Fixed Fire Fighting and Emergency Ventilation Systems for Highway Tunnels

Vehicle fires in tunnels threaten lives and infrastructure integrity. New research shows how fixed fire-fighting systems can improve ventilation to protect both.

United States | Monday, June 24, 2024
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WSP mechanical engineers Matt Bilson, Hasan Raza and William Connell conducted research into the use of fixed fire-fighting systems (FFFS) in highway tunnels and their integration with emergency ventilation systems (EVS) for the Federal Highway Administration.

As tunnel operators seek to mitigate the risk of fires in new and aging tunnel infrastructure that increasingly accommodates new energy carrier vehicles, such as EVs, the research shares an important finding: FFFS can enhance ventilation performance by cooling products of combustion, a result that improves safety and protects structural integrity.

For more information about the integration of FFFS and EVS, download the FHWA whitepaper:

Download the whitepaper