The challenges
Sydney Metro Northwest, the first stage of Australia’s largest new public transport project, runs from Rouse Hill to Epping, including twin 15km tunnels, a 4km elevated skytrain, and 270 metre cable-stayed bridge.
A suitable absorbing material to reduce reverberation was required to line the tunnel near tracks and walls. However, it would safely need to form part of a fire safe environment. Non-combustibility was crucial to ensure the material will not emit smoke or toxic fumes, particularly with regard to inhalation in the case of a fire emergency in the tunnel. Also, a designated pathway as a method of safe egress meant materials needed to be ‘trafficable’ and durable enough to be walked on during an emergency, or in times of routine maintenance.
Northwest Rapid Transit (NRT) was awarded the operations, trains, and systems contract to improve comfort and safety in carriages, with maximum noise levels of 78 dB(A) specified within passenger areas of carriages when operating in the tunnels.
The solutions
Pyrotek secured the contract to work with NRT against global competitors after presenting Viterolite 900 as the solution for the floor between tracks in the underground rail tunnels. The complete system was engineered to create the best environment possible, with calculations successfully predicting to overcome noise level requirements to deliver greater comfort for commuters.
When approached by NRT, Pyrotek proposed two materials: one track absorber for the tunnel floor and another for the tunnel walls. Viterolite 900 is a 100% non‐combustible, concrete‐like material, with high impact resistance and a broad range of frequency absorption to address the project’s difficult criteria. Viterolite 900 was cast into large tiles custom designed to fit in between tracks. Reapor was then specified to be affixed to the tunnel lower walls. With high performance, it is complimented by the fact that it is made from recycled glass and is deemed non-combustible.
NRT will move to the next tunnel and have no hesitations to repeat the materials used in the Sydney Metro project.
The results
After completion of more than 180,000 rail tests (Sydney Metro Northwest opened 26 May 2019), the products supplied by Pyrotek (Viterolite 900 panels as a track absorber between rail tracks, and Reapor for the tunnel walls) have received a positive response from NRT.
Materials were compliant to the acoustic specification, providing adequate noise control to improve safety for drivers, passengers, and those nearby. The products and supply met customer expectations from design concept , delivery, and noise criteria. Locally produced, high performance acoustic materials exceeded expectations, reducing noise levels to comply under 78 dB(A).
Being close-by and with a good capacity to understand NRT requirements meant a highly successful result. Providing materials to specification in line with a fluctuating schedule gave NRT the flexibility, in conjunction with the local Pyrotek team, for ease of installation. A new plant and equipment was designed to produce the large volume of panels required and a site was leased nearby in Sydney to manufacture locally.
Surpassing the benchmark for passenger comfort and safety criteria on the Sydney Metro Northwest project proved a challenging and rewarding achievement for the partnership between Northwest Rapid Transit (NRT) and Pyrotek Australia. The products have provided ‘outstanding acoustic performance’ and ‘the results have exceeded our expectations and will only get better when the rail tracks flatten’.