels - particularly transit and transport tunnels - are
8 Assessing blast induced overpressure on neighboring
viewed as high risk, high damage potential targets because of
facilities or adjoining structures;
the confined spaces and the numerous patronage present in
9 Developing mitigation and protection measures.
a single location.
A typical study and analysis will identify the damage level of
We have recently seen many such malicious terrorist attacks
the tunnel lining in the vicinity of the explosion, as well as
in the world on underground transportation facilities,
the consequential damage in the liner of any adjacent tunnel
making safety precautions all the more necessary in today’s
or other subsurface infrastructure located close to the
polarized world. In order to assess the risk and vulnerability
impacted tunnel. The analysis will also identify any potential
and to analyze blast impacts on tunnel structures, engineers
of a local breach failure in the tunnel lining and the
at WSP have developed a state-of-the-art approach known as
consequences of such a breach on the facility. Finally, our
TARIF. This approach has been successfully adopted on
tunnelling experts will pin point any preventive, protective,
several tunnel projects.
and remedial measures that can be adopted to reduce the
TARIF INCLUDES FIVE STEPS: risks.

1 Identify Threat WSP IN ACTION

2 Evaluate Assets
Some of the recent projects where WSP has performed threat
3 Calculate Risk
assessment and developed mitigation measures include:
4 Analyze Impact
5 Provide Fix 1 East Side Access in New York, United States
10 Fort McHenry Tunnel in Maryland, United States
11 Gateway Tunnels under the Hudson Yards, United States

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