Surge protection in a tunnel Protect your devices and tunnel systems against surge voltages. Our protection concepts and products protect your systems enabling fault-free tunnel operation.

Lightning over a tunnel entrance

The challenge


Thunderstorm with lightning

Risks of lightning strikes

Traffic tunnels need to available around the clock. Closing the tunnel or the failure of a rescue system due to surge voltages can not only cause economic loss, but also endanger human lives.

Take preventive action: surge protection significantly increases the availability of your electrical engineering systems and minimizes the risks. Monitoring the surge protective devices and with them, the power supply, makes failures predictable and maintenance operations can be planned more effectively.

Solution


Lightning protection zones in a traffic tunnel

Surge protection exactly where it is needed in tunnels

Tunnel tubes can be divided into various lightning protection zones, with surge protective devices installed at the transitions between zones. Having a type 1 SPD in the first control cabinet in each tube makes that section zone 1. All subsequent control cabinets become zone 2 by virtue of type 2 SPDs. The established lightning protection regulations (IEC 62305) are used for external structures (including the control room and variable traffic signs).

Effective surge protection concept for your tunnel

Surge protection products
PT-IQ surge protection
Electronic circuit breakers
Surge protection products

Each interface needs the right protection. Our broad range of products has the perfect solution for every application: Fast data communication, narrow surge protection devices for MCR technology, narrowband or broadband antenna signals, and powerful devices for power supply systems.

PT-IQ surge protection

If an SPD is overloaded, the tunnel electrical system is no longer protected. In order to guarantee uninterrupted protection for the tunnel, intelligent components send out a notification as soon as the power limit is reached. This enables you to replace an SPD even before it fails. The tunnel operation thus remains unchanged.

Electronic circuit breakers

Along with overvoltages, overloads and short circuits also pose a hazard for tunnel operation. Multi-channel device circuit breakers minimize this risk.
Does only one channel need to be protected? If so, the device circuit breakers in a terminal block design with a width of just 6 mm are exactly the right choice.

Your advantages

  • Intelligent accessories allow surge protective devices (SPDs) that have been subjected to high loads to be identified and replaced at an early stage
  • Comprehensive portfolio offering the right protection to meet every requirement
  • Minimize tunnel infrastructure failures caused by thunderstorms
  • Sustainably increase tunnel availability

Contact

Your contact person: Christophe Steppe
Christophe Steppe
Global Industry Manager Tunnel Infrastructure
I would be happy to consult with you on your modernization or extension projects. Benefit from our long-standing experience and extensive range of services.

Products


Person using a tablet in front of a control cabinet

Still haven’t found the right product?

Feel free to contact us. We will consult with you to find the ideal solution together.

Cybersecurity white paper
Secure remote access in tunnel mode

Learn in our white paper how to assure maximum security during remote access to your systems and protect yourself against cyberattacks and malware.

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Secure data transmission