GB2468534A

GB2468534A - Evacuation and firefighting tower

Info

Publication number: GB2468534A
Application number: GB0904349A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Cain
Original assignee: Project Fire Engineers Ltd
Current assignee: Project Fire Engineers Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-13
Filing date: 2009-03-13
Publication date: 2010-09-15
Also published as: CN101839071A; DE102010015949A1; GB0904349D0

Abstract

A structure to assist personnel to escape from a building under construction comprises: an upwardly extending supporting assembly 10, 12, 14, 16, 30, 32, 34, 36; a number of platform formations 50, 52 spaced vertically of the supporting assembly to accommodate persons from the building; means for the persons to descend the structure from platform to platform and at least one supply pipe for carrying water up the structure to outlets at positions which may be associated with each platform. The structure is arranged to be disposed adjacent the building. The structure may be laterally braced to the building at a number of locations along the structure.

Description

Title: Fire safety apparatus

Description of Invention

This invention relates to fire safety, more particularly to assisting the safety of personnel in a building under construction.

The invention is intended to be used in relation to a high-rise building under construction, to assist fire safety by providing a means of escape for personnel from the building and facilitating the fighting of a fire. It will be appreciated that the invention will also be useful in the event of occurrences other than fire, although fire safety will be referred to herein.

High-rise buildings have to comply with certain regulations pertaining to safety in the event of a fire, covering aspects of building design such as the provision of escape routes for personnel from the building and the provision of fire fighting facilities such as fire extinguishers and hose reels or the like. When a building is completed and in use, such facilities are in place and operational, S...

but this is unlikely to apply while a building is in anything earlier than the very final stages of construction. Even when services such as fire pumps and hydrant connections are installed, they are unlikely to be operational at an : *. early stage, and exit routes for personnel might be inaccessible, or partially or S...

wholly blocked by construction materials.

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Clearly, therefore, a building under construction, particularly a high-rise building, presents hazards which might not exist once the building is completed, to personnel involved in the construction process. Additional hazards arise from the fact that some constructional processes such as welding can cause ignition of flammable materials, and such materials may well be stored in a building under construction.

Hence, there is a need to assist in maintaining safety of personnel in a building under construction.

According to one aspect of the invention, we provide a structure for assisting safety of personnel in a building under construction, the structure being arranged to be disposed adjacent the building and comprising: a supporting assembly; a number of formations spaced vertically of the structure for accommodating persons from the building; means for the persons to descend the structure from formation to formation; and at least one supply pipe for carrying water up the structure to outlets at positions spaced upwardly of the structure.

The water outlets may comprise hydrants or fire hose connections.

The supporting assembly may comprise a number of upright columns spaced u.

: from one another. The spaced formations may comprise vertically-spaced platforms carried by the columns, at which personnel can pass from the building to the structure. For descent of the structure by personnel, descent * * columns may be provided which can be slid down, extending between the platforms. * ** * * * ****

The descent columns as between a first pair of adjacent platforms may be offset laterally from the descent columns between the adjacent pair or pairs (next above and/or next below) of platforms, so that a person cannot descend a column between more than two platforms in succession. The supporting columns of the structure may be tubular, affording the at least one water supply pipe; the descent columns may be additional to the support columns, or the latter may be usable for, or to assist, descent.

When the support structure is to be used with a high-rise building, there may be provided a number of water supply pipes respectively carrying water at pressures suitable for different levels of the building. The respective pipes may be connected to respective different outlets of a fire pump provided at or adjacent the bottom of the structure, the pump having outlets at different pressures for such a purpose.

For example, a first pipe may be connected to a pump outlet which provides water at a pressure suitable for operating for the first 45 metres height of the building. A second pipe may be connected to water at a pressure suitable for levels of the building at a height of 45 metres to 90 metres. A third pipe may supply water at a pressure for levels of 90 metres to 135 metres, and a fourth pipe at a pressure suitable for levels from 135 metres to 180 metres, and above.

There may be provided a facility for the addition of a foam-generating material, or other fire-suppressant additive, to the water supplied to the one or more . : supply pipes. * * **.*

:.. 20 The structure may be an open structure of columns carrying the spaced * platform formations, although it will be appreciated that, to meet safety regulations, means such as suitable guards will have to be provided to prevent : *. falling from the platforms. It would be possible for the entire structure to be **** enclosed in, for example, a fire-resistant fabric shielding material for the protection of personnel using the structure as an emergency fire escape route from the building, and to ensure that components of the structure do not reach an uncomfortable temperature when used in hot climates.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of part of a structure in accordance with the invention.

The illustrated structure comprises a number of columns, extending upwardly in spaced parallel relation to one another. Firstly there are four outermost columns 10, 12, 14, 16 disposed at the corners of a square in plan view.

Secondly, there is a column 18 disposed at the centre of the square, i.e. midway between the columns 10, 14 and also between the columns 12, 16.

Finally there are a further four columns 20, 22, 24, 26 also disposed at the corners of a square in plan view but at a shorter distance from the centre column 18 than are the columns 10 to 16 and angularly disposed about the column 18, in plan view, midway between the columns 10 to 16.

All the columns are tubular elements, made of respective lengths of tubular material joined together, e.g. by screw-threaded connections, as necessary to achieve the total column height required. The columns are maintained in their spaced parallel relationship by being connected to the central column 18, the columns 10 to 16 being thus connected by respective bracing members extending transversely of the length of the columns, at a number of points spaced upwardly of the structure. Four of such bracing elements for the : columns 10 to 16 are indicated at 30 to 36. They are connected to the columns 10 to 16 by tee-pieces in the columns, and to the centre column 18 by :.. 20 being clamped thereto by clamping assemblies comprises two generally C- * shaped elements secured together by a pair of diametrically-opposed *..

fasteners. Such clamp assemblies, as well as a tee-piece, are shown in the : *, insets to the drawing, to a larger scale. The columns 20 to 26 are also braced S..

to the central column 18 by bracing members, two such bracing members 40, 42 for the columns 20, 24 being shown some way down the drawing from the top thereof, and a bracing member 44 for the column 26 being visible a little further down the drawing. It will be apparent that any suitable number of such bracing members may be provided as required.

The columns of the structure support a number of platforms spaced upwardly from one another. Two of such platforms are indicated at 50, 52 in the drawing, with the columns 10 to 16 passing through apertures adjacent the corners of the platforms, the platforms being generally square in their overall external shape, in plan view. The platforms may be supported on the columns to 16 by suitable support members, not shown, provided on the columns.

One of the pairs of opposite edges of each of the platforms is straight, while the other pair of opposite edges has generally U-shaped cut-outs 54, 56 extending towards the centre of the platform, such cut-outs being sufficiently large to clear the columns 20, 24 with sufficient clearance for a person holding one of these columns to descend through the respective cut-out. The three remaining columns 22, 18, 26 pass through apertures aligned across the platform.

Platform 52 is like platform 50, but oriented such that the columns 20, 24, which pass through the cut-outs 54, 56, in the platform 50, pass through small apertures in the platform 52 while the columns 22, 26 pass through the U-shaped cut-outs 54, 56 of the platform. Further platforms above and beneath the platforms 50, 52 in the structure are alternately oriented as the platforms : 50,52. * * *.a.

The above-described arrangement of columns 20 to 24 and the cut-outs in the platforms enables a person to descend the structure from platform to platform. ***

* A person on platform 50 can hold the column 24 or 20 and descend the : ,. column (sliding and/or climbing) to alight on the platform 52. The person must S...

then move around the platform 52, as indicated by the arrows thereon, to reach the column 22 or 26 to descend to the next lower platform. The descent is thus effected in a number of relatively small stages, therefore being relatively safe. On a single column, a person cannot descend the whole height of the structures.

A structure as above-described is intended to be erected alongside a high-rise building under construction, to provide a means of escape from the building in the case of fire. The structure would be erected, on a base adjacent a suitable part of the building, to the height of the building at the time, with a platform adjacent each storey of the building. It is contemplated that the structure would be erected somewhat in the manner of a scaffolding tower. The platforms would preferably be disposed adjacent a suitable window or opening point for egress of persons from each storey, with, if required a bridging walkway or the like. Thus, persons can exit the storeys and descend the structure, as above-described, if required.

The structure is also adapted to supply water, possibly with additives to assist fire-fighting in the building. To this end, at least one of the columns may be adapted to supply water to one or more hose connections (hydrants) which may be associated with each platform.

Preferably such water is supplied, under pressure, by a pump which could be sited near the bottom or indeed at any other desired level of the structure. A number of the pumps disposed at different levels may be utilised. To enable * S..

: hoses to be used satisfactorily at a number of different places at different *5SS heights, a pump(s) having outlets at different pressures may be utilised, and water at such different pressures may be carried by respective columns of the structure. Conventional hose connections or hydrants may be provided * * connected to the respective water supply columns depending on their distance ::::. above the relevant fire pump that connects to the supply columns of the structure.

Whilst the structure can be self supporting in respect of its weight, preferably it is laterally stabilised by being connected to the building with which it is to be used, at a number of points spaced up the height of the structure.

This structure may provide communication systems for raising the alarm in the event of a fire or other hazard requiring evacuation of personnel. Thus it may include an alarm system which, for example, if an alarm is raised at a point part way up the structure, causes the alarm to be sounded or otherwise given at all storeys above that at which the alarm has been raised.

To reduce or remove the risk of persons falling from the platforms of the structure or the descent columns thereof when descending, a suitable guarding arrangement should be provided. For example, the structure may be substantially enclosed (apart from the places where persons can access the structure from the adjacent building) in a structure of wire mesh or a netting of a fire-resistant fabric or other material. Alternatively, the structure may be enclosed within a continuous rigid or flexible material shield.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or : the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a *...

means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any * * combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse *** forms thereof. * *. * . * S... **..

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Claims

Claims 1. A structure for assisting safety of personnel in a building under construction, the structure being arranged to be disposed adjacent the building and comprising: an upwardly extending supporting assembly; a number of formations spaced vertically of the supporting assembly for accommodating persons from the building; means for the persons to descend the structure from formation to formation; and at least one supply pipe for carrying water up the structure to outlets at positions spaced upwardly of the structure.
2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the water outlets comprise hydrants or fire hose connections.
3. A structure according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the supporting assembly comprises a number of upright columns spaced from one another. I... * *

:.. 20
4. A structure according to claim 3 wherein the formations comprise * 1 vertically spaced platforms carried by the columns. *** *
5. A structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein descent columns are provided extending between the platforms, which can be slid down.
6. A structure according to claim 5 wherein the descent columns extending between a first pair of adjacent platforms are offset laterally from descent columns extending between the adjacent pair or pairs of platforms.
7. A structure according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the descent columns are additional to the support columns.
8. A structure according to claim 3 or any claim appendent thereto wherein the supporting columns of the structure are tubular and afford the at least one water supply pipe.
9. A structure according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a number of water supply pipes carrying water at pressures suitable for use at different ranges of height up the structure.
10. A structure according to any one of the preceding claims comprising one or more fire pumps provided on or in association with the structure.
11. A structure according to claim 9 and claim 10 wherein the respective water supply pipes are connected to respective different-pressure outlets of the fire pump. S... * IIS
12. A structure according to any one of claims 9 to 11 comprising means for addition of a fire-fighting additive to the water supplied to the one or more * supply pipes. I. *
13. A structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting assembly is an open structure provided with a guard device to prevent falling from the formations.
14. A structure according to claim 13, wherein the supporting assembly is completely enclosed in a guard material, except for access from the building to the formations.
15. A building under construction having a structure according to any one of the preceding claims disposed adjacent the building and extending to at ieast part of the building height
16. A building according to claim 15 whereIn the structure is laterally braced to the building at a number of points extending upwardly of the building.
17. A structure or building substantially as hereinbefore descdbed with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
18. My novel feature or novel combination of features descilbed herein andlor In the accompanying drawIngs. * *. *n. * . a I. S * S S.. * .* S...S * S