AIBN criticizes fire safety in tunnels – Tu.no

The fire in Gudvanga Tunnel last year has led to the Accident Investigation Board has made five Security Council to NPRA and Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning.

In his report, published Wednesday, the Commission writes that the fire could probably been avoided if the driver who drove the bus with 32 Chinese tourists had conducted a security check before he drove into the tunnel in Aurland in Sogn og Fjordane in August last year.

the Commission therefore advise Road Administration to add ensure that this can be done at the entrance of exposed tunnels.

– We are glad no one was seriously injured in the fire. This is a good and thorough report that contributes to the tunnels our will become even safer, says regional veisjef Helge Eidsnes NPRA Region west.

The 32 passengers in the bus were evacuated in an empty van that accidentally came to instead.

Five people in three other vehicles were caught in the smoke in the tunnel and evacuated by rescuers after about an hour and half. Four people were treated for smoke damage to the hospital.

Nødnettilknytning

Further recommends AIBN Road Administration to change the automatic and make sure ventilation control safeguards passengers’ self-rescue and that they undergo and improves equipment and procedures in case of fire in tunnels.

the agency will also be asked to cooperate with the Directorate for Emergency allowing Road Traffic centers are affiliated Nødnett tunnels.

Directorate for Civil Protection and emergency Planning advised to develop how the fire department’s efforts and smoke control can best support the self-rescue principle for road users in a tunnel fire.

Eidsnes says road Administration will continue to work with the advice they have received.

– Several measures have already implementation. Routines can still get better. The fire has given us a new set of experiences that we take with us and learn from. We’ve done a lot, and we must do more, says regionveisjefen.

The tunnel will be refurbished for 445 million. Work begins in August. It is part of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration tunnel remediation program where 200 Norwegian tunnels to get upgraded seats.

Turned smoke ventilation

The AIBN believes Aurland turnout showed that they learned of the fire in August 2013 when a truck took fire and 65 people were hospitalized with smoke damage. Fire protection turned smoke ventilation in the opposite direction and the Commission notes that it is probably the first time this is done in the middle of an action.

The automatic ventilation system in the tunnel caused the smoke was ventilated in the longest direction, where most passengers stayed . The control system is in use in several of the longest tunnels in Norway. The Commission believes the system exposes passengers to a greater risk.

Under fire three years ago, many were going for a long time in dense smoke. This was avoided during last year’s fire, because it happened to come past an empty van brought his bus passengers.

– In this last fire was this scenario avoided, but the Commission believes that there is still a need several improvements related to fire safety and the passengers’ self-rescue in tunnels, they write in their report.