Our Services
From the first safety concept to the final acceptance test — one team, the full life cycle.
General Safety Concept
Together with the operational concept, a safety concept determines the basis of design, focusing on the evaluation of risks and prioritisation based on the effectiveness of safety measures. We develop safety concepts in collaboration with all stakeholders, from the first feasibility study through to design, implementation, commissioning and operation, so that our customers can have a clear conscience. Safety measures focus on prevention, and include, but are not limited to, fire life safety according to the local jurisdiction.
Independent Assessment & Expert Opinion
As experts acting on behalf of authorities, owners and operators, we inspect and approve systems and thus assume responsibility.
If questions arise regarding the safety and efficiency of systems that were designed by others or are already in operation, we can provide an independent assessment. Real system performance can be evaluated with aerodynamic measurements and hot smoke tests.
We can also assess the functionality of safety systems in real fire incidents in tunnels based on measured data, such as airflow measurements and smoke detector signals.
Professional Advice and Consultancy
Years in the industry and successful practical experience have made us trusted advisors to clients worldwide in all aspects of tunnel safety and ventilation.
Risk Analysis
Risk analysis is an important tool to determine and assess the safety level of a facility, such as a tunnel. By comparing the risk with different safety measures, the most effective measures can be evaluated.
Risk analysis determines probabilities and the extent of damage for many different events under different circumstances. Primary risks in tunnels result from collisions and fires.
An essential part of quantitative risk analysis is not only the evaluation of probabilities of different scenarios, but dynamic simulations of smoke spread and evacuation of patrons under different initial and boundary conditions, considering the strong effect of moving traffic on smoke spread in the initial phase of an event.
Tunnel Ventilation
We provide all planning stages, such as concept, design, tendering, site supervision, acceptance testing and operational support, for the following systems:
- Tunnel ventilation systems for road, rail and transit tunnels
- Station ventilation and HVAC systems
- HVAC systems of utilidors, cable ducts and technical rooms
- Ventilation & cooling of underground construction sites and mines
We determine not only equipment specifications, but also the system control and operation for normal, degraded and emergency conditions, and interfaces to related systems like traffic management and power supply.
We work in close collaboration with other designers and all stakeholders, such as system operators and emergency responders, on the basis of trust and mutual respect.
However, design documents are mere paper — what counts is how reliably a system works in reality under different conditions. By strict supervision, quality checks and acceptance testing, we can take responsibility for safe and reliable operation!
With our trusted partners, we can plan all electrical and mechanical tunnel systems, including all fire life safety systems.
Fire Life Safety
We provide complex fire life safety design services for both road and rail tunnels. Our services include consultancy, design, commissioning and testing of fire life safety systems. We also offer emergency response and evacuation training to ensure the safety of tunnel occupants in the event of a fire.
Tunnel Aerodynamics
A thorough aerodynamic assessment can prevent many problems in later operation. Applying sophisticated dynamic one-dimensional and three-dimensional simulation tools (CFD), critical airflows and pressures can be evaluated.
In particular for high-speed rail tunnels, simulating compressible effects such as pressure waves and sonic boom at portals provides the basis for important design decisions such as optimising tunnel cross sections, portal alignment and determining pressure loads on structure and equipment.
Safety Documentation
We can prepare the safety documentation as required by law for all European tunnels during all project stages, including emergency response procedures and instructions.
Tunnel Simulator
A dynamic tunnel simulator can be connected to the tunnel control system for prior testing and optimisation of control parameters, thus saving precious time for testing and commissioning on site. The visual interface of the tunnel simulator can also be used to train tunnel operators.
