NSW Interesting Tunnels

Tunnels sit among the most demanding fire protection challenges in the industry. A road or rail tunnel is essentially a high-rise building lying on its side, and keeping people safe inside one takes real expertise. With more than 45 years of experience, DKnapp Fire Design Pty Ltd (DKFD) has contributed to some of New South Wales' most significant tunnel projects. Here are five worth a closer look.

Complex Tunnel Fire Protection, Expertly Delivered

NSW Tunnels We've Worked On

Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Sydney NSW: Built along the seabed, this tunnel used preformed sections floated on barges, lowered into a trench and joined underwater before the water was pumped out and the trench buried with river sand. The fire protection design here was completed by others, using a unique design philosophy.
Lane Cove Tunnel, Sydney NSW: Protected by a deluge system, fire hydrants and fire hose reels, all fed from a ring main. The grade 1 supply draws from the town's main, with booster pumps at the Lane Cove end. The tunnel's 90-metre down gradient created serious hydraulic challenges, mainly over-pressurisation. We solved this with two sets of inline pressure reducing valve stations to keep pressures safe during both normal and fire scenarios.
Epping to Chatswood Rail Tunnel, Sydney NSW: With no vehicle fuel loads to consider, this rail tunnel is protected by a fire hydrant system and fire detection only. Temperature variation along its length meant we had to build in thermal expansion control. We anchored the piping at every 120-metre cross passage and fitted Victaulic expansion joints centrally between them, calculated to handle the movement of steel pipe.
Cross City Road Tunnel, Sydney NSW: Running beneath the Sydney CBD from Darling Harbour to Kings Cross, this tunnel uses a grade 1 supply with 100% capacity pumps at either end. Fire brigade booster facilities sit at both portals, and Emergency Equipment Cabinets house hose reels, extinguishers and direct phones to the control room. Its ventilation system runs through a separate adjacent tunnel to a single stack at Darling Harbour.
M5 Road Tunnel, Sydney NSW: Actually two separate tunnels, the main M5 and a smaller crossing under the Cooks River. The grade 1 supply feeds from fire water tanks and pump complexes at both ends of the main tunnel. To tackle hydrant over pressurisation at the lowest points, we fitted hydrant valves with orifice plates to restrict pressure to the fire brigade's requirements.

Complex Tunnel Fire Protection, Expertly Delivered

NSW Tunnels We've Worked On

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