EP3872781B1 - Fire extinguishing system and method for controlling a fire - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a fire extinguishing system with a plurality of sprinklers and a method for controlling a fire.

Fire extinguishing systems are often installed in buildings. The sprinklers of the fire extinguishing system are activated when a temperature threshold is exceeded. After a sprinkler is activated, an extinguishing agent is released from the fire extinguishing system and acts against the fire that caused the increase in temperature.

When the fire extinguishing system is activated, an emergency call can be made to the fire department to bring the fire department to the location of the fire. The emergency call provides the fire department with information about the building in which the fire broke out. The fire department does not know where in the building the fire started or how the fire spread. The fire department only obtains this information on site. Valuable time is often lost before the fire department can begin fighting the fire or carrying out a rescue operation. US 2006/0248961 A1 A fire extinguishing system is known in which the location of a triggered sprinkler is indicated.

The invention is based on the object of presenting a fire extinguishing system and a method for controlling a fire, with which an accelerated deployment of the fire brigade is made possible. Starting from the cited prior art, the object is achieved with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

The fire extinguishing system according to the invention comprises a trigger sensor which emits a trigger signal when a sprinkler is triggered. A control unit processes the trigger signal in order to obtain location information representing the location of the triggered sprinkler. An information signal derived from the location information is displayed using a display element, which includes route information, so that a route is displayed on which a location within a building can be reached from which a fire existing at the triggered sprinkler can be extinguished.

The invention has recognized that a number of sprinklers distributed over an extinguishing area can be used as a detector network to obtain information useful to the fire department. The information signal can make it easier for the fire department to quickly find its way around the building affected by the fire. For example, the building can have a fire control center, which is the first place the fire department goes to after arriving. If the fire control center shows where in the building the first sprinkler was triggered, the fire department can initiate the next steps without any further loss of time.

The display element can, for example, be a component of a display board on which the structure of the building is shown. If a signal lights up at a point on the display board corresponding to the location of the activated sprinkler, the fire brigade can see at a glance where the fire has broken out. In this case, the information signal given when the display element lights up is indirect location information, from which the fire brigade can only determine the location where the fire broke out in combination with the other information from the display board. Such indirect location information, which only produces location information that is understandable to people when additional information is added, is location information representing the location of the activated sprinkler within the meaning of the invention.

The supplementary information required for indirect location information may be obtained from an appropriate source, such as a list used to identify the location of the sprinkler or a diagram consulted by the fire department.

The information signal displayed by the display element can additionally or alternatively include direct location information. For example, information such as "western part of the building, first floor, room 109" can be displayed in text form. From direct location information, the fire department can deduce where in the building the sprinkler was activated without having to add any additional information.

The information signal can be displayed in such a way that it is perceived visually by the user, for example by displaying text or graphics on a display. It is also possible to display the signal in such a way that it is perceived acoustically by the user, for example by outputting the text as a voice message via a loudspeaker. The information signal displayed with the display element includes route information. The route information consists of a route being displayed on which a certain location within the building can be reached. This is a location from which a fire that exists when the sprinkler is triggered can be extinguished. The route information can be displayed on a display element in the form of a display, for example by graphically displaying a route there or describing it with text elements. In addition or alternatively, the display element can have the form of a signpost arranged within the building. For example, the The display element could be an arrow that points the fire brigade in a certain direction.

The control unit and/or the display element can be located in a fire control center in the building. It is then useful for the fire brigade to first visit the fire control center after arriving at the building in order to obtain the necessary information. The display element can comprise several subcomponents. All or some of the subcomponents can be located outside the fire control center and in particular distributed throughout the building.

The fire extinguishing system can be set up in such a way that the control unit can obtain location information about the sprinkler that was activated first. If the signal displayed by the display element refers to the sprinkler that was activated first, the fire brigade is provided with information about where in the building the fire originated.

It is also possible for the control unit to process trigger signals from a number of triggered sprinklers, with the information signal displayed by the display element being updated each time a trigger signal is received. For each of the triggered sprinklers, the display element can output an information signal derived from the location information. The fire extinguishing system can be designed in such a way that the information signal includes information about the order in which the sprinklers were triggered. The information signal can also include information about the time interval between the sprinklers being triggered. In this way, the fire brigade is provided with information about the areas to which and at what speed the fire has spread.

The control unit can be designed to receive further trigger signals after the display element has already shown an information signal from a previously triggered sprinkler. Such subsequently received trigger signals can be used to update the information signals shown by the display element. This has the advantage that the fire brigade can be shown the current status upon arrival.

The consequence of a subsequently received trigger signal can be that a previously activated display element is deactivated again. This can be particularly relevant because the information signal shows route information. It is conceivable, for example, that after the first trigger signal is received, a certain route is the shortest route to the source of the fire and that this route is shown with the display element. As the fire progresses, the fire can spread so much that this route is blocked. The fire extinguishing system can react to this by no longer showing the previously shown route and instead showing an alternative route. The alternative route may be longer than the previously shown route, but avoids areas that are no longer accessible due to the fire.

The fire extinguishing system preferably extends over several floors of a building, whereby the extinguishing area can include rooms, corridors and staircases. A plurality of sprinklers are arranged distributed over the extinguishing area; the sprinklers can be connected to a pipe system through which the extinguishing agent can reach the sprinklers. The sprinklers can be arranged at regular intervals, for example at intervals of a few meters from each other. Preferably, no point in the extinguishing area is further than 10 m from a sprinkler.

A trigger signal can be transmitted from the trigger sensor to the control unit, for example, by electrical currents or by electromagnetic waves. The extinguishing area can be networked with cables for this purpose; alternatively, the trigger sensors and the control unit can be equipped with radio transmission units. The trigger signal of a trigger sensor can consist of a signal connection being interrupted that exists between the trigger sensor and the control unit when the fire extinguishing system is in the standby state. In one embodiment, the fire extinguishing system comprises an electrical line between a first trigger sensor and the control unit, which is interrupted when a sprinkler associated with the first trigger sensor is triggered.

The trigger signal can contain information about which sprinkler has been triggered. Such information can be encoded in the trigger signal; alternatively, a trigger sensor can be assigned a unique position in a data bus cable, for example. The control unit can comprise an electronic data processing unit with a memory, wherein information about the spatial position of the sprinklers in the extinguishing area is stored in the memory.

The fire extinguishing system can comprise a large number of sprinklers, for example at least 10 sprinklers, preferably at least 20 sprinklers, more preferably at least 50 sprinklers. All sprinklers of the fire extinguishing system or some of the sprinklers of the fire extinguishing system can be equipped with a trigger sensor.

The sprinklers may have an outlet opening that is closed when the fire extinguishing system is in the standby mode and that is open when the sprinkler has been activated. After activation, the extinguishing agent exits the pipe system. The sprinkler may comprise a trigger element which keeps the outlet opening closed when the fire extinguishing system is in the standby state.

The outlet opening of the sprinkler can be closed with a plug in the standby state, which is removed when the sprinkler is activated. The trigger element of the sprinkler can keep the plug in the closed state when the fire extinguishing system is in the standby state. When the sprinkler is activated, the trigger element can release the plug so that the plug is pushed out of the outlet opening due to excess pressure in the pipe system.

The trigger element can be designed to react to the effects of heat. For example, the trigger element can be designed as a fusible link that is solid at ambient temperature and melts when exposed to heat. A trigger element in the form of a glass barrel that shatters when exposed to heat is also possible. When the fire extinguishing system is in the standby state, the glass barrel can be supported between the plug and a spray plate of the sprinkler. The spray plate can be designed to divert a jet of extinguishing agent emerging from the outlet opening of the sprinkler to the side. The extinguishing agent is preferably distributed substantially evenly over all lateral directions.

The trigger sensor can comprise an electrical conductor path into which the trigger element is integrated. When the glass bulb shatters, the electrical conductor path is interrupted. The interruption of the conductor path can represent a trigger signal for the control unit. In one embodiment, the trigger element is a glass bulb provided with an electrically conductive coating and the electrical conductor path is interrupted when the glass bulb shatters.

The fire extinguishing system can be fed from an extinguishing agent supply, so that the extinguishing agent enters the pipe system from the extinguishing agent supply after the first sprinkler is triggered. The fire extinguishing system can comprise a pump to convey the extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent supply into the pipe system. The pump can be inactive when the fire extinguishing system is in the standby state. The fire extinguishing system can be set up so that the pump is put into operation after the first sprinkler is triggered. The control unit can process the signal from the trigger sensor to generate a control command with which the pump is put into operation. The pipe system can be designed as a single pipe that extends between the extinguishing agent supply and one end of the pipe. The sprinklers can be arranged in series in the pipe. A pipe system that comprises a plurality of strands is also possible, each strand being equipped with one or more sprinklers.

The extinguishing agent supply can be an element of the fire extinguishing system. This can be achieved, for example, by the extinguishing agent supply being a tank filled with extinguishing agent. It is also possible for the fire extinguishing system to be connected to an extinguishing agent supply external to the fire extinguishing system. In this case, the extinguishing agent supply can be a water pipe, for example.

The fire extinguishing system is in the standby state when all sprinklers in the pipe system are closed and the fire extinguishing system is otherwise active to the extent that extinguishing agent can be released after a sprinkler is activated. The fire extinguishing system can be a dry system in which the pipe system is filled with a gas, in particular air, when the fire extinguishing system is in the standby state. The extinguishing agent can be water. It is also possible that the pipe system is already is filled with extinguishing agent when the fire extinguishing system is in the standby state.

The invention also relates to a building that is equipped with such a fire extinguishing system. The fire extinguishing system can extend over several floors of the building. The building can comprise a fire control center in which a display element is housed. The display element can comprise several subcomponents, wherein the subcomponents are preferably distributed over the building.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling a fire, in which a control unit receives a trigger signal after a sprinkler has been triggered. The control unit processes the trigger signal in order to obtain location information representing the location of the triggered sprinkler. An information signal derived from the location information is displayed using a display element.
which includes route information so that a route is displayed that leads to a location within a building from which a fire existing at the activated sprinkler can be extinguished.

The method can be developed with further features that are described in connection with the fire extinguishing system according to the invention. The fire extinguishing system can be developed with further features that are described in connection with the method according to the invention.

Fig. 1:

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Feuerlöschanlage;

Fig. 2:

eine alternative Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Feuerlöschanlage;

Fig. 3:

ein Gebäude mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Feuerlöschanlage;

Fig. 4:

die Ansicht aus Fig. 3 in einem anderen Zustand der Feuerlöschanlage;

Fig. 5:

einen Sprinkler einer erfindungsgemäßen Feuerlöschanlage.

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings using advantageous embodiments. They show:

Fig.1:

a schematic representation of a fire extinguishing system according to the invention;

Fig. 2:

an alternative embodiment of a fire extinguishing system according to the invention;

Fig. 3:

a building with a fire extinguishing system according to the invention;

Fig.4:

the view from Fig.3 in a different state of the fire extinguishing system;

Fig.5:

a sprinkler of a fire extinguishing system according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a fire extinguishing system 14 according to the invention with a series of sprinklers 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, which are connected to an extinguishing agent supply line 16. Each sprinkler 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is assigned a trigger sensor 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d. The trigger sensors 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d are connected to a control unit 19 by a trigger signal line 18; a power supply line (not shown) can run parallel to the trigger signal line 18.

The sprinklers 15 of the fire extinguishing system comprise Fig.5 a glass bulb 27 by which a plug (not shown) is held in position so that the outlet opening of the sprinkler 15 is closed. If the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold, the glass bulb 27 shatters and the outlet opening of the sprinkler 15 is opened.

The glass bulb 27 is provided with a coating of an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive coating is incorporated into an electrical circuit which extends in the form of a closed conductor path from a control unit 19 to the glass bulb 27 and back to the control unit 19. The electrical circuit is interrupted when the glass bulb 27 of the sprinkler 15 shatters. The interruption of the electrical circuit is registered and a signal is sent to a control unit 19.

Trigger signals from the trigger sensors 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d are received in the control unit 19 by a communication module 20. The control unit 19 comprises a memory 21 on which information on the spatial position of the sprinklers 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d in an extinguishing area is stored; the control unit 19 further comprises a computing module 22; the computing module 22 works together with the communication module 20 and the memory 21 to obtain location information representing the location of the triggered sprinkler.

The fire extinguishing system comprises a display element in the form of a display 13, on which a schematic representation of the spatial arrangement of the fire extinguishing system 14 is shown. The display 13 can be controlled by the control unit 19 in order to show further information signals on the display 29.

In the event of a fire in the area of the sprinkler 15c, the temperature threshold of the sprinkler 15c is exceeded and the sprinkler 15c is triggered, so that extinguishing agent supplied through the supply line 16 exits the sprinkler 15c. When the sprinkler 15c is triggered, the trigger sensor 17c emits a trigger signal that is sent to the control unit 19. The control unit 19 evaluates the trigger signal and, taking into account the data stored in the memory 21, determines location information about the location of the triggered sprinkler 15c.

The location information is converted by the control unit 19 into a control signal for the display 29, so that the sprinkler whose position corresponds to the position of the sprinkler 15c is marked on the display 29. The display 29 shows an information signal 13 in the form of an arrow pointing to the relevant Sprinkler. After arriving, the fire brigade can take a look at the display 29 and immediately see where the fire has broken out.

In the embodiment according to Fig.2 The display element of the fire extinguishing system additionally comprises a signposting system with a plurality of signposts 24, which are controlled by a distributor 25. The signposts can each display either a directional arrow or a closed sign.

Information on a number of routes in the area of the fire extinguishing system is stored in the memory 21 of the control unit 19. The signposts 24 are controlled via the distributor 25 based on the location information determined in the control unit 19. The signposts 24 are arranged in the area of the fire extinguishing system in such a way that the fire brigade is shown a route in the direction of the sprinkler 15c that was triggered first, while routes that lead in a different direction are marked "blocked". In addition, the route intended for the fire brigade is shown graphically on a display 29 arranged in a fire control center.

In Fig.3 a building 30 is shown that includes a fire extinguishing system 14 and a fire control center 31. After the first sprinkler 15c is triggered, an emergency call is made to the fire department. After arriving, the fire department first goes to the fire control center 31 and receives the information that the fire has broken out in the area of the sprinkler 15c, which for the control unit 19 of the fire extinguishing system 14 results from the fact that the sprinkler 15c was triggered first. The signposts 24 are controlled by the control unit 19 in such a way that they point the way via the staircase closest to the fire control center 31 to the first floor, where the sprinkler 15c The fire brigade can follow the signposts 24 and will be directed by the shortest route to the sprinkler 15c.

In the embodiment according to Fig.4 some time after the first sprinkler 15c, the next sprinkler 15b is also triggered. The control unit 19 reacts to the trigger signal of the second sprinkler 15b by changing the control of the signage system 24, 25. The control unit 19 assumes that the fire is in Fig.4 has spread to the left and that the fire source adjacent to the first sprinkler 15c is no longer accessible via the staircase closest to the fire control center 31. A signpost 24 in the area of this staircase marks the path as closed. Instead, several other signposts 24 indicate another path to the first floor, which has not yet been affected by the fire.

The monitor 29 in the fire control center 31 shows the order in which the sprinklers 15c, 15b were activated and the time interval between the activation of the two sprinklers. The fire brigade, which goes to the fire control center 31 immediately after arriving, can immediately see where the fire started and how it spread.

Claims (12)

1. Fire extinguishing system having a plurality of sprinklers (15), having a trigger sensor (17) which provides a trigger signal when a sprinkler (15) is triggered, and having a control unit (19) which processes the trigger signal in order to obtain location information representing the location of the triggered sprinkler (15), and having an indicating element (25, 29) for indicating an information signal (13, 24) derived from the location information, characterized in that the information signal (24) comprises path information, thus indicating a path on which it is possible to reach a location within a building, from which a fire existing at the triggered sprinkler can be extinguished.
2. Fire extinguishing system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the information signal (13) comprises location information.
3. Fire extinguishing system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the indicating element (25, 29) is designed to optically and/or acoustically indicate the information signal (13, 24).
4. Fire extinguishing system according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit (19) obtains location information from the sprinkler (15c) triggered first.
5. Fire extinguishing system according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control unit (19) processes trigger signals from a plurality of sprinklers (15), and in that the information signal (13, 24) indicated with the indicating element (25, 29) is updated after a trigger signal has been received.
6. Fire extinguishing system according to Claim 5, characterized in that the information signal comprises information about the order in which the sprinklers (15) have been triggered.
7. Fire extinguishing system according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the information signal comprises information about the interval of time at which two sprinklers (15) have been triggered.
8. Fire extinguishing system according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sprinklers (15) have an outlet opening, and in that the outlet opening is kept in a closed state by a trigger element (27) when the fire extinguishing system is in the standby state.
9. Fire extinguishing system according to Claim 8, characterized in that the trigger sensor (17) comprises an electrical conductor path into which the trigger element (27) is incorporated.
10. Fire extinguishing system according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the trigger element (27) is a glass vessel provided with an electrically conductive coating.
11. Building having a fire extinguishing system (14) according to one of Claims 1 to 10.
12. Method for controlling a fire, in which a control unit (19) receives a trigger signal after a sprinkler (15) has been triggered, in which the control unit (15) processes the trigger signal in order to obtain location information representing the location of the triggered sprinkler (15), and in which an indicating element (25, 29) is used to indicate an information signal (13, 24) derived from the location information, characterized in that the information signal (24) comprises path information, thus indicating a path on which it is possible to reach a location within a building, from which a fire existing at the triggered sprinkler can be extinguished.

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