The fire catastrophe in the Tauern Tunnel: experience and conclusions for the Austrian guidelines

A fire occurred in the Tauern Tunnel, Austria on 29 May 1999 and caused severe casualties and damage. This paper examines the damage in the tunnel and the remedial work carried out — with a particular emphasis on the additional safety equipment required in the tunnel. The Austrian guidelines for tunnel construction have been subsequently revised to improve the fire safety in tunnels.