WO2017065689A1

WO2017065689A1 - A rapid warning & evacuation system (rawes)

Info

Publication number: WO2017065689A1
Application number: PCT/SG2016/050023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cheong YONG MENG
Original assignee: Yong Meng Cheong
Priority date: 2015-12-14
Filing date: 2016-01-20
Publication date: 2017-04-20
Also published as: SG11201705234QA; SG10201510253XA

Abstract

RAWES is to facilitate the rapid evacuation of people in a building or any structure during a disaster such as fire, toxic chemical discharge, explosion, unsafe building/structure, etc. While there are already many systems in the global industry that has a warning and evacuation solution, they are largely audio/sound in nature. RAWES complements these systems by providing a visual display of the escape route away from the disaster area. RAWES comprises of multiple LED display panels and the evacuation control software (ECS). The display panels will be installed along the corridors on the wall or any other strategic locations according to the routes of an evacuation plan. The LED panel displays an arrow moving towards the location to evacuate. It's connected via UTP Cat6 with or without POE. It comes in varying colours to differentiate the level of safety from the disaster area. Example red to represent danger zone, blue is safe zone and green is escape zone. The computer system comprises of a POE or non-POE switch router, an interface controller and a computer. The ECS is programmed to create the evacuation route.

Description

A Rapid Warning & Evacuation System (RAWES)

Every day I read about the loss of human lives when there was a fire, gas or chemical explosion, terrorist attack in a building to name a few. In many cases it's because people were not able to evacuate safely to an escape zone. Many died of burns, inhaled toxic gas or gun shots. When such a disaster happened usually you hear the fire alarm, siren or public address announcement but not knowing where was the disaster located and where was the escape route. Many lost their lives because of the lack of these information. These catastrophes sadden me but also gave me the idea to develop a rapid warning and evacuation system (RAWES in short).

RAWES is to facilitate the rapid evacuation of people in a building or any structure during a disaster such as fire, toxic chemical discharge, explosion, unsafe building/structure, etc.

The system comprises of multiple LED display panels and the evacuation control software (ECS).

The display panels will be installed along the corridors on the wall or any other strategic locations according to the routes of an evacuation plan.

The LED panel displays an arrow moving towards the location to evacuate. It's connected via UTP Cat6 with or without POE. It comes in varying colours to differentiate the level of safety from the hazardous area. Example red to represent danger zone, blue is safe zone and green is escape zone.

The computer system comprises of a POE or non-POE switch router, an interface controller and a computer. The ECS is programmed to create the evacuation route.

Claims

Claims A Rapid Warning & Evacuation System (RAWES) Hardware consists of:

1. The server, interface controller and switch router.

The Server - it houses the RAWES software that communicates with the other equipment via network connectivity.

The Switch Router - it routes the messages from the interface controller, display panels and emergency break glass to the Server and vice versa.

The Interface Controller - it integrates to the control and monitor systems to detect hazardous signals.

2. The flexible LED display panel c/w built-in processor and heat sensor. The built-in processor takes command from the Server on what messages or signs to display. While the heat sensor will gauge the surrounding temperature. When a temperature of 40°C or higher is detected it will send a signal to RAWES to activate the display in RED. The default temperature is 40°C and is configurable.

3. Emergency break glass provides the option to manually activate RAWES should the alarm and monitoring systems are not functioning or are slow to react. This activation will also cause the display to turn RED.

4. The alarming & monitoring system can also cause the display to turn RED. However, this is only possible if the activation provides the location of the disaster area.

5. Network for connectivity of all the RAWES related equipment and devices.

Software consists of 4 modules:

6. Design module

It's used to design the display panel routing with the help of the office floor plan. It will show the display panels and emergency break glasses located at each floor and corridor of the building. An ID will be assigned to the devices.

7. Configuration module

It's for configuring the settings for messages, signs, GU I, screen colours, integrating devices, heat temperature, etc.

8. Integration module

This modules provides the platform for any alarm and monitoring systems such as fire, CCTV or security card access to integrate to RAWES via a software development kit (RAWES SDK).

9. Display module

The display module allows the creation and maintenance of messages and signs for the display panel. Functions and features:

10. The key function of RAWES is to provide a visual display of a warning and evacuation path to a safe location. Complementing a fire alarm system it is an ideal system to safeguard human lives.

11. It can integrate to other alarm system such as fire alarm, PA, Siren and CCTV to activate RAWES. RAWES can be used to activate the Security Card Access System to auto open all the EM Lock doors.

12. It's can also be manually activated through the emergency break glass.

13. It's equipped with programmable creation and configuration of the evacuation routing.

14. It has GUI interface to display the routing and disaster signs. It can also display the camera image from the CCTV (if there is an interface) of the disaster area.

15. Using UTP cable for connectivity.

16. It have different colour to differentiate danger (red), safe (blue) and escape (green) zones.

The heat sensor located in the display panel will be used to determine level of safety. During an evacuation, people will follow the blue arrow sign until they see a green sign. They are to move away from the red sign. This is how RAWES helps to ensure a safe passage away from the disaster area.

17. There are also different type of sign display such as arrow, no entry, exit, etc.

18. In a normal situation the LED panels can be programmed to display running messages.

19. There is built-in intelligence to direct the evacuation through the escape routing but

avoiding the disaster area.

20. Maintain the identification of the display panel example by floor by section by display

number eg, 01-01-01, 01-02-02