GB2381512A

GB2381512A - Emergency fire escape

Info

Publication number: GB2381512A
Application number: GB0125364A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Mccormick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-23
Filing date: 2001-10-23
Publication date: 2003-05-07
Also published as: GB0125364D0

Abstract

An emergency fire escape 2 includes a spiral chute 1 which leads from an upper floor 3 to ground level. The escape may include more than one chute. The gradient of the chute, and the height of the sides of the chute may decrease as the chute reaches ground level. The chute may include a recess (8, fig 2), which allows a wheelchair user to transfer from a wheelchair to the chute.

Description

The disable friendly emergency fire escape

The conventional emergency fire escapes are well known as a series of flights of stairs fixed to the out side of a building for use in an emergency Whilst being adequate for the able bodied, they are not very conducive to the less able bodied or disabled, as the need to descend stairs quickly is required so as to escape the cause of the emergency

The conventional emergency fire escapes may also create a security problem i. e people entering and leaving a building unobserved There has been a number of incidents where, the owners of a building have locked their fire escape door, to prevent entry and egress from this direction, although illegal, the alternative being to allow an unsecured entrance In a number of cases people have been killed because the fire escape doors have been locked for security reasons, illegally, which go undiscovered until a disaster has happened.

With a conventional fire escape people in wheelchairs may need carrying by a number of people down the escape route to escape the emergency The less agile may fall or be pushed in the haste to escape the emergency, causing injury to some or all involved According to the present invention there is provided an emergency fire escape, comprising a spirw slide descending

from above floor level at a height comfortable enough for a person m a wheelchair to transfer to and be transported safely at speed with the minimum of difficulty to ground level.

The disable friendly fire escape allows for the safe and comfortable egress from a building, whilst, not allowing access to a building. Whilst being available for use in conjunction with existing fire escape's The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichFigure 1. Shows the spiral slide descending from floor level to floor level down to ground kvel the slide levelling out at a height above ground level comfortable enough for a Person in need of a wheelchair, to transfer to with the minimum of difficulty, and be transported Sandy away from danger at ground level The escape platforms on the outside of an emergency fire door exit as with a conventional fire escapes How the slide from the lower floor level joining with the slide from the uppermost floor.

How the slide level's out above ground level comfortable enough for a per. ; on in need of a wheelchair to transfer to with the minimum of difficulty How the sides of the slide reduce in height as the slide nears ground level, to be none existent as the slide Level's out above ground level Figure 2. Shows a seat at a height above the platform comfortable enough for a person in a wheelchair, to transfer to with the minimum of difficulty

How a recess under the seat, that allows for the foot rests of the wheelchair to fit under the Seat, and allows a person in a wbjelchair to move as close as Possible to the seat for ease of transfer to the slide With the platform walkway at the side of the seat uowing the people who are able to walk, and the able bodied to walk into and sit on the seat and slide away

The disable friendly emergency fire escape Figure 3.. Shows a seat at a height above the platform comfortable enough for a person in a wheelchair. to transfer to with the minimum of difficulty.

How a recessunder theseat.that a!hws M & )otrests < the whee hair & u aMows aperson in a wheelchair to move as chte asPosabe to te seat ease of ianstnd sMe With theplatform walkway at theside of the seataallowing the people whoaable to e able bodied to walk into and sit on the seat and slide away Figure 4 Showsaslidefor independent use nom the Cnt floor of a bt'iMmg Thesunloftheescapeisasin figures 2 and 3 Where by the slide starts above the escape platfbnnwithaaeat, at acomRtftabletevel above the platform, comfortable enough for a person in a wheelchair to tnnsfa-1O with the minimum of dtffimlty. With a recess under the seat to allowwtiMfbot st ofthewheetchai to fit under the seat, thus allowing the wheelchair to manoeuvre as dose as possible to the seat for ease of transfer to the seatThe escapee then slides down to gmund level. with the minimum of difficulty.

The disable friendly emergency fire escape Referring to the drawing the disable ! y, emergency fire escape isaspiraNingstide t with sides 2 conducive with the safety of the user, that enables the disable to escape a building in an emergency with the minimum of assistance Consisting of a spiralling slide 1 with sides 2 conducive with the safety of the user. deacemBng cm one floor level 3 of a building to ground level Joining with other similar spiralling slides 4 with sides conducive with the safety of the user, on the way down, then levelling off 5. at a comfixtable level above ground, to allow an escapee in need of a wbeetclwr, to transfer to a wheelchair with the minimum of difficulty The sides of the slide reducing in height 6. as the slide nears the ground, to be none existent at a height that people will be alighting Rum.

The escape routs starts on each floor level with an escape platform, 3, on the out side of each emergency exit door.

Allowing the escapee to escape the danger of smoke The escapee's make their way to the seats 7, with a recess 8 under the rear of the seat, allowing for the footrests of the wheelchair to fit under the seat, thus, allowing the whedchair to manoeuvre as close as possible to the seat- The seat 7 which furms the upper most ertent of the slide, J.

The escapee sits on the seat 7, and then descends on the solide 1. to a comfortable level above ground level to transfer to a wheelchair. if necessary The sides of the slide reducing in height as the slide nears ground level 5, to be none existent at a height that people will be alighting from the escape.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A disable friendly emergency fire escape comprising, of an emergency esce phtfonn from the emergency exit Ofateachteveteadmgtotheseat. fbnnmgtheuppermoste ! < tentofthesNde, ateachteveL A spiraling slid, that descends from each floor level of a building to ground lewd, with sides conducive with the safety of the user. joming with other slides on the way down, and then levelling off to a comfortable level above the ground to allow the escapee to slow down, and stop at a height comfortable enough for a person in need of a wheelchair to transfer to with the minimum of difficulty The sides of the slide reducing I height as the slide nears the ground to be none existent at near ground level 2 A disable ftiendly > emergeocy fire escape as claimed in claim 1 A seat tònning the upper most extent oftbe Slide at each level at a height above the platform comfortable enough for a person in a whee ! chair to tnmsfer to theTear of the seat being recessed to allowthetbotTests ofthe Wheelchair to fit under, allowing the escapee to manoeuvre as close as possible to the seat for ease of transfer to the seat 3 A disableinendty.emergency fire escape as claimed in claim I. A seat fnnngthe upper mostextent of a spinuling sUde w) th sides conducive with the safety off the user. that descends from one Soor levd of a Building to ground level, joining with other spiraihng sndes, with odes conducive with the safety of the user. on the way down.

4 A disabiernendty, emetgene fur escape as claimed in claim I A spiraHng slide with sides conducivewith the safety of the user, the slide levels off at near ground level at a comfortaMe height above the ground to allow a person in need of a wheelchair, to transfer to with the minimum of difficulty S A disable friendly, emergency fire escape as claimed in claim 1 The sides of the slide reducing in height as the slide nears ground level to be none existent as the slide levels off to allow people to alight 6 A disable fnendly, emergency fire escape substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A disable friendly emergency fire escape comprising, of an emergency escape platform from the emergency exit door at each level, leading to the seat, forming the upper most extent of the slide, at each level A slid, that descends from floor level of a building to ground level, with sides conducive with the safety of the user, joining with other slides on the way down, and then levelling off to a comfortable level above the ground to allow the escapee to slow down, and stop at a height comfortable enough for a person in need of a wheelchair to transfer to with the minimum of difficulty The sides of the slide reducing I height as the slide nears the ground to be none existent at near ground level.
2 A disable friendly, emergency fire escape as claimed in clair 1 A seat forming the upper most extent of the Slide at each level at a height above the platform comfortable enough for a person in a wheelchair to transfer to the seat with the minimum of difficulty The rear of the seat being recessed : to. allow the footrests of the Wheelchair to fit under, allowing the escapee to manoeuvre as close as possible to the seat for ease of transfer to the seat.
3 A disable friendly, emergency fire escape as claimed in claim I. A seat forming the upper most extent of a slide with sides conducive with the safety off the user, that descends from one floor level of a Building to ground level, joining with other slides, with sides conducive with the safety of the user, on the way down.
4 A disable friendly, emergency fire escape as claimed in claim I A slide with sides conducive with the safety of the user, the slide levels off at near ground level at a comfortable height above the ground to allow a person in need of a wheelchair, to transfer to with the minimum of difficulty.
5 A disable friendly, emergency fire escape as claimed in claim I The sides of the slide reducing in height as the slide nears ground level to be none existent as the slide levels off to allow people to alight.
6. A disable fnendh.', emergency Bre escape substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.