Tunnel construction projects are among the most complex construction undertakings – and this applies in particular to safety requirements. Experience gained from projects carried out by the Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group shows that temporary safety solutions today must cover a broad technological spectrum and flexibly adapt to constantly changing construction site conditions. As requirements increase, so does the complexity of the systems involved.
While legal regulations often define only basic framework conditions, recommendations and guidelines issued by various professional institutions play a key role. In practice, this results in a complex interplay of technical, organisational and project-specific requirements. One of the greatest challenges is the ambition to integrate as many safety functions as possible “from a single source” – ranging from access control and alarm systems to tracking and communication solutions.
Construction Phase and Operation: Different Safety Requirements
Clear differences can be observed between the construction phase and the later operational phase of a tunnel. In a completed tunnel, air-conditioned technical rooms, defined cable routing and stable installation environments are usually available. In contrast, construction operations must rely on provisional structures. Requirements for personnel tracking and alarm systems are also significantly higher during the construction phase: at any time, it must be possible to identify who is located where in the tunnel in order to respond quickly in an emergency.
In an international context, different priorities can be seen in terms of safety requirements. In the DACH region, regulations are largely harmonised due to continuous exchange between the relevant safety authorities. In other countries, however, the focus is often more strongly placed on protection against unauthorised access, for example through additional access control measures such as turnstiles or barriers.
Technological Developments and System Integration
Technological developments are currently driving the further evolution of safety concepts primarily through smaller yet highly effective innovations. These include modern communication protocols such as MQTT, AI-based detection mechanisms, and more easily networked tracking and sensor technologies. Together, they enable more efficient integration of different systems and increase the overall reliability of the safety infrastructure.
Coordination and Planning as Key Success Factors
A fundamental prerequisite for effective safety solutions is early coordination with authorities, fire brigades and other relevant stakeholders. Via the client, requirements are aligned, technical options evaluated and combined into an overall system that complies with applicable safety regulations.
In practical implementation, it sometimes becomes apparent that certain factors receive less attention. These include the complexity of system integration, the need for sufficient scalability, and the actual demand for personnel and vehicle tags. However, these aspects are crucial for safe and efficient construction site operations and should be comprehensively considered as early as the planning phase.
Temporary safety solutions in tunnel construction have therefore long since evolved into highly sophisticated, dynamic systems. They must be flexible, robust and future-proof – and continue to advance with every technological innovation. The Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group specialises precisely in meeting these requirements, contributing its expertise to the planning and implementation of integrated safety solutions in tunnel construction.
