In the wake of the serious tunnel fires which occurred in Europe in 1999 and 2001, many countries initiated reviews of their existing practices andregulations. In Europe harmonisation efforts resulted in the production of an EU Directive. However, these activities were not confined to Europe and reviews and revisions have taken place in many countries around the world. So where has this process brought us? Beyond the scientific and technical progress achieved, a new approach to tunnel safety has arisen, taking into account the whole system composed of the infrastructure, operation and emergency intervention, users and vehicles. Safety management based on appropriate regulations, procedures and tools has proved necessary to ensure that safety is taken into account in all aspects and stages of tunnel design and operation. This is a big change which necessitates the increased interaction of many of the tunnel safety stakeholders. This broader and more integrated approach requires better understanding of the procedures adopted and tools used, and that this understanding is disseminated to a wider audience so that consensus can be achieved. This session sets out to highlight some of these issues related both to the understanding of the processes and the interaction of the stakeholders. To achieve this end a range of stakeholders have been invited to comment on the new arrangements from their perspective. Following a more detailed review of the last 10 years and the way in which it has influenced one particular country, there will be a presentation on the integrated approach to tunnel safety. This represents the corner stone of all of today's efforts towards tunnel safety. One particular tool, and that which is encapsulated within the EU Directive, is risk analysis. There are numerous ways of approaching this. Whilst a single specific tool is not being prescribed, it is only when there is a common understanding, and a plausible data base, that the full value of this tool can be realised. Much work is required to achieve this end. Only by appreciating tunnel safety from the perspective of other tunnel safety stakeholders can any consensus be achieved. Views will, therefore, be presentedon behalf of users, fire-fighters, designers and operators. Finally, there will be a presentation on a tunnel (A86 Project) which is novel and due to be opened. This should give an insight into how this new approach has impacted on a challenging project. The World Road Association (PIARC), through their Technical Committee on Road Tunnel Operations (TC3.3), have championed safety in tunnels, as is acknowledged in the introductory section of the Directive, and played a very active and prominent role in the whole of the above process. It is therefore appropriate that this session shouldoffer an opportunity for identifying and discussing the challenges which face us today, at this point in the evolution of road tunnel safety. For the covering abstract see ITRD E139491.
Abstract