Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association ISSN:2233-8292(Print) 2287-4747(Online) 한국터널지하공간학회 논문집

Tunnel is a semi-closed structure similar to underground space where the smoke generated from fire fills the space fast while escaping from the space slow. Because of such characteristics, when the fire breaks out by traffic accident, the vehicles are jammed making it difficult for the people to evacuate from the scene as well as for the fire engine to gain access to the scene. For such reasons, tunnels are globally categorized into some disaster classes for differentiated facilities and operation approaches. In Korea, less than a 1 km-long tunnel accounts for 80.0% and such a short tunnel which is categorized into Class III is not required to have smoke control system. In this study, a full-scale fire test was conducted in a bid to apply air curtain system using heat-resistant sirocco fan to a less than 1 km-long tunnel. To that end, heat resistance test to verify the normal operation at 250°C for 60 minutes was conducted. Consequently, despite of rapid rising-temperature and increasing-carbon dioxide inside the air curtain (direction of fire in tunnel), initial condition was found to have been sustained outside the air curtain (opposite direction of fire in tunnel).