GB2446853A

GB2446853A - Monitoring the evacuation of people

Info

Publication number: GB2446853A
Application number: GB0702697A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Downes
Original assignee: LAND SECURITIES PROPERTIES Ltd
Current assignee: LAND SECURITIES PROPERTIES Ltd
Priority date: 2007-02-12
Filing date: 2007-02-12
Publication date: 2008-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-12
Also published as: GB2446853B; GB0702697D0

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus for and a method of monitoring the evacuation of people from at least one zone (Z1), for example a large building such as a shopping centre or mall (10). The shopping centre or mall (10) contains a large number of shops or stores (20), and the zone (Z1) is subdivided into one or more sub-zones (20). Processing means receives, a signal from each sub-zone (20) indicating whether the respective sub-zone (20) has been evacuated, optionally a begin signal indicating the need for evacuation and optionally a signal indicating that the need for evacuation has passed. Input means, such as mechanical switches or virtual buttons on a GUI on a computer, may be employed to generate such inputs from user input. The processing means generates signals which optionally cause visual indications (LED or a display on a computer) of evacuation commencement, whether each and all sub-zones (20) have completed evacuation, and whether the need for evacuation has passed. The processing means are disclosed to optionally be computer processing means, such means optionally executing a computer program, such program optionally stored on a record carrier.

Description

APPARATUS FOR MONITORING THE EVACUATION OF PEOPLE, AND AN

ASSOCIATED METHOD

INTRODUCTION

S

This invention relates to apparatus for and a method of monitoring the evacuation of people. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to the evacuation of people from large buildings, such as shopping centres containing a large number of shops. In American English, shopping centres are sometimes referred to as "shopping malls", and shops are sometimes referred to as "stores".

BACKGROUND

In an existing evacuation method, when a signal to evacuate a shopping centre is given, IS each shop of the shopping centre is evacuated under the supervision of the manager of the shop. The manager is responsible for ensuring that all staff, visitors and contractors are safely evacuated from his or her shop. He or she then closes the shop and joins those evacuated at an assembly point, whereupon the manager ensures that all persons on his or her fire register are accounted for. A security officer then visits the assembly points and checks with each manager that all on the fire registers are accounted for. During an evacuation, the security officers communicate with one another and with a central control room using two-way radios.

One drawback of this existing method is that, during an evacuation, it is usual for many people to try to communicate with one another at the same time using the two-way radios. Thus, traffic over the radios is high. This can make is difficult to contact a person with whom you wish to speak, and difficult to be understood should contact be made.

Another drawback is that the security officers have long distances to travel in checking with the managers that all persons are accounted for. As these same officers also have responsibility for guiding the emergency services to the site of the incident giving rise to the need for evacuation, such as a fire, it may take a long time for the security officers to ascertain whether or not all persons are accounted for. For this reason, security officers are often provided with motor bikes to shorten the time it takes for them to perform their duties. However, even where this is the case, it can take a long time to ascertain whether or not all persons are accounted for.

It is an object of this invention to address one or more of these drawbacks.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of monitoring the evacuatioii oipeopk from aL least one zone of an area, Lhe at least one zone being made up of a plurality of sub-zones, the method including the steps of: a) receiving at processing means a respective sub-zone input for each of the sub-zones, each sub-zone input indicating that the respective sub-zone has been evacuated; and b) in response to receiving a respective sub-zone input for each of the sub-zones of the at least one zone, the processing means generating and outputting a signal indicating that visual indication means provide avisual indication that the evacuation of the at least one zone is complete.

The area may be made up of a plurality of zones. The area may be one or more floors of a building. The building may be a large building in which there are typically many people. The building may, for example, be a shopping centre, a department store, an office block, a school or a hospital. Each zone may be a floor of the building. Each zone may include a part of one or more floors. Each sub-zone may be a discrete room. Each sub-zone may be discrete premises, such as a shop, in, for example, a shopping centre.

Each sub-zone may be a department, or a part thereof, in a department store. One or more zones may be made up of only one sub-zone. Each zone may be made up of a plurality of sub-zones.

Step (a) may be preceded by the step of receiving a begin input at the processing means indicating that the at least one zone is to be evacuated. Step (a) may be preceded by the step of the processing means generating and outputting an evacuation-begin signal indicating that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the evacuation of the at least one zone has been completed.

The at least one zone may be only one or certain of the plurality of zones.

The method may include the step of receiving sub-zone inputs indicating that all of the sub-zones of the area have been evacuated, and generating and outputting in response thereto a signal that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that all zones have been evacuated.

The method may include the step of the processing means receiving an input indicating that the need for evacuation has passed; and may include the processing means generating and outputting a signal in response thereto that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the need for evacuation has passed. This step may instead include, for example, the processing means generating and outputting no signal to the visual indication means in response thereto such that the visual indication means gives no visual indication.

The visual indications may be made by lighting lights. For example, the visual indication that evacuation of the at least one zone should begin may be a red light, the visual signal that the at least one zone that was to be evacuated has been evacuated may be a red light and a green light together, the visual signal that all zones have been evacuated may be a green light. One, more or all of the lights may flash. One, more or all of the lights may be flashing light beacons. The visual indication that the need for evacuation has passed may be made by extinguishing one or more lights; and may include extinguishing the green light and, if lit, the red light too.

In response to receiving a sub-zone input for a sub-zone, the processing means may output a signal that sub-zone indication means indicate that a sub-zone input has been received for that sub-zone. Before the processing means has received a sub-zone input for a sub-zone, the processing means may be arranged to output a signal that the sub- zone indication means indicate that no sub-zone input has been received for that sub-zone According to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided apparatus for use in monitoring the evacuation of people from at least one zone of an area, the at least one zone being made up of a plurality of sub-zones; the apparatus including input means, processing means and visual indication means; the input means arranged and operable by a user to provide, for each of the sub-zones, the processing means with a respective sub-zone input indicating that the sub-zone has been evacuated; the processing means arranged, in response to receiving a respective sub-zone input for each of the sub-zones of the at least one zone, to generate and transmit a signal to the visual indication means that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the evacuation of the at least one zone is complete; and the visual indication means arranged to provide that visual indication in response to that signal.

Optional features of the first aspect of the invention may also be optional features of this second aspect of the invention. The apparatus may be arranged and operable to carry out the method of the first aspect of the invention.

The processing means may be arranged to receive a begin input indicating that the at least one zone is to be evacuated, in response to receiving the begin input, the processing means may be arranged to generate and output an evacuation-begin signal indicating that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the evacuation of the at least one zone has been completed. The apparatus may include begin-input generating means operable to generate the begin input. The begin-input generating means may be at least part of a fire alarm system arranged to generate the begin input in response to ascertaimng that a fire alarm has been raised or determining that there is a fire in the area. The begin input may be received via a fire alarm interface.

The begin-input generating means may be part of another type of warning system.

The at least one zone may be only one or certain of the plurality of zones, In response to receiving sub-zone inputs indicating that all of the sub-zones of one of the zones have been evacuated, the processing means may be arranged to generate and output a signal that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that that zone has been evacuated.

In response to receiving sub-zone inputs indicating that all of the sub-zones of the area have been evacuated, the processing means may be arranged to generate and output a signal that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that all zones have been evacuated.

The processing means may be arranged to receive an input indicating that the need for evacuation has passed; and may be arranged to generate and output a signal in response thereto that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the need for evacuation has passed. The processing means may instead be arranged to generate and outputting no signal to the visual indication means in response thereto such that the visual indication means gives no visual indication.

The visual indications may include one or more lights, and may include a red light and a green light. The lights and/or the processing means may be arranged to cause the lights to flash. The lights may include flashing beacons. The lights may include light emitting diodes (LEDs).

The processing means may be computer processing means, such as, for example, a personal computer. The personal computer may be part of a computer network. The processing means may be embodied by one or more logic circuits.

One, more or all of the input means, the processing means and the visual indication means may be housed in, or in some other way fixed to, a housing. The housing may be of dimensions and weight allowing it to be fixed to a wall in or adjacent the area for easy access by operators of the apparatus. The visual indication means may be fixed to the housing such that they are visible to those for whom the housing is in view.

The input means may be manually operable input means operable by a user. The input means may include one or more buttons. One, more or all of the buttons may be mechanical buttons that close an electrical circuit. One, more or all of the buttons may be virtual buttons displayed on display means of a graphical user interface (GUI). A respective input means may be provided for each sub-zone to provide the respective subzone input therefor.

The apparatus may include sub-zone indication means arranged to indicate whether or not a sub-zone input has been provided for one or more of the sub-zones. The sub-zone indication means may be arranged to indicate for each sub-zone whether or not a sub-zone input has been provided for that sub-zone. The sub-zone indication means may include respective sub-zone indication means for each sub-zone. Respective sub-zone indication means may be provided adjacent each of the input means, with the respective sub-zone indication means arranged to indicate for the adjacent input means whether or not a sub-zone input has been provided for the sub-zone to which the input means relates. Each of the input means andlor each of the sub-zone indication means may be labelled, or have a label adjacent thereto, identifying the sub-zone to whith those means relate.

At least some of the processing means may be remote processing means remote from the or each housing, and in communication therewith. The remote processing means may be arrange to receive the begin input. At least some of the visual indication means may be remote visual indication means remote from the or each housing. The remote processing means may be arranged to control operation of the remote visual indication means, directly, without communicating therewith via the or any housing.

The sub-zone indication means may provide a first visual indication for each sub-zone to indicate that no sub-zone input for that sub-zone has been received; and may provide a second visual indication for each sub-zone to indicate that a sub-zone input for that sub-zone has been received. The or each visual indication may be a light. The sub-zone indication means may include light emitting diodes (LEDs). Two LEDs may be provided for each sub-zone. The two LEDs may include a red LED and a green LED.

The apparatus may include a plurality of the housings. The input means may be grouped together into a plurality of groups and each group may be housed in a respective housing. The grouping may be such that input means associated with some sub-zones of a zone are in one housing and input means associated with other sub-zones of that zone are in another housing. In other words, zones may be spread across two or more housings. The housings may be spaced from one another. Each housing may include the visual indication means. Each housing may include sub-zone indication means associated with the sub-zones with which the input means in that housing are associated.

The apparatus may be part of an evacuation system. The evacuation system may include visual monitoring means to monitor the visual indication means, and in which visual reproduction means produce a visual indication representative of the indication or indications provided by the visual indication means. The visual monitoring means and the visual indication means may include part or all of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system. This allows security or safety personnel to monitor the status of an evacuation remotely.

The evacuation system may include computer processing means arranged to communicate with the apparatus. The computer processing means may be arranged to reproduce on display means thereof a visual indication representing the visual indication or indications provided by the visual indication means of the apparatus. The computer processing means may be part of a computer network to which the apparatus is connected.

According to a third aspect of this invention, there is provided an evacuation system as defined above.

According to a fourth aspect of this invention, there is provided computer processing means programmed and operable to carry Out a method as defined hereinabove.

According to a fifth aspect of this invention, there is provided a computer program having code portions executable by computer processing means to cause those means to carry out a method as defined hereinabove.

According to a sixth aspect of this invention, there is provided a record carrier carrying information indicative of a computer program as defined in the fifth aspect. The record carrier may be a signal. The record carrier may be solid-state memory. The record carrier may be a computer-readable disk, such as a magnetic or optical disk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is schematic view of apparatus for use in monitoring the evacuation of people; Figure 2 is a plan view of an exemplary shopping centre in which the apparatus is installed; and Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating steps in a method embodying this invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows apparatus in the form of a first evacuation panel 100 and a second evacuation panel 200 for use in monitoring the evacuation of people. In this embodiment, the panels 100,200 are for monitoring the evacuation of people from a shopping centre.

A plan view of the shopping centre 10 is shown in Figure 2. The shopping centre 10 is generally T-shaped. As can be seen from Figure 2, the shopping centre 10 includes only eight shops 20. This is for simplicity of explanation. In other embodiments, there may be more shops. One shop 20 is situated on each side of each end of the cross of the T-shape; and two shops 20 are situated on each side of the base of the T-shape. The shopping centre 10 includes doors 12 in the centre of the top edge of the cross of T-shape.

The shops 20 shown in Figure 2 are grouped into three notional zones it, Z2, Z3. The two shops 20 at the top-left of the T-shape are in a first zone ZI, the two shops 20 at the top-right of the T-shape are in a second zone Z2, and the four shops at the base of the T-shape are the third zone Z3. Thus, the shops may be considered as sub-zones within the zones.

The first panel 100 is positioned outside the shopping centre 10 and spaced therefrom in a first location. The second panel 200 is also positioned outside the shopping centre 10 and spaced therefrom, but is at a second location. As both the first and second locations are outside the shopping centre 10 and spaced therefrom, those locations are, or at least are intended to be, safe in the event of a fire or some such other emergency inside the shopping centre 10.

With reference to Figure 1, in this embodiment, the two panels 100, 200 are structurally very similar to one another. Each panel 100, 200 has a housing 110, 210 that is a metal box. The housings 100, 200 are such that they can be fixed to a wall. In other embodiments, however, the housings 100, 200 may be fixed to other structure, such as a pole or post. Returning to the present embodiment, each housing 110, 210 has several electrical components mounted in the walls thereof such that parts of each component arranged for operation or viewing by a user are on the outside of the housing 110, 210, and electrical contacts and connections of the components are on the inside of the housing 110, 210. The electrical components are visual indication means in the form of a light beacons 120, 125; 220, 225, input means in the form of buttons 130-133; 230- 233 and zone indication means in the form of LEDs 140-143; 240-243. The arrangement of the components of one panel will now be describe in more detail, it being understood that, in this embodiment, the arrangement of the components of the other panel is intended to be the same.

On the first panel 100, the beacons 120, 125 are mounted in a side of the housing 110 that is to be uppermost when the housing is fixed to a wall. One of the beacons 120 is arranged to emit a red flashing light, and the other beacon 125 is arranged to emit a green flashing light. In other embodiments, the beacons 120, 125 may be positioned remotely from the housings. This may be done to increase visibility of the beacons 120, 125. For example, the beacons 120, 125 may be positioned above normal head height to improve visibility thereof from a distance. Returning to the present embodiment, the buttons 130-133 and the LEDs 140-143 are mounted in the side of the housing 110 that would be frontmost when the housing 110 is fixed to a wall. A first pair of the buttons 130, 131 are mounted side-by-side towards the front side of the housing 110, and the second pair of the buttons 132, 133 are mounted side-by-side below that first pair 130, 131. A respective pair of the LEDs 140-143 are mounted above each button 130-133.

One of each pair of LEDs 140-143 is red and the other of each pair is green. Each button 130-133 is labelled with the name or number of a respective one of the shops.

Processing means in the form of logic circuits (not shown) are housed in the housings 110, 210 of each panel 100, 200. The buttons 130-133; 230-233 are connected to the logic circuits in order to provide inputs thereto upon being pressed. Both the LEDs 140- 143; 240-243 and the beacons 120, 125; 220, 225 are connected to the logic circuits so as to be controllable thereby. Furthermore, the processing means of the first panel 100 are connected to the processing means of the second panel 200 via an interconnection 250 therebetween. The processing means of the first panel 100 are further connected to receive inputs from a fire alarm system 50.

The processing means of the first panel 100 and the second panel 200 are arranged to carry out steps of a method in response to receiving certain inputs. This method will now be described in terms of the operation of the apparatus described with reference to Figure 3 above.

In operation, an alarm of the fire alarm system 50 is activated by either sensors thereof sensing fire, or a person pressing a fire alarm button of the alarm system 50. As is conventional, a fire alarm then sounds. In this example, the alarm is activated in the third zone Z3 of the shopping centre 10. In response to this activation, the fire alarm system 50 generates a BEGIN signal and communicates this as an input to the first panel 100. This input indicates that the alarm has been raised and also the zone in respect of which the alarm was raised. The first panel 100 communicates with the second panel 200 via the interconnection 250 to the effect that a BEGIN signal has been received. Each panel therefore receives the BEGIN signal in a first step 310 of operation. In response to reception of the signal, each panel 100, 200 proceeds to a second step 320. in the second step 320, the red beacon 120, 220 only of each panel 100, 200 flashes, and each of the red ones of the LEDs 140-143; 240-243 are lit whilst the green ones thereof are not.

In response to hearing the fire alarm, shoppers and staff evacuate the shops 20 and the shopping centre 10. Each manager of each shop 20 supervises the evacuation of his or her shop 20. Upon being satisfied that his or her shop 20 has been evacuated and everyone therein at the time of the alarm has been accounted for, each manager proceeds to the panel 100, 200 that includes the button 130-133; 230-233 for his or her shop 20, and presses the button, thereby generating an input indicative that a respective one of the shops 20 has been evacuated. The panels 100, 200 receive inputs from the buttons 130-133; 230-233 at step 330 indicating that the respective shop associated with the pressed button 130-133; 230-233 has been evacuated. As mentioned hereinabove, the shops can be considered as sub-zones within the zones, and so the inputs generated by the buttons 130-133; 230-233 can be considered as sub-zone inputs.

Upon receiving an input from one of the buttons 130-133; 230-233, the red LED 140- 143; 240-243 for that button is extinguished and the green LED 140-143; 240-243 is lit.

In this embodiment, this takes place in step 335.

At step 340 the processing means in each of the panels 100, 200 communicate with one another and ascertain whether or not each button 130-133; 230-233 that corresponds to a shop 20 in the third zone Z3 (the zone in respect of which the alarm was raised) has been pressed. If not, the method returns to step 330.

If all buttons 130-133; 230-233 associated with shops 20 in the third zone Z3 have been pressed, the method proceeds to step 350 at which the red beacons 120, 220 are flashed together with the green beacons 125, 225. This indicates that the zone in respect of which the alarm was raised has been evacuated.

The method then proceeds to step 360 at which the processing means of the panels 100, comniunjcate with one another to ascertain whether or not every button 130-133; 230-233 has been pressed. If not, the method returns to step 330. If it is ascertained that every button 130-133; 230-233 has been pressed, the method proceeds to step 370 at which the green beacons 125, 225 only are flashed. This indicates that all shops 20, and hence all zones Z I -Z3, have been evacuated.

Upon receiving a STOP signal as an input from the fire alarm system 50 at step 380 indicating that the alarm is no longer raised, the method proceeds to step 390 at which all beacons 120, 125, 220, 225 and all LEDs are extinguished 140-143; 240-243.

In the embodiment described above, only two panels 100, 200 are described for use in a shopping centre having only three zones and a total of only eight shops. It is however envisaged that, in other embodiments, there may be more panels with more zones and more shops. Buttons corresponding to the shops of one or more zones may be distributed across two or more of the panels, as is the case with the buttons corresponding to the shops of the third zone in the embodiment described above. This can be done to ensure that the panels are conveniently placed for the shops corresponding to the buttons thereon.

In another embodiment that is not illustrated, the panels are arranged to communicate with a central system, such as a computer. In this embodiment the computer constitutes at least some of the processing means described above. In such an arrangement, there would be no need for an interconnection between the housings 100, 200 such as that 250 described above. Instead, each housing 100, 200 would communicate directly with the computer. Similarly, the beacons 120, 125; 220, 225 are connected to the computer and are under the control thereof.

In operation, the housings 100, 200 may each receive a respective BEGIN signal from the fire alarm system 50, and would supply the computer with information indicative of which of the buttons 130-133, 230-233 has or have been pressed. The housings 100, 200 would control illumination of the LEDs 140-143; 240-243 as before, but the computer would control illumination of the beacons 120, 125; 220, 225 based on information received from the housings 100, 200. It will therefore be understood that in this other embodiment, there is no communication between the housings. Thus, the housings may be considered as "stand alone" housings with respect to one another.

In this other embodiment, the computer may further be arranged to reproduce visual indications on a display screen thereof corresponding to at least the red beacons and the green beacons and, optionally, the red and green LEDs. This would allow a person in a control room to monitor easily the progress of any evacuation. The computer may be part of a computer network.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in monitoring the evacuation of people from at least one zone of an area, the at least one zone being made up of a plurality of sub-zones; the apparatus including input means, processing means and visual indication means; the input means arranged and operable by a user to provide, for each of the sub-zones, the processing means with a respective sub-zone input indicating that the sub-zone has been evacuated; the processing means arranged, in response to receiving a respective sub-zone input for each of the sub-zones of the at least one zone, to generate and transmit a signal to the visual indication means that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the evacuation of the at least one zone is complete; and the visual indication means arranged to provide that visual indication in response to that signal.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing means is arranged to receive a begin input indicating that the at least one zone is to be evacuated.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in response to receiving the begin input, the processing means is arranged to generate and output an evacuation-begin signal indicating that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the evacuation of the at least one zone has been conimencecj.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes begin-input generating-mes operable to generate the begin input.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the begin-input generating means is at least part of a fire alarm system arranged to generate the begin input in response to ascertaining that a fire alarm has been raised or determining that there is a fire in the area.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one zone may be only one or certain of the plurality of zones.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein in response to receiving sub-zone inputs indicating that all of the sub- zones of the zone have been evacuated, the processing means is arranged to generate and output a signal that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the zone has been evacuated.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing means is arranged to receive an input indicating that the need for evacuation has passed; and is arranged to generate and output a signal in response thereto that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the need for evacuation has passed, or to output no signal to the visual indication means in response thereto such that the visual indication means gives no visual indication.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the visual indications include one or more lights, and may include a red light and a green light.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lights and/or the processing means are arranged to cause the lights to flash.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein one, more or all of the input means, the processing means and the visual indication means are housed in, or in some other way fixed to, a housing.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the visual indication means are remote from the housing.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the housing is of dimensions and weight allowing it to be fixed to structure in or adjacent the area for easy access by operators of the apparatus.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the visual indication means is fixed to the housing such that they are visible to those for whom the housing is in view.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the visual indication means are mounted at a height such that they can be seen from a distance above a crowd of people.

16. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the input means is manually operable input means operable by a user.

17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a respective input means is provided for each sub-zone to provide the respective sub-zone input therefor.

18. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes sub-zone indication means arranged to indicate whether or not a sub-zone input has been provided for one or more of the sub-zones.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the sub-zone indication means is arranged to indicate for each sub-zone whether or not a sub-zone input has been provided for that sub-zone.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the sub-zone indication means includes respective sub-zone indication means for each sub-zone.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein respective sub-zone indication means are provided adjacent each of the input means, with the respective sub-zone indication means arranged to indicate for the adjacent input means whether or not a sub-zone input has been provided for the sub-zone to which the input means relates.

22. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the input means and/or each of the sub-zone indication means is labelled, or has a label adjacent thereto, identifying the sub-zone to which those means relate.

23. Apparatus according to any one of claim 18 to claim 22, wherein the sub-zone indication means provides a first visual indication for each sub-zone to indicate that no sub-zone input for that sub-zone has been received

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the sub-zone indication means provides a second visual indication for each sub-zone to indicate that a sub-zone input for that sub-zone has been received.

25. Apparatus according to any one or claim 11 to claim 24, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of the housings.

26. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the input means is grouped together into a plurality of groups, with each group housed in a respective housing, the grouping being such that input means associated with some sub-zones of a zone are in one housing and input means associated with other sub-zones of that zone are in another housing.

27. Apparatus according to claim 25 or claim 26, wherein each housing includes the visual indication means.

28. Apparatus according to any one of claim 25 to claim 27, wherein each housing includes sub-zone indication means associated with the sub-zones with which the input means in that housing are associated.

29. An evacuation system including apparatus as defined in any preceding claim.

30. An evacuation system according to claim 29 and including visual monitoring means to monitor the visual indication means, and in which visual reproduction means produce a visual indication representative of the indication or indications provided by the visual indication means.

31. An evacuation system according to claim 30, wherein the visual monitoring means and the visual indication means include part or all or a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system.

32. An evacuation system according to claim 29, and including computer processing means arranged to communicate with the apparatus and arranged to reproduce on display means thereof a visual indication representing the visual indication or indications provided by the visual indication means of the apparatus.

33. An evacuation system according to claim 32, wherein the computer processing means is part of a computer network to which the apparatus is connected.

34. A method of monitoring the evacuation of people from at least one of a plurality of zones of an area, the at least one zone being made up of a plurality of sub-zones, the method including the steps of: a) receiving at processing means a respective sub-zone input for each of the sub-zones, each sub-zone input indicating that the respective sub-zone has been evacuated; and b) in response to receiving a respective sub-zone input for each of the sub-zones of the at least one zone, the processing means generating and outputting a signal indicating that visual indication means provide a visual indication that the evacuation of the at least one zone is complete.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein step (a) is preceded by the step of receiving a begin input at the processing means indicating that the at least one zone is to be evacuated.

36. A method according to any one of claim 34 to claim 35, wherein step (a) is preceded by the step of the processing means generating and outputting an evacuation-begin signal indicating that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the evacuation of the at least one zone is to begin.

37. A method according to any one of claim 34 to claim 36, wherein the at least one zone is only one or certain of the plurality of zones.

38. A method according to any one of claim 34 to claim 37, wherein the method includes the step of receiving sub-zone inputs indicating that all of the sub-zones of the area have been evacuated, and generating and outputting in response thereto a signal that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that all zones have been evacuated.

39. A method according to any one of claim 34 to claim 38, wherein the method includes the step of the processing means receiving an input indicating that the need for evacuation has passed; and includes the processing means generating and outputting a signal in response thereto that the visual indication means provide a visual indication that the need for evacuation has passed, or the processing means instead generating and outputting no signal to the visual indication means in response thereto such that the visual indication means gives no visual indication.

40. A method according to any one of claim 34 to claim 39, wherein the visual indications are made by lighting lights.

41. A method according to any one of claim 34 to claim 40, wherein in response to receiving a sub-zone input for a sub-zone, the processing means outputs a signal that sub-zone indication means indicate that a sub-zone input has been received for that sub-zone.

42. A method according to any one of claim 34 to claim 41, wherein before the processing means has received a sub-zone input for a sub-zone, the processing means is arranged to output a signal that the sub-zone indication means indicate that no sub-zone input has been received for that sub-zone

43. Computer processing means programmed to carry out a method a method according to any one of claim 34 to claim 42.

44. A computer program having code portions executable by computer processing means to cause those means to carry out a method according to any one of claim 34 to claim 42.

45. A record carrier carrying a information indicative of a computer program according to claim 44.