Tunnels have been a feature of human civilisation since prehistory. Tunnels are used for a variety of applications. From the London Underground and the New York subway system to the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam, their primary function is to create a direct route through an otherwise impassable medium.
Malaysia also has a variety of tunnels ranging from passages that cut through the mountains to the underground LRT network beneath Kuala Lumpur city.
The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project is a planned three-line mass rapid transit system in the Greater Kuala Lumpur conurbation in Malaysia. It envisages a “wheel and spoke” concept that comprises two northwest-southeast radial lines and one circle line that loops around Kuala Lumpur.
With part of the KVMRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang line (SBK line) and the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya line (SSP line) designed to traverse through densely populated residential districts, business and commercial centres and key employment areas in Klang Valley, 9.5km of the SBK line and 13.5km of the SSP line were taken underground.
The SSP line is the second MRT line to be developed and will serve as a corridor for a population of approximately 3 million people. It will stretch from Sungai Buloh to Putrajaya. Of the 52.2km of overall track, 13.5km will be underground along with eleven underground stations catering for an expected 529,000 passengers per day.
Fire Detection for MRT Tunnels
Like any public transport system, the MRT tunnels in Malaysia must be safe from fire. This means that suitable fire detection is required that can overcome some of the detection challenges that tunnels present. The system must be able to not only provide enough warning to evacuate safely but also generate as few nuisance alarms as possible to avoid unnecessary closure and minimise disruption to the service. Therefore, the chosen system must:
- Offer rapid detection of fire
- Be suitable for use in dusty and dirty environments
- Not be affected by exhaust fumes and other pollutants
- Provide an accurate location of a fire
- Be cost-effective
With these requirements, linear heat detection is the obvious choice to provide a reliable and cost-effective fire detection solution for MRT tunnels.
Linear Heat Detection
A linear heat detection system’s ability to detect fire or excess heat from anywhere along its length means that fires can be located quickly and accurately in even the most complex environments. It is cost-effective and can be easily installed into most complete fire alarm systems.
Recently, Eurofyre’s Malaysian distributor supplied a complete FyreLine digital system for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project.
FyreLine Digital
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FyreLine Digital heat sensing cable is made of two metal conductors that are coated in a heat sensitive polymer. These two conductors are twisted together and encased in an outer sheath. When the heat sensitive polymers reach their rated temperature they melt, causing the conductors to come into contact with each other. The resulting short sends a signal of fire to the fire alarm control panel.
FyreLine Digital provides fixed heat detection at temperatures of 68°C, 88°C, 105°C or 185°C and is capable of providing an accurate location of any fire or overheating event, enabling any incidents to be dealt with promptly.
FyreLine Linear Heat Detection for The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project
Eurofyre’s Malaysian distributor supplied a complete FyreLine Digital solution for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project that included:
- Eleven Digital Interface Monitor Modules – each providing 2 zones and up to 3000m of coverage;
- Twelve 500m reels of digital linear heat sensing cable with a PVC coating and a temperature rating of 88°C and;
- Six ProFyre 5A True Load power supply units.
For more information about the FyreLine Linear Heat Detection system provided for the KVMRT tunnels, or to discuss any of the other products that Eurofyre have to offer, please feel free to get in touch either by phone on +44 (0) 1329 835 024, by email to [email protected] or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.
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