Abstract
This paper reports on results of a German initiative to identify the safety problems of tunnel fires. Full scale tunnel fire tests were performed in Norway, dealing mostly with rail tunnel fires, and information was gathered into a database. Calculations were made to evaluate the heat release rate associated with specific vehicle fires. A video camera network recorded the behaviour of the smoke. Data analysis provided computer models of thermal fields. Various methods were used to control the database. The influence of longitudinal motion was evaluated. These tests are regarded as valuable because real vehicles were used as fire loads. Measurements related to these fire tests allow correct characterisation of the physical phenomena.