GB2268797A

GB2268797A - Improved emergency lighting

Info

Publication number: GB2268797A
Application number: GB9214810A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis James Rose
Original assignee: Colt International Licensing Ltd
Current assignee: Colt International Licensing Ltd
Priority date: 1992-07-13
Filing date: 1992-07-13
Publication date: 1994-01-19
Also published as: GB9214810D0; EP0579481A1

Description

2268797 INPRW9P gNERgúNCY LIGHTING The present invention relates to

emergency lighting systems, and in particular to emergency lighting systems integrated with smoke curtains.

An important aspect of fire management is the provision of emergency lighting designed to illuminate rooms, corridors and other areas of a building in the event of a fire. In addition to this role, emergency lighting.may also be used to direct escapees to emergency fire exits by acting as a route marker, and/or to illuminate signs identifying escape exits.

Such emergency lighting is often designed to be physically robust, in order to withstand the high temperatures (caused by both direct heating and contact with hot smoke) to which it is subjected during a conflagration. Moreover, since large quantities of dense smoke are often generated during a fire, emergency lighting systems must be capable of effective illumination in conditions where high levels of smoke are present. In addition, emergency lighting should also be discreet, so that the aesthetic qualities of the building -2are not compromised.

The problem of providing effective illumination under dense smoke conditions is particularly problematical. For optimum efficiency, emergency light sources should be placed in an elevated situation, ideally in a ceiling. However! when so placed, the lighting may be obscured by smoke which is driven up to the ceiling and then drawn along it towards the point(s) of extraction. In such circumstances, the lighting system would be bathed in and obscured by the smoke.

The present invention provides an emergency lighting system comprising a light and means for lowering the light in the event of a fire. whereby in use the light under normal conditions is positioned at an elevated level eg. at ceiling level, while in the event of a fire the light is activated and lowered to assume a deployed position whereat it is positioned below ceiling level.

The light may be located and designed solely for emergency illumination in the event of a fire, and/or may form part of an emergency escape route marking system eg. a system of illuminated arrows and exit signs.

Preferably, the means for lowering the light comprises a smoke curtain which is attached to the light, whereby in use the curtain under normal conditions is concealed in a ceiling space located behind a ceiling in retracted (eg.

rolled-up or pleated) form and the light is exposed at the ceiling surface, while in the event of a fire the light is activated and the curtain assumes a deployed extended position whereby it suspends the light below ceiling level.

The invention also comprehends an emergency lighting system including detection means for detecting a fire, signalling means for relaying a signal from the detection means to the lighting system and emergency activation means for triggering deployment and activation of the light in response to the signal.

Also covered by the invention is an emergency lighting installation comprising the emergency lighting system according to the invention and a ceiling space defined by a true ceiling and a false ceiling, the upper edge of the curtain being attached to the true ceiling and the false ceiling having apertures, wherein in use under normal conditions the curtain is concealed in the ceiling space in retracted (eg. rolled or pleated form) and the light protrudes through the apertures in the false ceiling, and in the event of a fire the emergency light is deployed such that the curtain passes through the apertures to assume an extended position whereby the light is 5 suspended from the true ceiling by the curtain.

The invention also covers a method of emergency lighting comprising the steps of deploying and activating the emergency lighting of the invention in response to a fire such that the light illuminates from an elevated position below the smoke layer and/or marks an escape route- The emergency lighting systems, installations and methods based thereon according to the invention provide emergency lighting which is discreet during normal, nonemergency conditions (when it is in a retracted position), and which avoids the problems associated with light occlusion and wiring failure caused by hot, dense smoke in the event of a fire (in which circumstances the system is in an extended position so that the lights are dropped below the smoke layer). The invention therefore provides for robust, reliable emergency lighting which delivers light from an elevated position so that firefighting efforts may be most efficiently and effectively conducted and escape routes clearly identified.

As described above, the emergency lighting system according to the invention may be integral with a fire curtain or constitute a wholly separate system. In the latter case, the fire curtains for use with the lighting system may be of any type, and may be deployable eg. by vertical or sideways movement in response to a fire.

The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of an example of a specific embodiment. The embodiment is presented by way of exemplification, and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention. The embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows in section the attachment of the light to the curtain.

Fig. 2a and 2b shows in section the emergency installation in retracted (undeployed) and extended (deployed) positions, respectively.

With reference to Fig. 1, the emergency light 2 comprises a smoke curtain 4 attached to the light 5 via a lightweight box section 6 which encloses wiring 8. The light is protected by a light-transmitting cover 10 which -6has laterally extending flanges 12.

Fig. 2a shows the installation of the retracted (undeployed) emergency light shown in Fig. 1 and described above. The retracted curtain 4 is located in a ceiling space 13 and fixed to the true ceiling 14. The light 5 is located in the aperture 16 of the suspended ceiling 18, the box section 6 extending through the aperture while the flanges 12 are held in overlapping relationship with that area of the suspended ceiling 18 which surrounds the aperture, so acting to conceal the retracted curtain and ceiling space beyond.

It will be appreciated that the installation shown in Fig. 2a is particularly unobtrusive and allows the provision of effective emergency lighting systems without sacrificing the aesthetic integrity of the surrounding architecture.

In Fig. 2b, the elements in common with Fig. 2a are unlabelled, and the curtain is shown in extended (deployed) position whereby it acts to suspend the light at a level below that of the ceiling 18 and smoke layer 20. In this form the emergency lighting installation delivers light from an elevated position below the smoke layer, provided effective illumination by which firefighting and/or rescue efforts may be conducted.

Claims

1. Emergency lighting system comprising a light and means for lowering the light in the event of a fire, whereby in use the light under normal conditions is positioned at an elevated level eg. at ceiling level, while in the event of a fire the light is activated and lowered to assume a deployed position whereat it is positioned below ceiling level.

2. Emergency lighting system according to claim 1 wherein the means for lowering the light comprises a smoke curtain which is attached to the light, whereby in use the curtain under normal conditions is concealed in a ceiling space located behind a ceiling in retracted (eg. rolled-up or pleated) form and the light is exposed at the ceiling surface, while in the event of a fire the light is activated and the curtain assumes a deployed extended position whereby it suspends the light below ceiling level.

3. Emergency lighting system according to claim 2 wherein the light is a strip light that extends along at least part of the length of the lower edge of the curtain.

4. Emergency lighting system according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the light comprises a elongated lightweight box or extruded section for housing wiring, which section is fixed to the lower edge of the curtain.

5 5. Emergency lighting system according to any one of claims 2 to 4 further comprising an at least partially light-transmitting cover which, when the emergency light is retracted, is in contact and in overlapping relationship with part of the ceiling to conceal the ceiling space in which the retracted curtain is located.

6. Emergency lighting system according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the light forms part of an escape route marking system.

7. Emergency lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 further comprising detection means for detecting a fire, signalling means for relaying a signal from the detection means to the lighting system and emergency activation means for triggering deployment and activation of the light in response to the signal.

8. Emergency lighting system acording to claim 7 wherein the emergency activation means also triggers other fire- -10management systems, eg. fire alarms and extinguishant sprinklers.

9. Emergency lighting system according to claims 7 or 8 5 wherein the detection means is a smoke detector.

10. Emergency lighting system according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the activation means comprises a battery which is dedicated to powering the light.

11. Emergency lighting system according to any one.of claims 7 to 10 wherein the emergency activation means comprises a release means that in use allows the light to fall under gravity, so extending (eg. unfurling) the curtain to assume the deployed position.

12. Emergency lighting system according to any one of claims 7 to 11 further comprising a second activation means independent of the emergency activation means which allows timed or manual operation of the light when in the retracted (undeployed) state, for eg. night illumination.

13. Emergency lighting installation comprising an emergency lighting system according to any one of claims 2 to 12 and a ceiling space defined by a true ceiling and -11a false ceiling, the upper edge of the curtain being attached to the true ceiling and the false ceiling having apertures, wherein in use under normal conditions the curtain is concealed in the ceiling space in retracted (eg. rolled or pleated form) and the light protrudes through the apertures in the false ceiling, and in the event of a fire the emergency light is deployed such that the curtain passes through the apertures to assume an extended position whereby the light is suspended from the true ceiling by the curtain.

14. A method of smoke management and emergency lighting comprising the steps of deploying and activating an emergency lighting system according to any one of the preceding claims in response to a fire such that the light illuminates from an elevated position below the smoke layer and/or marks an escape route.

15. Emergency lighting system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Emergency lighting installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.