Face Off - Tunnel Fire Detection Systems

This project describes how, in support of the Fire Protection Research Foundation's international research project to ascertain the performance of tunnel evacuation and firefighting procedures, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) investigated the laboratory performance of detection systems under minimal and longitudinal airflow conditions and conducted tests in the Carre-Viger Tunnel in Montreal. Related testing was done in the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City. The project studied nine fire detection systems installed in the laboratory tunnel facility and in the two tunnels for detection system response time, ability to locate and monitor a fire, and the effect of the tunnel environment.