GB2223871A - Escape route indication system - Google Patents
Escape route indication system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2223871A GB2223871A GB8822858A GB8822858A GB2223871A GB 2223871 A GB2223871 A GB 2223871A GB 8822858 A GB8822858 A GB 8822858A GB 8822858 A GB8822858 A GB 8822858A GB 2223871 A GB2223871 A GB 2223871A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- hazard
- indicating means
- control means
- detectors
- direction indicating
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B7/00—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00
- G08B7/06—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00 using electric transmission, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
- G08B7/062—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00 using electric transmission, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources indicating emergency exits
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
- A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
- A62B3/00—Devices or single parts for facilitating escape from buildings or the like, e.g. protection shields, protection screens; Portable devices for preventing smoke penetrating into distinct parts of buildings
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B17/00—Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B7/00—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00
- G08B7/06—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00 using electric transmission, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
- G08B7/066—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00 using electric transmission, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
- G09F19/22—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
- G09F2019/225—Fire evacuation route indicating means
Landscapes
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Emergency Management (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Alarm Systems (AREA)
- Fire Alarms (AREA)
- Audible And Visible Signals (AREA)
- Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
Description
22238 '1 1 - 1 nESCAPE ROUTE INDICATION SYSTEM This invention relates to
an escape route indication system to assist persons in a building threatened by a hazard to find a quick and safe exit route. Such hazards include fire, escape of dangerous or toxic substances, radiation leakage and the like. As the fire hazard is the most common the invention will be described in the context of the fire hazard.
Fire warning systems in many buildings or enclosed spaces used by members of the public are rudimentary and may consist of no more than an alarm bell, to indicate the existence of a fire somewhere in the building, and signs at emergency exits. The inadequacies of such systems have been tragically underlined over the years by the number of people killed in major fires quite simply because they did not, and could not, know a safe exit route.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an escape route indication system which obviates or mitigates the above problem.
The present invention is an escape route indication system comprising hazard detectors each located in a respective area of a building having a plurality of exits, direction indicating means, and control means connected with the hazard detectors and - -2--- r the direction indicating means,- the control means being responsive to the indication from a detector of the presence and location of a hazard to energise the direction indicating means to show at any point the shortest safe route between that point and an exit.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a floor plan of a simple building incorporating a fire escape route indication system according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of the system of Fig. 1.
Referring now to Figure 1, the floor plan of a small office building is shown as consisting of rooms 10 to 19, an East-West corridor 25, and a NorthSouth corridor 26. A main exit is provided at the South end of the corridor 26 and fire exits are provided at the ends of the East-West corridor 25.
A hazard detection system comprises a central unit 34 to which are connected three lines 36, 37 and 38. The line 36 links detectorsD (these may be smoke detectors and/or heat detectors or other detectors indicative of a fire) in each of rooms 10 to 14.
- 3 r The line 37 links detectors in rooms 15, 16 and 17 and detectors D (which may include manual push buttons) in the west end of the corridor 25 and in the corridor 26. The line 38 links detectors in of the corridor 25 and detectors in and 19.
the east end the rooms 18 The smoke detector system is such that each smoke detector/alarm button D communicates to the control unit 34 not only the existence of smoke but also its location. A suitable system is the COBRA-S system marketed by Colt International Limited.
When the control unit 34 receives a signal that smoke has been detected in a particular space or area, it communicates that information to a central processor 44 (Fig. 2) which is programmed to take account of the location of the fire and illuminate signs throughout the building indicating not only the location of exits and fire exits but also the shortest safe route from any point in the building to an exit.
Thus at each exit or fire exit a sign 50 is illuminated while at intervals along the corridors other exit signs 52 and arrows 54 are illuminated. The signs and arrows are, in this embodiment, made to flash on and off to ensure that they attract the attention of people in the building. If the fire spreads, the computer is programmed to take account of that also and to modify the illumination pattern and the indications of the shortest safe routes.
Also controlled by the processor 44 is an audible system based on loudspeakers 56 which can for example warn people of the fire danger or advise them to evacuate the building or instruct them to follow the illuminated arrows to an exit.
The signs and arrows are provided in the form of modules connected, as shown in Fig. 2, in an addressable communication system 60 powered by a channel generator 62. Each module 52, 54 is controlled by a decoder 64 responsive to its own uniquely coded signals supplied to the system by the processor 44 through an interface unit 35. The generator 62 ensures a power supply independent of the mains supply to the building, and this independent power supply facility may also be exploited to energise emergency lighting via the communication system 60.
As illustrated, the signs 52 have the word EXIT with associated direction arrows to be illuminated as necessary, and are located at points along the corridors and at corridor junctions, i.e. generally where a person would require to make a decision as to the best escape route. Intermediate the signs 52 - 5 further arrows 54 may be provided in pairs pointing in opposite directions, normally only one arrow of the pair being illuminated at a time.
The arrows 54 may be replaced by a continuous chain of lights energised to give a ripple effect leading in the appropriate direction.
The signs and arrows may be suspended from the ceiling or may be wall mounted or may be incorporated in the floor.
While the embodiment described has referred to the system as covering the entire building practical limitations on for example the capacity of the communication system, could limit the warning system to a sub-zone of the building in which case some of the exits could be into an adjacent subzone rather than to the outside of the building.
- 6. -
Claims (7)
1. An escape route indication system comprising hazard detectors each located in a respective area of a building having a plurality of exits, direction indicating means, and control means connected with the hazard detectors and the direction indieating means, the control means being responsive to the indication from a detector of. the presence and location of a hazard to energise the direction indicating means to show at any point the shortest safe route between that point and an exit.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which the hazard detectors are fire or smoke detectors.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the direction indicating means comprises chains of light, the control means energising the lights in a ripple mode.
4. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the direction indicating means comprises signs incorporating arrows.
5. A system as claimed in claim 4, in which the indicating means includes signs having wording indicative of an exit in conjunction with directional arrows.
6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, including an audible system responsive to the control means to broadcast audible information when a hazard has been detected.
An escape route indication system hereinbefore described with reference in, the accompanying drawings.
7. substantially as to, and as shown 1 Ptiblished.1990atThe Patent Office, State House, 66,71 High Holborn, LondonWCIR4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Office Wes Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington. Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray. Kent, Con. 1187
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8822858A GB2223871A (en) | 1988-09-29 | 1988-09-29 | Escape route indication system |
EP19890310013 EP0361973A3 (en) | 1988-09-29 | 1989-09-29 | Illumitated fire escape route |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8822858A GB2223871A (en) | 1988-09-29 | 1988-09-29 | Escape route indication system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8822858D0 GB8822858D0 (en) | 1988-11-02 |
GB2223871A true GB2223871A (en) | 1990-04-18 |
Family
ID=10644448
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB8822858A Withdrawn GB2223871A (en) | 1988-09-29 | 1988-09-29 | Escape route indication system |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0361973A3 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2223871A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1995016249A1 (en) * | 1993-12-08 | 1995-06-15 | Consilium Marine Ab | Route indication device and lighting strip |
GB2286474A (en) * | 1993-11-03 | 1995-08-16 | Neil Gray | Hazard warning system |
WO1996039687A1 (en) * | 1995-05-26 | 1996-12-12 | Leo Hatjasalo | Method for passage guidance and passage guidance system |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2686177B1 (en) * | 1992-01-13 | 2002-12-06 | Cerberus Guinard | DYNAMIC EVACUATION SYSTEM FOR PREMISES AND EVACUATION METHOD. |
DE19644127B4 (en) * | 1996-10-23 | 2004-03-25 | Klingsch, Wolfram, Prof. Dr.-Ing. | evacuation system |
DE59905313D1 (en) * | 1998-09-09 | 2003-06-05 | Siemens Building Tech Ag | FIRE DETECTORS AND FIRE DETECTING SYSTEM |
DE10246033B4 (en) | 2002-10-02 | 2006-02-23 | Novar Gmbh | flight control system |
DE102007061754A1 (en) * | 2007-12-20 | 2009-06-25 | Elektro Grundler Ges.M.B.H. & Co. Kg | Evacuation device and escape route indicator for this |
WO2019027328A1 (en) * | 2017-07-30 | 2019-02-07 | Rightdirection As | Escape assisting method and system |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3916404A (en) * | 1971-04-05 | 1975-10-28 | Thomas Industries Inc | Detecting, alerting and directing system |
US3969720A (en) * | 1974-07-26 | 1976-07-13 | Shiro Nishino | Emergency alarm and evacuation system |
US4023146A (en) * | 1976-02-03 | 1977-05-10 | Carroll Wayne E | Method for computing and evaluating emergency priority and evacuation routes for high rise buildings, mines and the like |
US4347499A (en) * | 1981-01-02 | 1982-08-31 | Thomas F. Burkman, Sr. | Emergency guidance system |
US4531114A (en) * | 1982-05-06 | 1985-07-23 | Safety Intelligence Systems | Intelligent fire safety system |
GB2191028A (en) * | 1986-05-26 | 1987-12-02 | Hochiki Co | Exit directing system |
US4754266A (en) * | 1987-01-07 | 1988-06-28 | Shand Kevin J | Traffic director |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH608968A5 (en) * | 1974-08-13 | 1979-02-15 | Esser Kg Klaus | Device for marking an escape route, particularly in buildings |
JPS5229200A (en) * | 1975-09-01 | 1977-03-04 | Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd | Evacuation guidance apparatus when firing |
JPS599957B2 (en) * | 1976-03-26 | 1984-03-06 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Evacuation guidance system |
GB2199176A (en) * | 1986-12-23 | 1988-06-29 | John Stewart Simpson Stewart | Aircraft emergency egress lighting |
GB2215105A (en) * | 1988-02-16 | 1989-09-13 | Richard William Henry Ford | Personnel evacuation system |
-
1988
- 1988-09-29 GB GB8822858A patent/GB2223871A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1989
- 1989-09-29 EP EP19890310013 patent/EP0361973A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3916404A (en) * | 1971-04-05 | 1975-10-28 | Thomas Industries Inc | Detecting, alerting and directing system |
US3969720A (en) * | 1974-07-26 | 1976-07-13 | Shiro Nishino | Emergency alarm and evacuation system |
US4023146A (en) * | 1976-02-03 | 1977-05-10 | Carroll Wayne E | Method for computing and evaluating emergency priority and evacuation routes for high rise buildings, mines and the like |
US4347499A (en) * | 1981-01-02 | 1982-08-31 | Thomas F. Burkman, Sr. | Emergency guidance system |
US4531114A (en) * | 1982-05-06 | 1985-07-23 | Safety Intelligence Systems | Intelligent fire safety system |
GB2191028A (en) * | 1986-05-26 | 1987-12-02 | Hochiki Co | Exit directing system |
US4754266A (en) * | 1987-01-07 | 1988-06-28 | Shand Kevin J | Traffic director |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2286474A (en) * | 1993-11-03 | 1995-08-16 | Neil Gray | Hazard warning system |
WO1995016249A1 (en) * | 1993-12-08 | 1995-06-15 | Consilium Marine Ab | Route indication device and lighting strip |
US5815068A (en) * | 1993-12-08 | 1998-09-29 | Vadseth; Jan Erik | Guiding light system and lighting strip |
WO1996039687A1 (en) * | 1995-05-26 | 1996-12-12 | Leo Hatjasalo | Method for passage guidance and passage guidance system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0361973A3 (en) | 1990-11-28 |
EP0361973A2 (en) | 1990-04-04 |
GB8822858D0 (en) | 1988-11-02 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US4754266A (en) | Traffic director | |
US7619538B1 (en) | Programmable, directing evacuation systems: apparatus and method | |
US7626507B2 (en) | Intelligent directional fire alarm system | |
US6646545B2 (en) | Color-coded evacuation signaling system | |
US7026947B2 (en) | Building emergency path finding systems and method | |
US5815068A (en) | Guiding light system and lighting strip | |
EP2366176B1 (en) | Route guidance system | |
US4649376A (en) | Visual fire alarm apparatus | |
KR100971623B1 (en) | Device for automatic disaster warning and evacuation guide of high building | |
US6249221B1 (en) | Emergency detector door illumination escape system | |
EP2364573B1 (en) | Illumination system comprising a plurality of illumination devices | |
GB2215105A (en) | Personnel evacuation system | |
CA2569800A1 (en) | Emergency lighting | |
GB2223871A (en) | Escape route indication system | |
KR100547919B1 (en) | Emergency escape guide apparatus | |
US11466846B1 (en) | Emergency lighting system | |
GB2220288A (en) | An emergency exit route directing system | |
KR101900203B1 (en) | Fire detector and intelligent automatic fire dectecting system including the same | |
WO2009017628A2 (en) | Programmable, progressive guiding system: apparatus and method | |
RU63092U1 (en) | COMPREHENSIVE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, LIGHTING OF WAYS OF EVACUATION AND FIRE-TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT, AND ALSO ORGANIZATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PEOPLE'S FLOWS AT EVACUATION | |
GB2286474A (en) | Hazard warning system | |
GB2600033A (en) | Alarm system | |
JP2024130273A (en) | Indicator Lights and Disaster Prevention Systems | |
ATE183868T1 (en) | DETECTION SYSTEM | |
WO2019193302A1 (en) | Emergency evacuation apparatus |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |