Fire in a long tunnel is bad enough. And what if people run in the wrong direction? – Unfortunately, there are examples of strong people taking the lead under fire and leading others the wrong way, says researcher Tron Vedul Tronstad at Sintef. Every 25 meters This should not be possible in the Flekkerøy Tunnel in Kristiansand, which will now be the first in the country to have an acoustic guidance system. Loudspeakers every 25 meters can play the sound of a “sheep bell”, which gives the impression of movement. During a fire, this will guide road users towards the safest opening. – After previous fires, the Accident Investigation Board has pointed out that the possibility of saving oneself has been too poor. We have thought that sound will be the very best method for leading people out, says Terje Heggeland at the manufacturer Trafsys. THIS IS HOW IT SOUNDS: A series of loudspeakers and bells are intended to guide road users out of the smoke after accidents and accidents (Sound from the manufacturer Trafsys). Dropped whistling sounds In the event of a fire in a tunnel, it can quickly turn into chaos with queues, collisions and abandoned vehicles. This means that fire and rescue services may be delayed. According to Sintef, the response will soon be 30 minutes in some mountain tunnels in Norway. During the fire in the Gudvanga Tunnel in 2013, 67 road users were trapped in the smoke. More than half were tourists from various nations. Then detailed messages in one language are of limited use. Tests of the acoustic guidance system have shown that if people understand that they should follow the sound, more than 90 percent go the right way. TESTED: – If people understood that they should follow the sound, almost everyone chose the right path, says researcher Tron Vedul Tronstad. Photo: Sintef Trafsys has tested itself for the best sound. – It turned out that people perceive whistling sounds as a bit frightening. The sound of footsteps didn’t work either. We went for a jingle. It is reminiscent of the sound at a railway crossing or of a flock of sheep, says Heggeland. In the north and south, the tunnel that connects densely populated Flekkerøy with the mainland is used by both pedestrians and cyclists. It would not be approved in 2022 because it has such a steep rise. – This triggers additional security requirements. We must have a system to notify road users in the event of incidents, says advisor Jan Øyvind Pedersen in Agder County Municipality. When the work in the tunnel is finished, the Road Traffic Center will be able to announce via the loudspeakers in the tunnel and ask road users to follow the guidance signal. The system will also have lights that lead the way. According to Trafsys, Agder County Council and Troms and Finnmark County Council have entered into agreements on this system. FIRST OUT: The 2.3 kilometer long Flekkerøy tunnel from 1989 goes under the sea and is considered both steep and narrow. Photo: Håkon Eliassen / news
ttn-69
The sound of a sheep’s bell will save you in the event of a tunnel fire – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
