The Road Tunnel Safety Regulations 2007

Prospective

Regulation 2, Annex I (2.12)

SCHEDULE U.K. Signing for tunnels

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. in force at 22.6.2007, see reg. 1

(a) S.I. 2002/3113, (to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations).
(b) S.R. 1997/386.
1.	General requirements The following are road signs and symbols to be used for road tunnels. In order to facilitate international understanding of signs, the system of signs and signals prescribed in this Schedule is based on the use of shapes and colours characteristic of each class of sign and, wherever possible, on the use of graphic symbols rather than words.
1.1	Road signs shall be used to designate the following safety facilities in tunnels (where they have been provided): lay-bys, emergency exits: the same sign shall be used for all kinds of emergency exits, escape routes: the two nearest emergency exits shall be signed on the sidewalls at distances of no more than 25 metres, at a height of 1.0 to 1.5 metres above escape route level, with an indication of the distances to the exits, emergency stations: signs to indicate the presence of emergency phones and fire extinguishers.
1.2	Radio: In road tunnels where users can receive information via their radio, appropriate signs placed before the entrance shall inform users on how to receive this information.
1.3	Signs and markings shall be designed and positioned so that they are clearly visible.
2.	Description of signs and panels Appropriate signs shall be used, if necessary, in the advance warning area of the road tunnel, inside the tunnel and after the end of the tunnel. When designing the signs for a road tunnel, local traffic and construction conditions as well as other local conditions shall be considered.
2.1	Road Tunnel Sign The traffic sign shown in diagram 529.1 in Schedule 1 to the TSRGD shall be used in combination with the traffic sign shown in diagram 570 in Schedule 1 to the TSRGD (with the distance varied as appropriate) at the entrance to the road tunnel. For road tunnels over 3,000 metres in length, the remaining length of the tunnel shall be indicated approximately every 1,000 m. The name of the tunnel may be indicated in the manner shown below.
2.2	Horizontal signing Horizontal delineation should be used at the roadside edge. In the case of bi-directional road tunnels, clearly visible means should be used along the median line (single or twin) separating the two directions.
2.3	Signs and panels for signing of facilities:
2.3.1	Emergency stations Emergency stations shall bear informative signs which indicate the equipment available to road users, such as:
(a)	For an emergency telephone: the traffic signs to be used shall be those shown in diagrams 2714 and 2715 in Schedule 7 to the TSRGD;
(b)	The symbol to be used for a fire extinguisher shall be that shown in diagram F001 in International Standard ISO 7010:2003 relating to safety colours and safety signs - safety sings used in workplaces and public areas; and
(c)	In emergency stations which are separated from the road tunnel by a door, a clearly legible text, written in appropriate languages, shall indicate that the emergency station does not ensure protection in case of fire. An example is given below: ‘THIS AREA DOES NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM FIRE Follow signs to emergency exits’
2.3.2	Lay-bys The signs to indicate lay-bys shall be the traffic sign shown in diagram 2713.1 in Schedule 7 to the TSRGD with the ‘P’ symbol omitted. Telephones and fire extinguishers shall be indicated by an additional panel or incorporated in the sign itself.
2.3.3	Emergency exits The signs to be used to indicate ‘Emergency exits’ shall be the sign shown in diagram 2711 of Schedule 7 to the TSRGD; and The sign shown in diagram 2711 in of Schedule 7 to the TSRGD shall also be used to sign the two nearest exits on the sidewalls, with the distance to those exits shown below the arrow where appropriate. This sign shall be internally illuminated.
2.3.4	Lane signals The signs shown in diagrams 5003, 5003.1, 5003.2, 5005 and 5005.1 in Schedule 10 to the TSRGD shall be used for lane signals.
2.3.5	Variable message signing Any variable message signs shall have clear indications to inform tunnel users of congestion, breakdown, accident, fire or any other hazards.
3.	In this Schedule “the TSRGD” means the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions(a).
3.1	For the purposes of the application of these Regulations to Northern Ireland-
	(a)	references in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.3.4 to the traffic signs shown in diagrams 529.1, 570, 5001.1, 5001.2, 5003, 5003.1, 5005 and 5005.1 of the TSRGD are references to signs shown in diagrams of corresponding numbers in the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 (“the 1997 Regulations”)(b);
	(b)	the traffic signs shown in diagrams 2711, 2713.1, 2714 and 2715 of the TSRGD shall be deemed to be incorporated with those numbers in Schedule 7 to the 1997 Regulations together with the untitled Table below each diagram, and references in these regulations to those diagrams in the TSRGD shall be deemed to be references to those diagrams as so incorporated; and
	(c)	in relation to the Tables below each diagram referred to in sub-paragraph (b)-
	(d)	items 1, 2 and 3 shall be omitted;
	(e)	items 4 and 5 shall be renumbered 3 and 4;
	(f)	in item 3 as so renumbered (permitted variants) the items in Schedule 16 to TSRGD shall be deemed to be incorporated with those numbers in Schedule 16 to the 1997 Regulations; and
	(g)	in item 4 as so renumbered (illumination requirements) the items in Schedule 17 to TSRGD shall be deemed to incorporated with those numbers in Schedule 17 to the 1997 Regulations.