The SEM-SAFE® technology successfully controls, suppresses, and extinguishes flames, ensuring optimal structure and life safety and preventing/minimising disruptions to tunnel operations.

Danfoss Fire Safety is happy to announce the successful installation of its cutting-edge SEM-SAFE® high-pressure water mist fire protection system in the Samruddhi Motorway Tunnel in Maharashtra, India. This breakthrough project represents a significant advancement in fire safety technology and infrastructure development, with the goal of establishing a secure environment for people to evacuate in the event of a fire while also protecting the tunnel structure.

The Samruddhi Motorway, which connects Mumbai and Nagpur, is a driver for Maharashtra’s general socioeconomic development. The Samruddhi tunnel, located in the heart of the Mumbai-Nagpur megaproject, is an 8-kilometre, three-lane marvel that allows travellers to safely cross the Western Ghats Mountains in less than ten minutes. Ensuring reliable fire protection in the tunnel is critical. Following this, Danfoss Fire Safety was chosen to supply the active fire prevention system for this project. Thus, Danfoss Fire Safety’s SEM-SAFE® high-pressure water mist system has been installed in the tunnel.

Fires in tunnels can spread quickly, endangering lives and infrastructure. To address this issue, the Samruddhi tunnel has 26 cross-passages for emergency evacuation and 54 ventilation fans per tube to provide proper airflow and smoke clearing. What distinguishes this tunnel is its use of the SEM-SAFE® high-pressure water mist system, a cutting-edge technology developed to effectively suppress and manage flames.

“Pioneering the implementation of our SEM-SAFE^® high-pressure water mist system in the Samruddhi Expressway Tunnel is a testament to Danfoss’s commitment to innovation and safety. We are proud to be involved in a project vital to the development of Maharashtra, India, ensuring that road users can travel with peace of mind while preserving the environment for future generations,” says Qusai Alasad, Global Manager- Transportation Infrastructures, and Danfoss Fire Safety.

“I am honoured to witness the successful implementation of our SEM-SAFE^® high-pressure water mist fire protection system in the Samruddhi Expressway Tunnel. This milestone not only showcases Danfoss Fire Safety’s unwavering commitment to pioneering safety solutions but also reflects our relentless dedication to elevating infrastructure safety standards. Our extensive fire testing at RISE in Norway witnessed and verified by UL and meeting the SOLIT2 and NFPA502 criteria, underscores the depth of our investment in ensuring the utmost safety and reliability of our technology. With this project, we continue to lead the industry, setting new benchmarks in fire protection for tunnels worldwide.” – says Poul Harder, CEO of Danfoss Fire Safety.

High-pressure water mist is perfectly safe for humans yet highly efficient against fires. Test results reveal that high-pressure water mist systems effectively extinguish even deep-seated or difficult-to-reach fires. The combined cooling and oxygen displacement provide up to 7 times more cooling capacity than sprinklers, and the technology efficiently inhibits reignition.

This ingenious solution covers both tunnel tubes. The SEM-SAFE® high-pressure water mist system includes pump units, section valves, nozzles, pipes, and fittings. High-quality stainless-steel components, energy-efficient high-pressure Danfoss pumps, and a sturdy system all contribute to the system’s long life.

The SEM-SAFE® system is designed to meet the customer’s sustainability needs while using very little water. This sustainability-focused approach is consistent with the project’s dedication to environmental preservation, especially given its closeness to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Western Ghats.

Danfoss Fire Safety not only supplies the system but also provides full technical design, engineering capabilities, and site supervision to ensure smooth and comprehensive project management and support.  Afcons Infrastructure Limited, one of India’s leading infrastructure development corporations, will build the Samruddhi Tunnel.

Danfoss Fire Safety’s SEM-SAFE® high-pressure water mist system establishes a new level for fire prevention at the Samruddhi Motorway Tunnel. Danfoss Fire Safety remains committed to providing an unsurpassed competitive advantage through uncompromising performance and cost-effective solutions.

Key Benefits:

• Life safety: The SEM-SAFE® technology effectively cools, absorbs heat radiation, and reduces smoke. This improves the conditions for people to flee while also providing a safe atmosphere for firefighters to seek, rescue, and combat fires.

• Structural integrity: In the event of smoke or fire, the SEM-SAFE® system responds rapidly, suppressing the fire and keeping it from jeopardising the tunnel’s structural integrity.

• Reduced downtime: By turning water to mist and only activating nozzles in the fire-affected region, the system uses up to 80 percent less water than sprinklers. This can result in minimal post-cleanup and little or no water damage.

• Reduced total cost of ownership: The SEM-SAFE® system offers a compelling promise for lower total cost of ownership throughout the system’s lifecycle by optimising resource consumption and minimising maintenance requirements.

• Reduction of ventilation design requirements: With its effective fire suppression capabilities, the SEM-SAFE® system can reduce ventilation design requirements, resulting in cost savings and simpler infrastructure design.

• Long Life Cycle: The SEM-SAFE® system is designed to resist the rigours of continuous operation and has a long life cycle, ensuring continued dependability and performance in critical tunnel conditions.

For more information, visit: https://www.danfoss.com/en-in/