Fire Separations in Tunnel

[dik]

I have a project with several existing tunnels that require fire separations. The width of the tunnels vary, but most of these have existing mechanical piping (carrying fluid and maybe 12" dia in some cases), some ducting, some electrical cable trays, etc. There are possibly 10 or 15 different conditions, but the remaining space is typically 40% to 50% filled with M&E 'stuff'.

I'm looking into providing fire separations across the tunnel width by installing a fire rated door and hardware and constructing a masonry wall part width stopping as close to the mechnical and electrical equipment. In the roughly 2.5' to 3' remaining, I'm looking at packing the space with a fire retardant batt material, providing about a foot or two of batting to help keep it in place. There is nothing in the tunnel that is combustible and the batt material will act as a bit of a smoke barrier.

Can anyone suggest an alternative method?

The construction doesn't have to be fully compliant as a fire separation, only better than existing.

Dik

 

[kslee1000]

I suggest to provide more details, a x-section with geometric dim may help us to understand your needs and approaches better. Also, what is the aim of fire seperation - from one tunnel to theother? Looks like you are only consider to sub-divide the x-section into seperate cells though.

 

[jike]

I assume that the fire separation requires some fire rating. If so, then I would build the wall, door, lintel and penetrations to that required rating. The penetrations may be difficult but there are many firestopping systems today that have been UL tested for various conditions and combinations.