Road & Rail Tunnels

Our FireMaster® passive fire protection systems insulate the main concrete structure of road and rail tunnels to prevent collapse in a fire and provide fire insulation to escape passages, refuges, ventilation shafts and critical communication or firefighting services.

A fire in a tunnel can have catastrophic consequences. Apart from the risk to life, collapse of tunnels in a fire can have further consequences such as flooding (if the tunnel is under-water) or temporary loss of transport infrastructure.

The fire in the Mont Blanc Tunnel in 1999 burned for 53 hours and the tunnel was closed for 3 years for repair. Research has demonstrated that tunnel fires can peak at temperatures above 1300°C.

Fire insulation in tunnels is required to prevent collapse of high-strength concrete tunnel linings either due to explosive 'spalling' of the concrete or over-heating of the steel reinforcement bars within the lining. Additionally, there is a need to protect other areas such as escape passages, refuges and services.

FireBarrier™ 135 tunnel fire protection

FireMaster® FireBarrier™ 135 is a spray-applied cementitious fire barrier applied to provide fire insulation to concretes structures to prevent explosive spalling, collapse or excessive heat build-up in areas used for escape or safe refuge. 

FireBarrier™ 135 has advantages over alternative materials:

  • High-temperature resistance, over 1300°C
  • Superior surface finish
  • Ease of use and cleaning
  • Ease of installation due to single layer spraying and low material wastage
  • Large portfolio of fire tests to different fire scenarios and concrete types
  • References in use

FireMaster FireBarrier 135 is a spray-applied cementitious fire barrier applied directly onto the tunnel concrete structure to insulate it sufficiently to prevent both spalling and over-heating of the reinforcement bars. A 36mm thick lining of FireBarrier™ 135 can provide sufficient protection to both the concrete and steel reinforcement for a 2 hours 1350°C fire exposure. 

Key Features of FireBarrier™ 135 tunnel fire protection systems

  • Fire tested to RWS and HCM standard hydrocarbon protection for 2 hours
  • Fire testing carried out on large size, stressed slabs to RWS fire standard
  • Fire tested to ISO 834 standard fire protection for 4 hours
  • High quality, flat, surface finish with excellent appearance
  • Very low rebound wastage during spray installation
  • Single layer sprayed application
  • High adhesive strength
  • Stable material. In-service longevity properties are supported by independent testing
  • Castable version also available where spray-application is not viable

The tunnel structure is not the only part of a tunnel that requires fire protection. FireBarrier™ 135 also provides fire protection for:

  • The main tunnel structure of bored or immersed tunnels
  • Escape passages
  • Refuges
  • Ventilation systems
  • Critical services such as fire mains or cables

For more information on using our Firebarrier 135 for your tunnel application, contact us today.