Asturias Inaugurates Test Tunnel in San Pedro de AnesIt is obvious that tunnels occupy an increasing place in the design and construction of civil works for roads, railways and urban transport. The design and construction of tunnels has reached a high technological level in the last years, specially with respect to tunnelling methods and support techniques, which permits to optimise costs and time frames. Nevertheless, such level of security has not been achieved with respect to ventilation and fire (incident detection, signing, smoke evacuation, emergency systems, resistance of materials, etc.). On the other hand, the absence in Spain of facilities where emergency situations, ventilation systems and other control systems could be tested was a major disadvantage. This preoccupation has led Fundation Barredo, the Asturian government, the University of Oviedo and the city councils of Siero and Mieres to promote the construction of a research centre for fires and ventilation in tunnels, based in San Pedro de Anes. The centre was inaugurated on 27th June, 2005 on the eve of the opening of the International congress on safety criteria and innovations in tunnels, that took place in Gijon on 29th, 30th June and 1st July, 2005. The San Pedro de Anes test tunnel is the biggest infrastructure of this type in Europe. The project was built at a cost of EUR12 million.The San Pedro de Anes research centre for fires and ventilation in tunnels consists mainly of a test tunnel designed for real scale fire tests inside the tunnel and a testing station for fans at high temperatures, inaugurated last year (click here and read E-News Weekly 11/2003).The test tunnel, with a length of 600 m and a cross section of 66 sq m, follows a straight and curved alignment. It is a false tunnel, half buried, located at a short distance from the disused Conixu railway tunnel in San Pedro, built in 1847-49. The tunnel has three emergency exits, each 150 m distant, two ventilation stations, 14 jet fans of 45 kW, a modular false ceiling, 88 traps (1 x 1.5 m in size), a service and rescue gallery, a data acquisition and control system, a drainage system of liquid spills into a settling vat and a firefighting network with 11 fire hydrants. In the tunnel, it is possible to test various types of ventilation: longitudinal ventilation, with 14 jet fans of 45 kW, 100% reversible; semi-transversal ventilation, with false ceiling and 11 traps, 12 sq m in size (in this case, testing is carried out using the north end ventilation station equipped with two 355 kW axial fans, 100% reversible); mixed ventilation, which consists of a combination of the previously mentioned ventilation types; Saccardo ventilation with two axial fans, one of which injects air lengthwise inside the tunnel through a nozzle while the other extracts the fumes. Inside the tunnel, it is also possible to test ventilation systems, equipment and materials, establish emergency protocols, train all professionals involved in emergency situations in tunnels, like firemen, rescuers, hauliers and healthcare workers. Other possible usages are focused on trials of control systems, sensors, the calibration of project fires, fire extinguishers and sprinklers or the checking of pavements, reinforced concrete protections, fastening elements of equipment, the watertighness of ducts and the resistance of cables, racks and lights.The testing station for fans at high temperatures incorporates a recirculation circuit, a furnace-type test bench, a control and process automation room, and an equipment storage area. In the recirculation circuit, what is tested is the efficiency with which fumes are extracted by fans placed inside ducts. An ancillary fan makes it possible to maintain an optimum level of work. In the furnace-type test bench, fans immersed in high temperatures environments are tested. All the tests are monitored and controlled from the control room. Two electric substations provide a total power supply of 4,000 kVA. The tests are done in accordance with UNE-EN 12101-3 standard.The International congress on safety criteria and innovations in tunnels culminated on 1st July, 2005 as participants visited the San Pedro de Anes tunnel and attended a real scale fire test inside the tunnel, viewing the fire and data on screens installed in a marquee. The congress was focused on the current technological advances. The conferences were divided into several topics: Legislation and standards, Simulations and tests, Studies and complementary means, Innovative technical criteria and Technical solutions and applications. Visit www.asturtunel.com and www.fund-barredo.es 31-32/05.