EP1499397A1

EP1499397A1 - Retractable anti-smoke screen gallery for confined spaces

Info

Publication number: EP1499397A1
Application number: EP03717484A
Authority: EP
Inventors: William Van Sprolant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-01
Filing date: 2003-05-01
Publication date: 2005-01-26
Also published as: WO2003092818A1; AU2003222398A1; CH703083B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a retractable anti-smoke screen gallery which is placed above a pedestrian evacuation route (13) located in a confined space. The invention consists of an upper closure element or roof (1), at least one lateral access curtain (4) comprising vertical bands which are partially or fully transparent or which comprise windows and a fresh air supply installation (5, 6). According to the invention, in the event of smoke and/or toxic gas fumes, the gallery is designed to deploy at least one almost floor length access curtain (4), in such a way as to create a slight overpressure inside the gallery owing to the fresh air supply, thereby enabling a breathable, transparent atmosphere to be maintained in said gallery.

Description

RETRACTABLE SMOKING GALLERY FOR CONTAINED SPACES

Generally during a fire, given the delays in detection, alert and evacuation decision, the speed of propagation of toxic and "blinding" smoke inside a confined space, make the air quickly unbreathable, emergency lighting and therefore the escape route inoperative. More or less significant drafts can further accelerate the spread of smoke and disrupt its evacuation by possible smoke extraction hatches. The survival time in toxic fumes is counted in seconds: the victims of fires in tunnels, in particular road, rail, metro, funicular, or in other confined spaces, in particular underground, result from the lack of time to reach emergency exit doors several hundred meters apart. The problem is almost similar when spreading a toxic gas without a fire.

There are systems of “atmospheric cantonment” screens or curtains for premises or structures that can constitute a “containment space” dangerous for users. In some cases, such systems are also used to arrange the space (exhibition hall), or simply as a “cold weather” passage made of flexible and translucent strips (industrial fridge, access doors to company halls). , etc.). This kind of screen is for example disclosed in document WO 01/02056 concerning the invention of an integrated fire control system in transport tunnels which comprises inter alia a longitudinal refuge.

However, these different atmospheric cantonment screen systems entail, depending on the location and the type of potential incident, complex constraints in terms of efficiency, circulatory and visual congestion or compatibility with safety standards.

By way of example, there is the insufficiency or incompatibility that an emergency cantonment screen can constitute (for isolation of fire smoke or heavy gas circulating at ground level) with regard to maintaining access to the evacuation route (exhibition hall open to the public, industrial complex, etc.). The problem of uncontrolled oscillation, with the risk of snagging and tearing, that an atmospheric cantonment curtain would have in a transport tunnel under the effect of air turbulence is also not resolved (see shock waves) induced by the movement of vehicles (road) or convoys (rail, metro, etc.). The installation without other of such a curtain would paradoxically constitute an unacceptable increase in danger here.

In addition to this problem of dangerous curtain oscillation, in document WO 01/02056, the presence of steps, longitudinal and transverse pipes for supplying air and water, with the aim of keeping users on site in this "refuge" ”(And near their cars), obstructs the passage and cancels, by definition, the sidewalk evacuation function. This goes against the principle of “self-rescue” or of evacuating users out of the tunnel, valid only in the first minutes of the fire.

The numerous unresolved problems mentioned above probably explain that to date there is no industrial complex accessible to the public, and even less a transport tunnel, which is equipped with a device for “safeguarding the atmosphere” of the railway line. 'evacuation. Such a device could however save lives in the event of a fire or the spreading of toxic gas in general.

The problem or object of the present invention is to propose a system of screens or curtains for atmospheric confinement which does not have the drawbacks of the systems already known, in particular that described in WO 01/02056.

This problem is solved by the invention as defined in the attached set of claims.

The invention relates to a retractable para-smoke gallery placed above a pedestrian escape route located in a confined space, comprising a top closure or roof, laterally at least one access curtain with strips all or partly transparent. or fitted with windows, and a fresh air supply installation. In normal times, out of use, the access curtain, and depending on the case, the top closing or roof of the para-smoke gallery, are folded back into a rest position. They thus reduce their size and obstruct the movement of people or vehicles. The curtain is generally tucked into a housing sheltered from possible eddies.

In the event of smoke and / or toxic gas emanating into the confined space, the retractable gallery is arranged to deploy the access curtain vertically to the ground, that is to say generally at a lesser distance at 5 cm, so as to create, thanks to the supply of fresh air, a slight overpressure inside the gallery which makes it possible to maintain in it a breathable and transparent atmosphere, devoid of smoke or toxic gas.

The para-smoke gallery generally includes emergency lighting to give sufficient visibility to people moving inside. The external visibility of the deployed gallery is improved by parts of the curtain made of transparent material or provided with windows.

In the event of a fire, thanks to the rapid deployment of this retractable parasol gallery, accessible immediately and from any location, people can reach emergency exits even on foot. The evacuation time is therefore no longer limited by the speed of invasion of smoke or a toxic gas into the confined space.

The present invention therefore makes it possible to considerably increase the safety of persons in the event of a fire or the invasion of a toxic gas in a confined space.

It can find an application in underground works such as garages (parking lots), road or rail tunnels, metro or funicular tunnels, as well as in the corridors and evacuation routes of buildings, industrial complexes, or public halls. In these applications, it complements existing conventional security measures, with a minimum of infrastructure to be implemented. It is indeed relatively simple and quick to set up. works in a new or existing structure, compared to other measures envisaged to increase safety, such as for example the doubling of a road tunnel (one-way traffic) or the creation of a separate evacuation gallery.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the access curtain consists of overlapping bands successively fixed individually by their top using a pivoting axis, which allows access to people by a slight lateral spacing bands, and storage in a housing located at the top or roof closure by a complete lateral tilting of the bands. Preferably, these bands are not completely rigid but made of a material having a certain elasticity so as to allow a slight folding in a direction perpendicular to their plane during manual support on these bands.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the access curtain consists of a succession side by side of semi-rigid vertical bands articulated by hinges in several horizontal ribs and articulated sectors, which allows the passage of people by a transverse spacing of the strips followed by a partial raising of the latter and storage at the level of the roof by folding and complete raising of the strips.

Depending on a flexibility or a sufficient number of articulated sectors, the vertical strips of the access curtain can also be mounted on a rotary drum axis, for example motorized, allowing their vertical deployment.

Preferably, the retractable para-smoke gallery is arranged so that during the opening phase of the access curtain, the expansion of a longitudinal inflatable tube, a jack or the movement of a set of bevelled blades come clamp elements of the upper part of the curtain against friction elements, so as to control by pressure braking, rotation and thereby the descent of the bands into their vertical working position. In the case of a curtain with pivoting bands, said elements of the upper part of the curtain can be the upper parts of the pivoting bands, in particular in the areas where they overlap. In the case of a curtain with hinged bands, said elements of the upper part of the curtain can be the hinges higher.

The top closure or roof can for example be formed from sheets, rigid or semi-rigid plates by articulations, or be a flexible flame-retardant tarpaulin which can also be wound on a drum axis. In the case where the ceiling of the confined space is low, it can fulfill the role of top closure.

The top or roof closure and the access curtain can be mounted on supports with articulated and / or sliding arms. These are generally provided with locks actuated manually or remotely for opening the assembly by gravity or by actuators. A suspension by maneuvering cables of the retractable smoke gallery can also be carried out in the case of a large ceiling height.

The top or roof closure and the access curtain can also be suspended by cables.

The supply of fresh air is generally carried out by a supply duct and air vents, either forming an integral part of the permanent ventilation system of the confined space, or specially dedicated to said retractable para-smoke gallery. In the latter case, the start-up of the fresh air supply system is generally controlled by the smoke, toxic gas or fire detection system, which also triggers the deployment of the access curtain and the if applicable from the roof. A braking device gently controls the opening of the assembly.

According to one embodiment, the ventilation duct and the air vents also act as top closure or roof at which the access curtain is suspended.

According to another embodiment, the ventilation duct and the air vents or grilles act as a sidewalk or a landing platform of the railway or metro type.

The ventilation system and the air vents may consist of transverse ducts fitted with fans located at regular intervals between the two tubes in a twin-tube tunnel, or between a single-tube tunnel and its adjacent exhaust gallery, so as to take fresh air into the intact tube of the twin-tube tunnel or in the exhaust gallery of the single-tube tunnel.

The accompanying drawings schematically illustrate various embodiments of the present invention, by way of examples and without any limiting character.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the para-smoke gallery of the invention (on the left in the retracted position, on the right in the deployed position), which comprises a top closure or retractable roof mounted on a wall of the confined space and an access curtain with pivoting bands.

Figure 2 is a side view of the access curtain with side pivoting bands (on the left both in the rest position and in the intermediate position, on the right in the deployed position).

Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the para-smoke gallery of the invention (on the left in the retracted position, on the right in the deployed position), which comprises a flexible drop-down roof.

Figure 4 is a transverse view of a third embodiment of the para-smoke gallery of the invention, in which the ventilation duct also acts as a fixed roof.

Figure 5 is a transverse view of a variant of the first embodiment of the para-smoke gallery of the invention (on the left in the retracted position, on the right in the deployed position and in intermediate positions), with a semi curtain -rigid with sectors and hinges for transverse opening in place of the access curtain with bands with lateral pivoting.

FIG. 6 is a transverse view of a variant of the first embodiment of the para-smoke gallery of the embodiment invention (on the left in the retracted position, on the right in the intermediate position), which comprises a device for braking access curtain with side pivoting bands.

The first embodiment of the para-smoke gallery according to Figure 1 and its variant according to Figure 5 each include a top closure 1, also called roof, retractable, formed of plates or sheets (for example stainless steel, aluminum or another metal protected by an anti-corrosion coating). This roof is stiffened by ribs or is semi-rigid by joints and mounted on the wall 12 via supports 10 with articulated and / or sliding arms 8 and 9. It is placed in sections juxtaposed all along and above of the pedestrian evacuation route 13 at a height (about 2 m) compatible with the movement of people and possibly a light emergency vehicle. In the absence of a low ceiling in the confined space, the top closure or roof 1 has the function of limiting the vertical volume of the retractable gallery and the height of the access curtain 4.

If the confined space includes a low ceiling, it could constitute the roof 1. The deployment of the gallery could then be limited to the deployment of an access curtain 4 if the gallery is leaning against a wall confined space, or two access curtains otherwise (for example by being located in the middle of the corridor).

To reduce the size of the para-smoke gallery when it is not in use, it is retracted and locked in its rest position against the fixing wall 12, using the articulated arms and / or sliding doors 8, 9. The locks consist of a pin and a striker with eyelet or hook. The controls for unlocking (removing) the bolts and releasing the strikes, followed by the opening or putting into working position of the roof and the access curtain, are made by means of a type actuator. pneumatic or electromagnetic cylinder, or a local control lever. In order to ensure operating reliability, after unlocking, the opening of the smoke gallery is done under its own weight (by gravity). To avoid unnecessarily burdening the drawings, the latches and their actuators are not shown.

In the second embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 3, the roof is lighter and even less bulky by being formed of a tarpaulin 1 mounted on a drum axis 11 allowing its unwinding similar to a blind. The access curtain 4 and its housing 2 are then fixed to the end of the articulated and / or sliding arms 8, 9. It should be noted that this sheet 1, like the access curtain 4, must meet the criteria of and resistance in the environment considered. .

The access curtain 4 is formed by vertical strips which go as far as the ground (at a distance between 1 and 5 cm from it) in the working position. It is placed on at least one side and over the entire length and height of the para-smoke gallery. The access curtain has a side partitioning function to limit the intrusion of smoke or toxic gas while keeping people easy and quick access.

Illustrated in Figure 2, the vertical strips of the curtain 4 of the first embodiment overlap partially and successively. They are fixed individually by their upper part using a pivoting axis 3 allowing a slight lateral spacing of the bands access to people and by a complete lateral tilting of the bands storage at rest in a housing 2 located under the roof 1. In order not to further hamper the opening of the para-smoke gallery in the event of damage or impediment on a section, the vertical strips of the curtain are mounted in sections on two planes or parallel and contiguous rows in the housing 2, this so as to be able to be folded towards each other by crossing without overflowing onto the juxtaposed sections. In the rest position, the bands are held in their housing by supports 11 (see Fig. 1). The latter can form a continuous box also serving as a housing for the cables and pipes for command and control of the device.

Illustrated in Figure 5, an alternative to lateral pivoting bands is the use of semi-rigid bands made up of several sectors, ribs and articulated. The strips are hung side by side by hinges at the top closure (roof). They have a practical width of the order of 0.5 to 1 m. A transverse spacing followed by a partial lifting under the push of the hand opens the way to people. Full folding and raising of these bands to sectors allow storage at roof level 1 (Fig. 5-left). All the strips of a suspended module, for example on a hinge tube 17, can then be unfolded / folded by rotation or the drive (pins) on this tube.

Illustrated in Figure 6, a longitudinal energy dissipation retention device (mechanical, gas or liquid) can slow the sudden descent of the curtain as well as possibly that of the roof. The latter may also include end-of-course stops. During the opening phase of the gallery (Fig. 6-right), the expansion of an inflatable tube 14, a jack or the displacement of a set of bevelled blades comes to tighten (forces FF) in a jaw longitudinal 15 the upper part of the curtain bands 4 against friction elements 16 thus controlling by pressure the rotation of the bands with lateral pivoting until in their vertical working position. Figure 6-left shows in section the strips of curtain 4 aligned under the braking device at rest. In this rest position, the bands are all outside the jaw. When the bands pivot, the upper parts of the bands enter the jaw in which they are clamped, in particular in the areas where two bands overlap (Fig. 6-right). The friction elements can be for example rubber, elastomer, etc.

The braking device at the opening of the curtain also applies to the sector curtain with hinges described above. In this case, the hinge tube 17 (Fig. 5), an element of the upper part of the curtain, can also act as a longitudinal jaw 15 and form or cover one of the friction elements 16. The longitudinal clamping element 14 then pushes (such as a brake shoe) the support tubes and hinges 17 one against the other.

The presence of more or less significant air currents can in certain cases disturb the correct closing of the curtain strips (lifting or partial separation) and facilitate the intrusion of smoke or toxic gas. However, this can be remedied by the choice of thickness, the use of ballasting, tape holding magnets placed for example at their base, or even more simply the overlapping of the pivot bands (depending direction and intensity of the prevailing air current).

The correct positioning of the curtain strips (parallelism) is particularly suitable for the use of holding magnets (eg with guide cones). It can also be improved by the longitudinal braking device which would press simultaneously on the flat of the upper edge of all the strips (see fig. 6-right). The lateral tilting of a strip has the effect of lifting, at least one section, of the longitudinal jaw 15. Despite the positioning support force in the bottom of the jaw 15, the important lever arm which constitutes the length of a strip with respect to the distance between its pivot axis 3, fixed on the support 18, and the (sliding) point of support nevertheless makes it possible to easily spread a strip for the opening of the curtain. To further facilitate the maneuver, the upper corners of the strips are rounded and possibly a sliding strip 19 (for example made of Teflon) placed in the bottom of the longitudinal jaw comes into contact with the upper edge of said strips with lateral pivoting.

Advantageously, in order not to mask from the outside the emergency lighting 7 located inside the gallery, or the vision in general through the access curtain 4, the strips are partly transparent or provided with windows, and consequently possibly also partially in plastic material compatible from the fire point of view (absence of halogens, etc.). A plastic material that can be envisaged is, for example, an extruded polycarbonate with a thickness of approximately 1 to 2 mm which is particularly resistant (of the type used in bulletproof glass, shields, etc.). In addition, polycarbonate withstands temperatures continuously above 135 ° C. In the case of the use of plastic strips, “fire stop” strips are nevertheless recommended and placed at regular intervals to avoid the possible spread of a fire from one plastic strip to another. Possible materials for "fire-resistant" strips are, for example, aluminum and stainless steel. Rounded edges, folded or provided with a protective seal avoid the protruding side of the strips.

It is also possible to provide, inside the para-smoke gallery as well as at its ends, transverse curtains, made of vertical strips, which create a regular partitioning and prevent the longitudinal propagation of a forced invasion of smoke. This for example under the effect of a strong draft or by the presence of a burning vehicle against the gallery. The slight overpressure created by the permanent supply of fresh air in the smoke-spray gallery repels smoke or toxic gas through the slots between and under the access curtain 4, thus creating and now maintaining a real breathable air corridor and transparent, free of smoke or toxic gas, for people taking the pedestrian escape route under the protection of the smoke-free gallery.

For this purpose, over the entire length of the para-smoke gallery, fresh air distribution vents 5, either are directly part of the basic permanent ventilation system of the confined space, or are specially installed for the operation of the gallery.

In a long road tunnel, the use of fresh air from its so-called transverse or semi-transverse ventilation system is particularly indicated and constitutes a significant saving in infrastructure. Specifically, in these ventilation systems, the distribution of fresh air is generally already done by air vents 5 located in the pedestal of the tunnel at the evacuation sidewalk or at breast height and are spaced from 6 to 10 m. In addition, the air flow is compatible with that necessary for the proper functioning of the smoke-free gallery, which is of the order of 30 to 50 l / s per meter of gallery length.

In a tunnel fitted with longitudinal ventilation (jet fans), a fresh air supply installation is specially designed for the smoke-free gallery. Depending on the configuration or the tunnel system (single-tube or two-tube), different variants are possible or can be combined with one another.

In a two-tube tunnel (unidirectional circulation, so in general one of the tubes is intact following an accident in the other tube), the ventilation system can consist of a succession of spaced transverse ducts (branches) the two tubes and fitted with reversible fans so as to take in fresh air from the intact tube, which then also serves as a final evacuation gallery.

In a single-tube tunnel (bidirectional circulation) but provided with a conventional and separate emergency gallery, the same principle of air distribution can be adopted, except that here the fans in the branches are not reversible. The fresh air distribution duct 6 and the air vents or grilles 5 can also be integrated into the sidewalk or the landing platform of the railway or metro type, or alternatively be integrated into the retractable roof.

Indeed, in the third embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 4, the fresh air supply duct 6 located on the ceiling with the air vents 5 of a corridor can advantageously act as a roof fixed and supporting the housing 2 of the retractable access curtain 4 of the gallery.

The start-up of the device, that is to say if necessary the unlocking followed by the opening of the roof 1 and the access curtain 4, as well as the arrival of fresh air 5 in the gallery para-smoke, is done manually or automatically by order of the smoke, toxic gas and / or fire detection system.

In the case of a transport tunnel, the opening of the para-smoke gallery can be done "selectively" according to the "contaminated areas" or overgrown with smoke or likely to be. The opening is then done by "entire sectors" on either side of the fire. A sector should include at least three emergency exit doors (2 ends and 1 middle), which corresponds to a deployed length of the smoke-spray gallery of at least 500 m on each side of a fire or place of fire. emission of toxic gas.

In summary, the invention consists in creating in case of emergency a fresh air space delimited on the one hand by an evacuation path 13, possibly a wall wall 12 against which would be leaned the retractable para-smoke gallery and other by a top closure (roof) 1 and laterally by a movable access curtain 4.

The latter being with vertical bands provided with pivots (lateral opening) or hinges (transverse opening) to facilitate access to any place of said so-called smoke gallery. Transparent strips or provided with windows provide visibility through the curtain 4 and emergency lighting 7 inside the gallery. The supply of fresh air can be achieved by specific air vents 5, or belonging without other to the ventilation system of the structure or the building. To reduce the physical and visual clutter of the smoke gallery at rest, it is retracted at least at the movable curtain of access and possibly at the level of the top or roof closure. From there, many embodiments of the elements constituting the retractable para-smoke gallery are possible within the framework of the invention.

Claims

1. Retractable para-smoke gallery placed above a pedestrian escape route (13) located in a confined space, comprising a top closure or roof (1), laterally at least one access curtain (4) at strips all or partly transparent or provided with windows, and a fresh air supply installation (5, 6), said gallery being arranged to deploy, in the event of smoke and / or toxic gas emanating into the confined space, at least the access curtain (4) vertically to the ground, so as to create, thanks to the supply of fresh air, a slight overpressure inside the gallery which keeps it in it a breathable and transparent atmosphere.

2. retractable para-smoke gallery according to claim 1, characterized in that the access curtain (4) consists of overlapping bands successively fixed individually at their top by means of a pivoting axis (3), which allows access to people by a slight lateral spacing of the bands, and storage in a housing (2) located at the top or roof closure (1), by a complete lateral tilting of the bands.

3. retractable para-smoke gallery according to claim 1, characterized in that the access curtain (4) consists of a succession side by side of semi-rigid vertical bands articulated by hinges in several horizontal ribs and articulated sectors, which allows the passage of people by a transverse spacing of the bands followed by a partial raising thereof and storage at the level of the roof by folding and raising the bands completely.

4. Retractable para-smoke gallery according to one of claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the vertical strips of the access curtain (4) are mounted on a rotary drum axis allowing their vertical deployment.

5. Retractable para-smoke gallery according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the opening phase of the curtain (4) the expansion of a longitudinal inflatable tube (14), a jack or the displacement a set of bevelled blades clamps elements of the upper part of the curtain against friction elements (16), so as to control by pressure the braking, the rotation and thereby the descent of the bands into their vertical working position.

6. Retractable para-smoke gallery according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the top closure or roof (1) is formed from sheets, rigid or semi-rigid plates by articulations, or is a flexible flame-retardant tarpaulin which can be wound on a drum axis (11).

7. retractable para-smoke gallery according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the top closure or roof (1) and the access curtain (4) are mounted on supports (10) with articulated arms and / or sliding (8, 9), or are suspended by cables.

8. Retractable para-smoke gallery according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply of fresh air is achieved by a supply duct (6) and air vents (5), being part part of the permanent ventilation system for the confined space, specifically dedicated to the said gallery.

9. retractable para-smoke gallery according to claim 8, characterized in that the ventilation duct (6) and the air vents (5) also act as top closure or roof (1) at which the access curtain (4) or also serve as a sidewalk or landing platform of the railway or metro type.

10. retractable para-smoke gallery according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the ventilation system (6) and the air vents (5) consist of transverse ducts equipped with fans located at regular intervals between the two tubes of a twin-tube tunnel, or between a single-tube tunnel and its adjacent exhaust gallery, so as to take fresh air into the intact tube of the twin-tube tunnel or in the gallery evacuation of the single-tube tunnel.