Workshops

POST-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS:
Wednesday 1st December 2010

8.30 Registration and coffee 12.30 Luncheon

Preventative and predictive inspection techniques for concrete tunnel linings

• Owners input to defining requirements at concept stage
• Principles of design life and deterioration as it affects selection of inspection methods
• Monitoring of corrosion in order to confirm durability predictions and provide early warning of problems
• Post pour checking of construction to ensure performance is in line with design
• Testing for durability through the structures life
• Use of impact echo, ultrasonic pulse echo, ground penetrating radar and pulsed eddy currents to detect defects and inclusions
• Electrical potential and polarisation methods to check corrosion state
• Ongoing assessment of exposure

Workshop Facilitator: Reuben Barnes, Consultant, BCRC

Best practice in tunnel emergency planning and response

Finding from 2010 Churchill Fellowship research - Planning, preparation and response to emergencies in large tunnels

Tunnels present unique and challenging problems for emergency service responders. Brisbane has gone from having no tunnels of significance to having the largest road tunnel in Australia with the opening of the 4.8km Clem7. The 5km Airport Link project is under construction, and a third 5km tunnel will start construction in early 2011. Add to this that planned 13km underground rail link and you have a picture of a city undergoing significant increase in underground infrastructure.

So how does a Fire Service with limited experience in dealing with incidents in tunnels prepare for such as risk? Simple, you seek out the best in the world and learn from them!

In 2010, with the support of the QFRS, Acting Inspector Shan Raffel undertook a 10 week Churchill Fellowship to study all aspects of planning, preparation and response. His fellowship included visits to various authorities in USA, Canada, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland. This presentation will present key findings in relation to lessons learnt, procedures, training, and equipment in use by fire services that have experience in dealing with tunnel emergencies.

Workshop Facilitator: Shan Raffel, Acting Inspector, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service