Over the last 30 years, the Hagerbach Test Gallery Ltd. at Sargans (Switzerland) has developed an underground infrastructure of tunnels (with cross sections ranging from 10 to 120 m²) totalling approximately 5 km in length. From the very outset, the tunnel structures have been used for research and development work on materials, equipment and processes, primarily for the underground construction sector. While interest was initially focused on drilling and blasting processes, nowadays investigations and research and development work encompass virtually all aspects of underground construction. All the infrastructures required for these purposes are in place, including several fire tunnels, a blasting chamber, experimental areas for tests on concrete, injection and sealing, an own concrete plant, drilling equipment, pumps for injection and shotcrete, and so on.

The Hagerbach Test Gallery also houses seminar facilities for theoretical education and training purposes.

The varied range of technical services is completed by the test laboratory for construction materials, which handles rock, concrete, gravel and sand. The laboratory offers numerous tests and investigations accredited by the Swiss Federal Weights and Measures Authority.

All of these facilities are open to and have been used by private companies, interested private individuals, universities and other organisations working on R&D. Alongside the laboratory tests, the Hagerbach Test Gallery offers construction entrepreneurs and contractors, suppliers, equipment manufacturers and others the chance to test their products and systems before they enter into routine practical use on construction sites. In many cases, large-scale investigations identify problems which do not emerge during laboratory tests. Another factor is that constant marginal conditions can be guaranteed in the experimental tunnel centre without adverse effects to the construction works on a tunnel site which are usually subject to time pressure.

The facilities are complemented by an underground restaurant.

The Hagerbach Test Gallery Ltd. has set up a quality management system according to ISO 9001 and has been accredited in December 2002. All R&D works and tests are carried out strictly following the rigorous quality management system.

The institution of the Hagerbach Tets Gallery may claim to be a worldwide unique infrastructure for R&D in the field of the design and construction of underground structures, for the development of materials, machinery and systems for the underground construction industry and the use and exploitation of underground infrastructures. Currently there are extensive extension works under way for a full scale R&D and training infrastructure dedicated to safety and security in underground structures.

Layout plan of the Hagerbach Test Gallery

View into the Hagerbach Test Gallery