Modern fire protection under the Suez Canal

Modern fire protection under the Suez Canal

The Ismailia Tunnel is the longest connection under the Suez Canal. It consists of two tubes, each about five kilometres long, and runs at a depth of 40 metres below the canal. Depending on traffic, the tunnel, which is located at a distance of 130 kilometres east of Cairo, can be reached in around two hours by car from the Egyptian capital. The tunnel was built by a consortium consisting of two large and experienced Egyptian construction companies. Internationally renowned planning offices were involved in its planning, and numerous specialised companies from abroad were contracted.

Water mist FFFS for the Ismailia Tunnel

The safety concept for the tunnel, which is located under water, includes a water mist firefighting system which has been developed by ARCADIS in the Netherlands. It was successfully tested to withstand a heat release fire load of 200 megawatts. The tunnel is designed for use by all types of vehicles, including large lorries with high fire loads. The water mist FFFS ensures a high degree of availability, protects people in the event of a fire and improves access for emergency services. FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH from Cologne was appointed to plan the system in detail, supply and install it. This was realised in a very short time and under difficult conditions. Thanks to the support of specialists from Cologne and Egypt, the installation team was able to work in 24-hour shifts. Two pump stations with redundant high-pressure pumps were installed to supply water and pressure for the activation of water mist sections. The main pipes are made of highly corrosion-resistant duplex steel. Patented valves make it possible to carry out an automated remote maintenance without the need to feed water into the sections. The high-pressure water mist technology has been successfully tested in real fire tests and is effective against solid and liquid fires. The design of the system is based on large-scale fire tests and fulfils international standards. Commissioning went smoothly and the system was successfully handed over. The first water mist FFFS in an African tunnel protects an important part of the Egyptian infrastructure and is the result of international teams working together under challenging conditions.

FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH Hall 5.2 | 735