Tunnel fires can be catastrophic with the scale of lives and property lost. Many tunnels are essential arteries of transport and trade and the subsequent disruption to both can last months and in some cases years.

One only has to think of recent fires such as in the Alps region – Tauern, Gotthard and Mont Blanc to illustrate the horrific power of tunnel fires. The latter, connecting France and Italy, reached temperatures of 1,000 °C (1,830 °F) and burned for 53 hours, 39 people died. 16 people and companies were tried for manslaughter. €13.5 million (US $17.5 million) in compensation was paid by the Italian tunnel operator alone. Repairs, renovations and fire safety upgrades took three years to complete.

Fire detection is not an extra but an essential tool to protect the tunnel and its users from catastrophe.

It is essential that fire detection and prevention systems can reduce the risk and enable fires to be contained and extinguished before developing into unstoppable infernos.

FireVu uses the proven Visual Smoke Detection (VSD) to raise the alert of a potential blaze at the first signs of fire.

VSD can zone in on key areas (screening out less important areas), detecting the first signs of smoke and flames – FireVu understands the behaviour of smoke and flame patterns and alerts the user immediately to any danger.

It uses a wide range of changes in its wide field of view such as colour matching and loss of detail to alert operators, remotely or on site to potential fire danger. Potential interference to fire detection such as car fumes and the movement of vehicles do not affect its effectiveness.

FireVu also issues early alerts based on detecting flames and reflected flame.

FireVu has been successfully tested and is being used in some of the world’s busiest tunnels such as Palm Jumeirah in Dubai and the AUS $554M Sydney Harbour Tunnel, which handles 90,000 vehicles daily.

The controlled test at Sydney, using a vehicle fire generating temperatures in excess of 500°C generated an alert after just 14 seconds with a further 30 alerts during the test using FireVu’s VSD solution. The incumbent older automated system generated no alerts.

Fire detection is not an extra but an essential tool to protect the tunnel and its users from catastrophe. FireVu works and protects people and high value assets.

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Request the latest FireVu information which focuses on the benefits of Video Smoke & Flame Detection, which includes :

The challenges & risks
The Intelligent FireVu solution
FireVu Benefits

Road Tunnel Smoke Test

Smoke & Fire Solution

NetVu’s FireVu is able to see the movement of smoke or the presence of flame across a CCTV image by identifying their unique characteristics. These include assessing changes in brightness, contrast, shape, edge content, loss of detail, motion and colour matching.

FireVu is triggered at the earliest signs of smoke and can be focused on areas of particular interest. Its ability to offer visual verification, remotely or on-site, can help prioritise emergency responses. Click on FireVu image (right) for large diagram >>

Latest FireVu flame detection algorithm

We are pleased to announce the release of the latest upgrade to the FireVu flame detection algorithm available now with the FireVu 500, our premier video fire detector. The FireVu 500 uses intelligent flame and smoke algorithms to analyse the camera image in order to quickly and reliably detect fire. This latest update has increased both the robustness of the algorithm and the detection range. The detector will react to the presence of even a small fire* in the specified field of view in under 30 seconds. <<Read full article>>

Receive a survey of your needs

One of our dedicated FireVu Experts will carry out an initial telephone consultation, which will include :

An assessment of the issues effecting your business
Analyse and identify your suitability for a FireVu solution
Potential meeting to discuss your options
Contact us to book your survey

FireVu Markets

The VSD system is now in operation in a variety of applications throughout the world, either installed as a working system or on trial. Typical applications that can benefit from a VSD smoke detection system include:

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Food Processing

Visual Smoke Detection technology can concentrate on specific danger areas and also provide early alerts across large and voluminous areas. Food processing presents many fire dangers from machines and materials. VSD provides early detection against numerous sources of fire.
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Waste Management

Fires at waste management sites are paid for by the environment, the emergency services and the local community, but they also cost you and your business. There is a major fire at a waste management or recycling site every day in the UK.
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Oil Fields

Fire detection is of primary importance in an oil and gas environment. Speed is of the essence in preventing costly and life threatening results. FireVu offers alerts at the first sign of danger, enabling action to be taken.
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Commercial

FireVu provides fire detection solutions for high value property, be they cultural treasures such as London Guildhall or modern icons such as the City of London’s Gherkin. FireVu systems deliver against challenging specifications while adhering to architectural sensitivities and regulations.
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Tunnels

It is now mandatory for all tunnels over 500m within the EU to have a fire detection system, it must be a Video Smoke Protection solution if the tunnel is more than 3000m.
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Aircraft Hangars

High value aircraft demand the best fire detection technology. Visual Smoke Detection identifies danger early. VSD does not need to wait for smoke to reach sensors and the challenge of smoke stratification slowing detection is not an issue.