Tunnel fires pose a particular challenge for the fire department due to limited visibility, heavy smoke development and limited escape routes. Fast and effective solutions are therefore essential to save lives and minimize damage. In a practical test, the effectiveness of fire blankets in a tunnel fire scenario to evaluate its potential in isolating vehicle fires and minimizing smoke.
Table of contents
Methodology: Carrying out the tunnel fire exercise
Location of the exercise
The test took place at the Center on the Mountain at the University of Leoben in Austria. This research infrastructure, which is unique in Europe, offers realistic conditions in road and rail tunnels on a 1:1 scale.
Participants
Members of the Innsbruck fire department and the Tyrol State Fire Brigade School took part in the exercise. With their expertise, realistic fire conditions were created and evaluated.
Materials used
Two types of fire blankets were tested:
- VLITEX Superior: Silica ceiling with vermiculite coating.
- VLITEX E-Auto (PREMIUM): Silicone-coated fiberglass ceiling.
Both ceilings have been developed to effectively contain fires and minimize smoke development. You can find more details about the products on the VLITEX product page.
Implementation and observations
Procedure of the exercise
- A vehicle was set on fire in the tunnel to simulate a full fire.
- After 10 minutes, the VLITEX Superior blanket was placed over the vehicle. Smoke development and fire were observed for 5 minutes.
- The blanket was then removed, the vehicle set on fire again and treated with the VLITEX E-Auto (PREMIUM) blanket.
Observations
- Both blankets were able to contain the flames effectively.
- The VLITEX E-Auto ceiling (PREMIUM) showed a significantly faster reduction in smoke development than the VLITEX Superior. This is attributed to the denser silicone coating, which smothers the fire more efficiently and minimizes smoke formation.
Analysis of the results
Comparison of ceilings
The VLITEX E-Auto ceiling (PREMIUM) was superior at minimizing smoke, as its special coating prevents air exchange more effectively. This is a decisive advantage, especially in tunnel fires, where visibility is often the biggest obstacle to rescue operations.
Significance for practice
Rapid smoke reduction can save valuable seconds in emergency situations, improving visibility for rescue workers and facilitating evacuation. At the same time, the use of fire blankets reduces the amount of extinguishing agent required, which significantly lowers the environmental impact.
Recommendations and relevance
Conclusions
The exercise showed that fire blankets are an effective tool for fighting tunnel fires. The VLITEX E-Auto ceiling proved to be particularly suitable for quickly reducing smoke development and containing fires.
Recommendations for use
- Firefighting teams should consider fire blankets as part of their standard equipment for car fires (whether e-vehicles or combustion cars).
- Their effectiveness in minimizing smoke also makes them indispensable for other locations such as parking lots, warehouses or freeways.
Target group
This article is aimed at fire protection professionals and fire departments who want to optimize their deployment strategies. The results presented underline the benefits of VLITEX products, both in terms of effectiveness and environmental friendliness.
