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M5 East Freeway

Air Quality Report: In Tunnel Air Quality Monitoring

Report 6

January 2013

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Document change control

Revision history

Version Issue date Updated by Comments

001 04/02/13 Catherine Ebbage

002

003

References

Document name Version Abbreviation

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Summary • CCTV was used to monitor conditions within the tunnels and jet fans were used to increase ventilation to ensure tunnel

conditions remained within specified limits.

• The Air Monitoring Station in the tunnel ACO 301 has been taken out for maintenance this has had to be sent overseas for specific parts and maintenance this should be returned to the project in February and will hopefully be installed during the proposed shutdown. In the interim LCPL controllers remain highly attentive to Air Quality throughout the tunnel and are manually controlling the ventilation system when and where needed.

• On Friday 18th January at 13:22 ACO403 CO reading recorded 107.7ppm, this stayed at the same level for approximately two hours. The operation room determined the reading to be a system fault as monitors both upstream and downstream ACO 302 and AQS 302 were reading around the 23-24ppm at the same time. If the CO had reached such a high level it would be expected the other monitors would read similar levels. On the same day the temperature was recorded at 47 degrees Celsius, it is likely the fault may have been a result of the high temperature. Further investigation will be carried out during the February shutdown to find out what caused the system fault.

• There are currently three monitors out in the tunnel ACO 301 as mentioned earlier; ACO 302 went into fault on 24th January and AQS 403 went into fault on the 27th January. In the February shutdown technicians will investigate the faults and try and fix all three monitors if possible.

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Preamble

Air Quality Report: In-Tunnel Air Quality Monitoring This report shows the carbon monoxide and visibility levels in the M5 East Tunnel (Main Tunnel) and the Cooks River Tunnel (CRX Tunnel).

Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide (CO) is monitored in the tunnel because exposure to high levels is harmful to peoples health. The limits in the tunnel are

based on World Health Organisation guidelines for short term exposure to CO. The limit for CO in the tunnel is 87 parts per million for 15

minutes and this is a requirement in the Ministers Conditions of Approval for the tunnel. The level of CO in the tunnel is continually measured

and the ventilation system is adjusted to reduce the concentration of CO below the required levels.

Visibility Visibility is measured in the tunnel because poor visibility can make driving conditions dangerous. Reduced visibility or haze in the tunnel is

mainly caused by smoky vehicles, usually diesel trucks. Visibility limits used in the tunnel are taken from the World Road Association guidelines

which recommend the tunnel is closed if the visibility reaches 0.012/m.

15 minute time weighted average This refers to the CO or visibility readings averaged over a 15 minute period with this reading being updated every 15 minutes.

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Main Tunnel Ventilation System

ACO604

ACO403

AQS403

AQS404 AQS301

ACO301

ACO302

AQS302

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