Emergency Exit Design Course for Tunnels
Online course of 300 hours in emergency exit design in tunnels. 6 modules covering tunnel safety and evacuation, emergency exit typologies, geometric and construction design, evacuation-related installations, and evacuation analysis and verification, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand fire and smoke phenomena in underground spaces.
Select the emergency exit typology suited to each tunnel.
Size galleries, refuges and evacuation routes in line with regulations.
Integrate ventilation, detection and communications into the evacuation strategy.
Verify evacuation through ASET-RSET analysis and simulation.
Apply European and NFPA requirements to specific cases.
Design the emergency exit system of a real tunnel.
Who it's for
- Tunnel safety engineers
- Fire protection engineers
- Tunnel designers
- Operational safety managers
- Risk analysis consultants
- Self-protection planning technicians
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into road tunnels
What you'll work with
- Directive 2004/54/EC (minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European road network)
- Royal Decree 635/2006 (minimum safety requirements for tunnels on the Spanish State road network)
- Regulation (EU) 1303/2014 (TSI on safety in railway tunnels)
- NFPA 502 (Standard for Road Tunnels, Bridges, and Other Limited Access Highways)
- NFPA 130 (Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems)
- Royal Decree 393/2007 (Spanish basic self-protection standard)
- UNE 23035-4 (photoluminescent signage)
- Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS)
- Pathfinder
- PyroSim
- ANSYS Fluent
- AutoCAD
6 modules
1.1Emergency scenarios in road and rail tunnels1.2Fire dynamics and smoke development1.3Self-rescue strategy and evacuation phases1.4Human behaviour during evacuations1.5Detection, decision and movement times1.6Visibility and toxicity factors1.7Legal requirements for road tunnels1.8Railway requirements under the SRT TSI1.9Analysis of historical tunnel fires1.10Case study: lessons from the Mont Blanc fire
2.1Cross passages between tubes2.2Evacuation shafts and stairs to the surface2.3Parallel service galleries2.4Pressurised refuges and safe rooms2.5Evacuation walkways and platforms2.6Evacuation points in long railway tunnels2.7Access for emergency services2.8Spacing criteria between exits2.9Selection according to length, traffic and geometry2.10Workshop: comparing typologies for a twin-tube tunnel
3.1Minimum dimensions of galleries and doors3.2Fire doors and fire resistance3.3Pressurisation and overpressure of safe routes3.4Gradients, stairs and accessibility3.5Excavation of cross passages3.6Junctions with the main tunnel and strengthening3.7Waterproofing and drainage of galleries3.8Evacuation lighting and guidance markers3.9Photoluminescent evacuation signage3.10Practical exercise: sizing a cross passage
4.1Longitudinal ventilation and smoke control4.2Critical velocity and backlayering4.3Linear and video-based fire detection4.4Emergency communications and public address4.5SOS stations and hydrants4.6Emergency power supply and UPS4.7Centralised control and SCADA4.8Water mist extinguishing systems4.9Systems integration in the control centre4.10Laboratory: calculating the critical ventilation velocity
5.1Quantitative risk analysis (QRA)5.2Smoke simulation with computational fluid dynamics5.3Agent-based evacuation simulation5.4The ASET versus RSET criterion5.5Evacuation exercises and drills5.6Tunnel self-protection plans5.7Coordination with fire brigades and civil protection5.8Periodic review and inspections5.9Upgrading existing tunnels5.10Case study: ASET-RSET verification of an urban tunnel
6.1Description of the tunnel and its traffic6.2Design fire scenarios6.3Proposed exit typology and spacing6.4Geometric and construction design6.5Evacuation support installations6.6Smoke and evacuation simulation6.7Basic self-protection plan6.8Cost estimate of the solution6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the course can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), Pathfinder, PyroSim, ANSYS Fluent and AutoCAD, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for designing cross passages in twin-tube tunnels, smoke and evacuation simulation in tunnels and safety reviews of existing tunnels. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: Directive 2004/54/EC; Royal Decree 635/2006; Regulation (EU) 1303/2014; NFPA 502; NFPA 130; Royal Decree 393/2007; UNE 23035-4.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), Pathfinder, PyroSim, ANSYS Fluent and AutoCAD, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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