Conduit Tunnels
Conventionally, conduit tunnels are manufactured in complex, rectangular cast-in-place concrete building methods or from semi prefabricated parts. These have, however, a enormous need of space at the construction site facility. Disadvantageous are also the long, open trenches, which additionally have to be supporting using sheeting construction, often very expensively.
Rationality through Prefabricated Parts
In addition, during conventional working methods, an enormous amount of work arises, which comes from the duration of the prescribed final form work. Thereby, with respect to the conduit distribution inside the tunnel, the flexibility of the rectangular profile is very limited. Mostly the size of the conduit tunnel is selected according to the largest supply diameter that has to be installed, although very much smaller required space would be enough for the smaller diameters. The UHRIG system provides an efficient and cost-effective remedy, in view of the large amount of disadvantages.
The UHRIG System
By utilising prefabricated parts in the form of concrete large pipes, a laying of rectangular prefabricated parts is also possible in the same procedure. In this way, one achieves civil works that need much less time to complete and thus are significantly more economical. The required space for the construction trench amounts to not more than 6.5 m, since the laid pipe is immediately filled up again using the UHRIG system. For more, see: Laying of large pipes. Since conduit tunnels are mostly built in streets with heavy traffic or very cramped spaces, it is very important that such civil works are executed as quickly as possible and using the smallest required space possible.
Further advantages as compared to the rectangular profiles lie in the more flexible arrangement of the supply conduits within the conduit tunnel. The hanging of the conduits occurs via a carrying rails, which are set in the concrete, which very easily enable an additional attachment of conduits. In addition one can leave a recess free for the additional conduits in the integral floor pavement to allow good accessibility. Conduit exit construction parts as well as emergency exits are realised in the UHRIG system by means of prefabricated parts, which leads to a further acceleration of construction progress.
