News

Integrated Fire and Life Safety Systems in Railway Tunnel Infrastructure

The tunnel constructed between the cities of Khashuri and Moliti in Georgia comprises two tunnels, totalling 8.5 km, and is a strategic project that strengthens the country’s railway infrastructure and significantly shortens intercity travel times. Also located as part of the TANAP project, this line plays a
critical role in regional and international logistics. In this railway tunnel serving train passage, fire and
life safety systems were designed, integrated, and successfully commissioned end-to-end by our
company.

Within the scope of the project, an addressable fire detection system, a linear heat detection system,
gas detection infrastructure, a firefighter field telephone system, an emergency announcement, and
alarm scenarios, smoke control systems, jet fan and mechanical ventilation integrations, along with all safety scenarios, were designed with a holistic approach. Since early detection, accurate scenario
management, and uninterrupted communication are vital in enclosed and high-risk structures like tunnels, the system architecture was designed with high reliability and continuity in mind.

Thanks to linear heat detection cables positioned throughout the tunnel, the location of the fire is
precisely identified, and alarm information is instantly transmitted to the control centre via the
addressable fire detection system. The gas detection system continuously monitors potential
hazardous gas accumulations, ensuring both operational safety and the safety of maintenance
personnel. The firefighter field telephone system allows for direct and secure communication with
the control centre from designated points within the tunnel in case of an emergency, strengthening
the coordination of intervention teams. Furthermore, this telephone system also allows for contact
with the main centre in Tbilisi from within the tunnel.

In the event of an alarm, automation scenarios activate automatically, operating jet fans and smoke
extraction systems to ensure controlled direction and evacuation of smoke. Simultaneously, guidance
is provided via the emergency announcement system, and operational teams are informed. These
scenarios are designed to prioritize human safety and minimize response time.

One of the most important features of the project is that the entire fire and gas safety infrastructure
is designed to work in full integration with third-party software. The system, integrated with SCADA and
other central monitoring platforms, allows all alarm, fault, and status information to be monitored in real-time. Furthermore, thanks to NTP Server integration, all system components operate with real-time clock synchronization, and event logs can be reported with millisecond accuracy and synchronous timing. This structure provides high accuracy and reliability, especially in event analysis, retrospective review, and official reporting processes.

One of the most important technical advantages of the system is that the entire infrastructure is built
on a TCP/IP-based communication architecture. Fire detection panels, gas detection systems, and
field equipment are centrally monitored and managed via the Supervisor (SPRVSR) software platform. Thanks to this structure, all alarm, fault, event, and status information is recorded in real-time and can be tracked in detail via a graphical interface.

Thanks to the SPRVSR software and TCP/IP infrastructure, the authorities of Georgian Railways can monitor all events occurring in the tunnel in real-time from any authorised monitoring point throughout the country. This central monitoring capability is not limited to the local control room but also provides access to the system from operation centres in different cities. Thus, response time to incidents is minimized and operational coordination is elevated to the highest level.

The Khashuri Tunnel project, whose commissioning processes have been completed, is a strong example of how safety in railway tunnels, which require high engineering standards, can only be ensured with integrated, scenario-based, and centrally monitored systems. Participating as a solution partner in this strategically important project is a significant demonstration of our engineering experience and reliability gained in international infrastructure projects.

For more information, go to: www.mavili.com.tr/en/