Interesting Tunnels
Road and rail tunnels are among the most demanding fire protection challenges in the industry. An underground tunnel is essentially a high-rise building lying on its side, and it takes real expertise to keep people safe within one. With more than 45 years of experience, DKnapp Fire Design Pty Ltd (DKFD) has contributed to some of the most significant tunnel projects across Australia and beyond.
Fire Protection Design for Complex Tunnels
Tunnels We've Worked On
Design Details That Matter
- Perth, WA: Perth Rail Tunnel and Graham Farmer Freeway Road Tunnel
- Melbourne, VIC: City Link Tunnels 1 and 2
- Sydney, NSW: Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, M5 Road Tunnel and Epping to Chatswood Rail Tunnel
- New Zealand: Johnson Hill Road Tunnel (North Island)
- Queensland: Northern City Bypass Road Tunnel and Busway Tunnel
- Deluge valve stations placed roughly every 120m in fire-isolated cross passages, controlled automatically and remotely by tunnel operators and the fire brigade.
- Deluge water spray design with nozzles spaced at a maximum 9.0m² per nozzle for full kerb-to-kerb coverage, meeting AS2118.3. Systems run for 60 minutes at full flow, delivering water like a heavy rainstorm.
- Hydraulic and water hammer control, carefully analysed for each tunnel's unique profile and undulating gradients. We build specific measures into the combined main to protect the system during valve operation and pump start-ups.
- Fire hydrant, hose reel and extinguisher cabinets every 60m, complying with AS2419, AS2118.6, AS1221, AS2122 and AS2444. Each cabinet triggers an alarm in the control room when opened.
- Linear heat fire detection that accurately pinpoints a fire by deluge zone, so operators can activate the right system fast.
Our tunnel experience spans multiple states and countries, including:
Every tunnel design draws on Australian Standards, NFPA, Factory Mutual Global (FMG) and European codes, plus lessons learned from tunnel fires around the world. Key features of our work include:
Ready to talk about your next tunnel? Explore our Contact Us page, email admin@dknappfiredesign.com.au, or call +61 412310733 for a free consultation.