2.Infrastructure measures
2.1.Number of tubes and lanes
2.1.1.The main criteria for deciding whether to build a single or a twin-tube tunnel shall be projected traffic volume and safety, taking into account aspects such as the percentage of heavy goods vehicles, gradient and length.
2.1.2.In any case, where, for tunnels at the design stage, a 15-year forecast shows that the traffic volume will exceed 10 000 vehicles per day per lane, a twin-tube tunnel with unidirectional traffic shall be in place at the time when this value will be exceeded.
2.1.3.With the exception of the emergency lane, the same number of lanes shall be maintained inside and outside the tunnel. Any change in the number of lanes shall occur at a sufficient distance in front of the tunnel portal; this distance shall be at least the distance covered in 10 seconds by a vehicle travelling at the speed limit. When geographic circumstances prevent this, additional and/or reinforced measures shall be taken to enhance safety.
2.2.Tunnel geometry
2.2.1.Special consideration shall be given to safety when designing the cross-sectional geometry and the horizontal and vertical alignment of a tunnel and its access roads, as these parameters have a significant influence on the probability and severity of accidents.
2.2.2.Longitudinal gradients above 5% shall not be permitted in new tunnels, unless no other solution is geographically possible.
2.2.3.In tunnels with gradients higher than 3%, additional and/or reinforced measures shall be taken to enhance safety on the basis of a risk analysis.
2.2.4.Where the width of the slow lane is less than 3,5 m and heavy goods vehicles are allowed, additional and/or reinforced measures shall be taken to enhance safety, on the basis of a risk analysis.
2.3.Escape routes and emergency exits
2.3.1.In new tunnels without an emergency lane, emergency walkways, elevated or not, shall be provided for use by tunnel users in the event of a breakdown or an accident. This provision does not apply if the construction characteristics of the tunnel do not allow it or allow it only at disproportional cost and the tunnel is unidirectional and is equipped with a permanent surveillance and lane closure system.
2.3.2.In existing tunnels where there is neither an emergency lane nor an emergency walkway, additional and/or reinforced measures shall be taken to ensure safety.
2.3.3.Emergency exits allow tunnel users to leave the tunnel without their vehicles and reach a safe place in the event of an accident or a fire and also provide access on foot to the tunnel for emergency services. Examples of such emergency exits are:
direct exits from the tunnel to the outside,
cross-connections between tunnel tubes,
exits to an emergency gallery,
shelters with an escape route separate from the tunnel tube.
2.3.4.Shelters without an exit leading to escape routes to the open shall not be built.
2.3.5.Emergency exits shall be provided if an analysis of relevant risks, including how far and how quickly smoke travels under local conditions, shows that the ventilation and other safety provisions are insufficient to ensure the safety of road users.
2.3.6.In any event, in new tunnels, emergency exits shall be provided where the traffic volume is higher than 2 000 vehicles per lane.
2.3.7.In existing tunnels longer than 1 000 m, with a traffic volume higher than 2 000 vehicles per lane, the feasibility and effectiveness of the implementation of new emergency exits shall be evaluated.
2.3.8.Where emergency exits are provided, the distance between two emergency exits shall not exceed 500 m.
2.3.9.Appropriate means, such as doors, shall be used to prevent smoke and heat from reaching the escape routes behind the emergency exit, so that the runnel users can safely reach the outside and the emergency services can have access to the tunnel.
2.4.Access for emergency services
2.4.1.In twin-tube tunnels where the tubes are at the same level or nearly, cross-connections suitable for the use of emergency services shall be provided at least every 1 500 m.
2.4.2.Wherever geographically possible, crossing of the central reserve (median strip) shall be made possible outside each portal of a twin- or multi-tube tunnel. This measure will allow emergency services to gain immediate access to either tube.
2.5.Lay-bys
2.5.1.For new bi-directional tunnels longer than 1 500 m where traffic volume is higher than 2 000 vehicles per lane, lay-bys shall be provided at distances which do not exceed 1 000 m, if emergency lanes are not provided.
2.5.2.In existing bi-directional tunnels longer than 1 500 m with a traffic volume higher than 2 000 vehicles per lane but no emergency lane, the feasibility and effectiveness of the implementation of lay-bys shall be evaluated.
2.5.3.If the construction characteristics of the tunnel do not allow it or allow it only at disproportionate cost, lay-bys do not have to be provided if the total tunnel width which is accessible to vehicles, excluding elevated parts and normal traffic lanes, is at least equal to the width of one normal traffic lane.
2.5.4.Lay-bys shall include an emergency station.
2.6.Drainage
2.6.1.Where the transport of dangerous goods is permitted, the drainage of flammable and toxic liquids shall be provided for through well-designed slot gutters or other measures within the tunnel cross sections. Additionally, the drainage system shall be designed and maintained to prevent fire and flammable and toxic liquids from spreading inside tubes and between tubes.
2.6.2.If in existing tunnels that requirement cannot be met or can be met only at disproportionate cost, this shall be taken into consideration when deciding whether to allow the transport of dangerous goods on the basis of an analysis of relevant risks.
2.7.Fire resistance of structures
The main structure of all tunnels where a local collapse of the structure could have catastrophic consequences, e.g. immersed tunnels or tunnels which can cause the collapse of important neighbouring structures, shall ensure a sufficient level of fire resistance.
2.8.Lighting
2.8.1.Normal lighting shall be provided so as to ensure appropriate visibility day and night for drivers in the entrance zone as well as in the interior of the tunnel.
2.8.2.Safety lighting shall be provided to allow a minimum visibility for tunnel users to evacuate the tunnel in their vehicles in the event of a breakdown of the power supply.
2.8.3.Evacuation lighting, such as evacuation marker lights, at a height of no more than 1,5 m, shall be provided to guide tunnel users to evacuate the tunnel on foot, in the event of emergency.
2.9.Ventilation
2.9.1.The design, construction and operation of the ventilation system shall take into account:
the control of pollutants emitted by road vehicles, under normal and peak traffic flow,
the control of pollutants emitted by road vehicles where traffic is stopped due to an incident or an accident,
the control of heat and smoke in the event of a fire.
2.9.2.A mechanical ventilation system shall be installed in all tunnels longer than 1 000 m with a traffic volume higher than 2 000 vehicles per lane.
2.9.3.In tunnels with bi-directional and/or congested unidirectional traffic, longitudinal ventilation shall be allowed only if a risk analysis according to Article 13 shows it is acceptable and/or specific measures are taken, such as appropriate traffic management, shorter emergency exit distances, smoke exhausts at intervals.
2.9.4.Transverse or semi-transverse ventilation systems shall be used in tunnels where a mechanical ventilation system is necessary and longitudinal ventilation is not allowed under point 2.9.3. These systems must be capable of evacuating smoke in the event of a fire.
2.9.5.For tunnels with bi-directional traffic, with a traffic volume higher than 2 000 vehicles per lane, longer than 3 000 m and with a control centre and transverse and/or semi-transverse ventilation, the following minimum measures shall be taken as regards ventilation:
air and smoke extraction dampers shall be installed which can be operated separately or in groups,
the longitudinal air velocity shall be monitored constantly and the steering process of the ventilation system (dampers, fans, etc.) adjusted accordingly.
2.10.Emergency stations
2.10.1.Emergency stations are intended to provide various items of safety equipment, in particular emergency telephones and extinguishers, but are not intended to protect road users from the effects of fire.
2.10.2.Emergency stations can consist of a box on the sidewall or preferably a recess in the sidewall. They shall be equipped with at least an emergency telephone and two fire extinguishers.
2.10.3.Emergency stations shall be provided near the portals and inside at intervals which for new tunnels shall not exceed 150 m and which in existing tunnels shall not exceed 250 m.
2.11.Water supply
A water supply shall be provided for all tunnels. Hydrants shall be provided near the portals and inside at intervals which shall not exceed 250 m. If a water supply is not available, it is mandatory to verify that sufficient water is provided otherwise.
2.12.Road signs
Specific signs shall be used for all safety facilities provided for tunnel users. Signs and panels for use in tunnels are given in Annex III.
2.13.Control centre
2.13.1.A control centre shall be provided for all tunnels longer than 3 000 m with a traffic volume higher than 2 000 vehicles per lane.
2.13.2.Surveillance of several tunnels may be centralised at a single control centre.
2.14.Monitoring systems
2.14.1.Video monitoring systems and a system able to automatically detect traffic incidents (such as stopping vehicles) and/or fires shall be installed in all runnels with a control centre.
2.14.2.Automatic fire detection systems shall be installed in all tunnels which do not have a control centre where the operation of mechanical ventilation for smoke control is different from the automatic operation of ventilation for the control of pollutants.
2.15.Tunnel closing equipment
2.15.1.In all tunnels longer than 1 000 m, traffic signals shall be installed before the entrances so that the tunnel can be closed in case of an emergency. Additional means, such as variable message signs and barriers, can be provided to ensure that instructions are obeyed.
2.15.2.Inside all tunnels longer than 3 000 m, with a control centre and a traffic volume higher than 2 000 vehicles per lane, equipment to stop vehicles in the event of an emergency is recommended at intervals not exceeding 1 000 m. This equipment shall consist of traffic signals and possibly additional means, such as loudspeakers, variable message signs and barriers.
2.16.Communication systems
2.16.1.Radio re-broadcasting equipment for emergency service use shall be installed in all tunnels longer than 1 000 m with a traffic volume higher than 2 000 vehicles per lane.
2.16.2.Where there is a control centre, it must be possible to interrupt radio re-broadcasting of channels intended for tunnel users, if available, in order to give emergency messages.
2.16.3.Shelters and other facilities where evacuating tunnel users must wait before they can reach the outside shall be equipped with loudspeakers for the provision of information to users.
2.17.Power supply and electrical circuits
2.17.1.All tunnels shall have an emergency power supply capable of ensuring the operation of safety equipment indispensable for evacuation until all users have evacuated the tunnel.
2.17.2.Electrical, measurement and control circuits shall be designed in such a way that a local failure, such as one due to a fire, does not affect unimpaired circuits.
2.18.Fire resistance of equipment
The level of fire resistance of all tunnel equipment shall take into account the technological possibilities and aim at maintaining the necessary safety functions in the event of a fire.
2.19.Table displaying informative summary of minimum requirements
The table set out hereafter gives a summary of the minimum requirements laid down in the previous paragraphs. The minimum requirements are those set out in the operative text of this Annex.