Safety and functionality in tunnels – With our cable management systems
In addition to geological and climatic conditions, fire and personal safety are the main priorities during planning. In an emergency, cable laying systems must not only be mechanically stable and corrosion-resistant, but also maintain their functionality. Various product solutions are used for this purpose, each of which fulfills specific tasks.
Cable management systems form the basis for the structured routing of cable lines. Stainless steel cable trays are particularly corrosion- and temperature-resistant and are used where high loads and long-term durability are required. Wire mesh trays, such as our MTC, offer flexible cable routing thanks to their open design, while also being lightweight and easy to install even in confined spaces in tunnels.
Function maintenance in the event of fire plays an important role. Systems that meet the requirements of E 30 or E 90 ensure that safety-relevant systems such as emergency lighting, ventilation, or communication systems continue to be supplied with power even after 30 or 90 minutes of fire development. This feature is particularly crucial in tunnels to enable orderly evacuation.
Particularly noteworthy are the handrail systems made of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP). They have a dual function: on the one hand, they serve as an orientation aid for people who need to find their way to emergency exits in the event of an evacuation. On the other hand, they integrate cable trunkings and, in some cases, emergency lighting, making them part of the electrical infrastructure. GRP handrails are characterized by their high temperature and dimensional stability, are flame-retardant, self-extinguishing, and halogen-free. This means that no toxic gases are produced in the event of a fire, which further increases safety for people.
The benefits of these systems are clearly evident in practice. In the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the world, 8,000 meters of our stainless steel cable trays and special support structures were installed, supplemented by 120,000 meters of GRP handrails with integrated lighting. They not only ensure the power supply, but also safe self-rescue. The traditional Great St. Bernard Tunnel also relies on cable management systems from Niedax. Around 5,400 meters of cable trays and 1,400 meters of wire mesh trays ensure E 90 function maintenance.
For the A9 southern bypass near Visp, Switzerland, Niedax supplied over 18,000 meters of wire mesh trays including suspension structures and 88,000 meters of cable ladders made of glass fiber reinforced plastic. By combining the MTC wire mesh tray with multi-layer GRP cable ladders, variable solutions were created that make optimal use of the limited space and enable efficient electrical installation – including lighting and power supply.
These examples illustrate that the cable management systems used are not just passive support elements, but an integral part of the safety technology of modern tunnel systems. They combine mechanical stability with fire protection and function maintenance, thus making a decisive contribution to operational safety and the protection of people.
