GB2466656A

GB2466656A - Emergency exit guidance system employing electroluminescent wire

Info

Publication number: GB2466656A
Application number: GB0900027A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Conrad Parrott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-03
Filing date: 2009-01-03
Publication date: 2010-07-07
Also published as: GB0900027D0

Abstract

An emergency lighting system 1 to guide occupants to predetermined exit points 9 on a given floor. The lighting system 1 comprises an extruded section fitted into the flooring system having an electroluminescent, EL, cable installed within the extrusion, having flowing/moving light 7 in the direction of the nearest available predetermined exit point 9. A green light similar to that of an emergency exit box 6 may be employed. The strip is used to gain an advantage in reduced visibility due to smoke to aid evacuation of a building. The extrusion will have a clear material sitting flush with the flooring system, allowing for the electro-luminescent wire to bleed through a refractive top section allowing more visible light to escape. At any intersection 4 or merging of corridors the flow 7 of the system will continue to the nearest predetermined exit point 9. The system can be triggered using a fire alarm system allowing for a controlled exit strategy to avoid areas where the detection devices have been activated.

Description

Emeigency Guidance system

Description.

Page 1/3

Field of the invention.

The invention is related generally to emergency lighting, but is more particularly a lighting system to guide occupants to a predetermined exit point via a moving / flowing source of light.

Background of the invention

Many different types of lighting aids and systems have been devised and used to provide emergency lighting for use when conditions render normal ambient lighting insufficient for visibility. Such conditions include power outages, smoke caused by fires, water immersion, fog, and even some gas release systems.

Another system, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,147 to Bowman, utilizes a plurality of L.E.D.s in an "EXIT" sign. The sign is illuminated during power failure to indicate a means of egress to confined occupants.

"EXIT" signs are a common sight in theatres, office buildings, stores, subways and other confining structures frequented by the public. Such signs are commonly illuminated by conventional incandescent light bulbs or, as illustrated in the Bowman patent, by L.E.D.s. The light sources in these signs emit their light spherically or hemispherically. Adequacy of these signs is frequently measured by their brightness, which is often equated to their visibility under emergency conditions.

However, this brightness standard is now being questioned, since, under conditions of visibility impaired by the presence of smoke or fog, this brightness can become a handicap. This is caused by diffusion of the light by the particles comprising the smoke or fog. As the distance between the observer and the lighted sign increases, the distinctness of the letters, then the sign itself, rapidly diminishes until only a general glow is distinguishable, which does not indicate the emergency exit that is the source of the light.

Also, as distance from the sign increases, the light scattered by the particulate matter, the light source becomes indistinguishable from the scattered light. Thus, the light source is no longer discernible at all. Unfortunately, a significant increase in light intensity increases the range of visibility only slightly. Thus, a very bright conventional sign becomes useless at a very short distance from it in dense smoke conditions which severely limits visibility.

Emergency Guidance system

Description.

Page 2/3 Light strips are now being provided along aisles of air planes to mark an emergency egress route.

These comprise spaced light sources that suffer the same general visibility problems as the signs, being subject to rapid light diffusion in smoke. These light strips improve over signs, since they provide a light source that is closer to aircraft occupants by extending the length of the aisle.

However, in dense smoke conditions, the lighted strip rapidly visually disappears as viewing distance increases and transitions through a series of glowing pinpoints of light until only one pinpoint is visible at a time. If only a single light pinpoint is discernible to an occupant, the location of the next pinpoint of light can only be guessed and the strip of light loses its primary function of marking a path to an emergency exit.

There is a need for emergency lighting that better penetrates smoke and fog to provide a visible and discernible guide to occupant egress from a confined area during an emergency which is functional at distances much greater than present lighting systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention allows for a high intensity and discreet lighting system that physically moves / flows light in the direction chosen, to direct occupants in the shortest possible distance to the nearest exit point..

The system can actually guide you to the nearest exit point from any given position along a corridor if you are unfamiliar with your surrounding then the time saved in making a decision, would be reduced if all you had to do is be guided by the light source.

In poor visibility standard exit box's can be unclear or confusing, however smoke rises and therefore a low level lighting system would be less affected.

The flowing light is comprised of small individually illuminating sections of the wire in the same green colour that is globally recognised as emergency exit signs.

Once the occupant has reached the exit stairway a continuation of the system could be introduced down the stairways to an external exit point.

Linking the system with a fire alarm, would enable the system to be altered so that the direction of flow could change to guide the occupants away from, a fire alarm activated area.

Thus you have a truly compatible emergency lighting and fire alarm system.

Emergency Guidance system

Description of drawings 3 of 3

Brief description of drawings:

Fig 1 shows a typical layout of a corridor to illustrate a change in direction of the guiding light.

Fig 2 shows how the the system would be introduced around corners.

Nol Shows the emergency guidance system No2. Shows The wall angle that the emergency guidance system follows in parallel.

No3. Shows the parallel line followed by the emergency guidance system to copy the wall angle in No2.

No4. Shows an intersection where the leading section of the emergency guidance system terminates at a T junction to allow for continuing direction by the (No 11.) NoS. Shows a sweeping bend in to exit door ( No9.)to allow ease of flow.

No6. Shows the exit luminaire positioned above the exit door ( No9.) No7. Shows the direction the flowing wire is pointing.

No8.Shows the Non exit doors or occupants doors on the corridor No9.Shows The Emergency Exit door.

No 1 O.Shows a section of the emergency guidance system where the direction changes to show the shortest route to the nearest exit door (No9.) No 11. Shows the continuation of the emergency guidance system past the T junction staying intact as it flows past to continue the flow of directional light to the Emergency exit (No9).

Claims

Emergency Guidance System Claims.1. A flooring system that has electroluminescent cable installed within the extruded section, that contains flowing light that clearly shows a direction of flow to be followed in the case of an emergency to the nearest predetennined emergency exit.
2. (The emergency Guidance system of claim 1) is made of e.l. Cable protected by the reinforced section.
3. (The emergency Guidance system of claim 1) has a plastic top section that allows for the light to be refracted or clear (depending on the installation.)
4. (The emergency Guidance system of claim 1) has the inner cable coated in a fire retardant material. (unlike common circuit board lighting, led e.t.c.)
5. (The emergency Guidance system of claim 1) has a running cost that is 70 % that of the most efficient form of lighting used to date namely L.E.D.
6.E.l wire is self extinguishing and therefore complies with fire retardant regulations
7.The flowing light is comprised of small individually illuminating sections of the wire in the same green colour that is globally recognised as emergency exit signs.8.( The emergency Guidance system of claim 1)has a unique structure that allows it to be entirely coated in a waterproof material, making it ideal for installation alongside existing fire sprinkler systems.9.( The emergency Guidance system of claim 1)has an inverted power supply that can be adjusted to increase flow and direction, making it ideal to switch through a conventional fire alarm system that can re-direct occupants away from exit routes that may be close to the origin of the fire detection, to a more suitable exit route.10. Each individual section of wire (between potential changes of direction)would be powered from its own inverter allowing for change in flow direction.