JP7623837B2 - Evacuation System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an evacuation system that includes evacuation equipment used for evacuation in the event of a fire, and a fire receiver that can determine the location of a fire in a building based on a fire signal.

Conventionally, escape ladders, rescue bags, and the like have been used as escape equipment for people to evacuate from inside a building to the outside in the event of an emergency such as a fire. Among escape ladders used for evacuating from disasters such as fires and earthquakes in existing small buildings are ones that are unlikely to break down, highly durable, are unlikely to cause fear, including when transferring from intermediate floors of a building, and have enhanced safety so that multiple people can use them consecutively (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-197456 A

However, the conventional techniques have the following problems.
In the "Kyoto Animation arson incident" that occurred on July 18, 2019, a fire started on the evacuation floor, but due to the structure of the building, the fire quickly spread to the third floor. As a result, people who tried to escape to the rooftop collapsed on top of each other on the stairs, and many people were confirmed dead.

Therefore, when a fire occurs, it is important to identify the location of the fire and provide appropriate evacuation guidance to prevent casualties.

In addition, in the panic of a fire, it is extremely difficult for someone who does not know how to use evacuation equipment to read the instructions and use it smoothly and without injury. It is particularly difficult to read the instructions or operate the evacuation equipment when visibility is poor due to smoke, as in the Kyoto Animation arson incident.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an evacuation system that can guide people to safety in the event of a fire by using evacuation equipment quickly, easily, and effectively.

The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide an evacuation system that can quickly, easily, and effectively use evacuation equipment to guide people to safety in the event of a fire.

The evacuation system of the present invention is an evacuation system comprising one or more evacuation devices used for evacuation in the event of a fire, emergency exit lights that are installed near the one or more evacuation devices and serve as indicator lights to indicate the installation locations of the evacuation devices, and a fire receiver that receives a fire signal including location information for identifying the location of a fire and controls the lighting of the emergency exit lights and the operation of the evacuation devices based on the fire signal, wherein the fire receiver pre-stores an interlocking table that specifies the evacuation devices to be activated and the activation timing, and the emergency exit lights to be turned on, for each piece of location information that may be included in the fire signal, and controls the operation of the evacuation devices and the lighting of the emergency exit lights using the location information included in the received fire signal and the interlocking table.

According to the present invention, a fire receiver that can determine the location of a fire in a building based on a fire signal has a function of executing operation control for one or more evacuation devices to be used for evacuation in the event of a fire, specifying at least one of the operation timing and the necessity of operation. As a result, an evacuation system can be obtained that can quickly, easily, and effectively utilize the evacuation devices in the event of a fire to guide evacuation.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an evacuation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interlocking table in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram explaining the roles of symbols used in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic layout of an entire building pattern 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a schematic layout of the entire building pattern 2 in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a schematic layout of the first floor of building pattern 2 in Example 2 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a schematic layout of the second to fifth floors of building pattern 2 in Example 2 of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the evacuation system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The present invention has a technical feature of providing an evacuation system having a function of executing operation control that specifies at least one of the operation timing and the necessity for operation of one or more evacuation devices depending on the location of a fire.

Embodiment 1.
1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an evacuation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The evacuation system 10 according to the first embodiment is configured to include a fire receiver 11 and N evacuation devices 12(1) to 12(N).

The evacuation device 12 is used for evacuation in the event of a fire, and may be one or more. In FIG. 1, an example of N devices is shown, but N can be an integer equal to or greater than 1.

The fire receiver 11 has the function of being able to determine the location of a fire in a building that is being monitored for a fire by receiving one or more fire signals 1. In FIG. 1, an example is shown in which M fire signals can be received, where M can be an integer equal to or greater than 1.

Here, fire signals include fire signals output when a smoke detector detects a predetermined amount of smoke or more, fire signals output when a heat detector detects a predetermined amount of heat or more, and fire signals output when a fire alarm is manually operated.

The following explanation will be given for the case where the fire receiver 11 controls the operation of N evacuation devices 12(1) to 12(N) based on the reception results of M fire signals 1(1) to 1(M).

When the fire receiver 11 according to the first embodiment receives one or more fire signals 1, it identifies the location of the fire in the building being monitored. When the fire signal 1 includes location information, the fire receiver 11 can identify the location of the fire from the location information included in the received fire signal 1.

Even if the fire signal 1 does not include location information, if the fire signal 1 includes ID information for identifying each fire signal and the location information associated with the ID information is stored in advance in the storage unit as an ID-location association table, the fire receiver 11 can identify the location of the fire by extracting the location information corresponding to the ID information included in the received fire signal 1 from the ID-location association table.

Furthermore, based on the result of identifying the location of the fire, the fire receiver 11 executes activation control for each of the evacuation devices 12(1)-12(N) to determine at least one of the activation timing and the necessity for activation.

As an example, the activation timing and activation necessity of each evacuation device 12(1)-12(N) corresponding to each piece of location information can be associated in advance and stored in a linkage table.

Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interlocking table in embodiment 1 of the present invention. To simplify the explanation, Figure 2 shows an example in which there are two fire signals 1, M=2, and three evacuation devices, N=3.

In the "Activation Required" column in the interlocking table, either "Required" or "No" is set for all combinations of fire signals and evacuation devices. An evacuation device 12 with "Required" set in the activation required column means that it is an evacuation device that needs to be activated when the corresponding fire signal 1 is received. On the other hand, an evacuation device 12 with "No" set in the activation required column means that it is an evacuation device that does not need to be activated even when the corresponding fire signal 1 is received.

In addition, the "Activation Timing" column in the linkage table sets the number of seconds after the corresponding fire signal is received that the evacuation device will start activating for each of the evacuation devices whose "Activation Required" setting is "Required" for all combinations of fire signals and evacuation devices.

In the example of Figure 2, to explain the operation of evacuation equipment 12(1), for fire signal 1(1), "operation necessity" is set to "yes" and "operation timing" is set to "1 second", and for fire signal 1(2), "operation necessity" is set to "no". Therefore, when fire signal 1(1) is received, the fire receiver 11 executes operation control in accordance with the interlocking table in Figure 2 so as to activate evacuation equipment 12(1) one second after receiving fire signal 1(1). On the other hand, when fire signal 1(2) is received, the fire receiver 11 executes operation control in accordance with the interlocking table in Figure 2 so as not to activate evacuation equipment 12(1).

Using the example of FIG. 2, the operation of the evacuation device 12(2) when both fire signal 1(1) and fire signal 1(2) are received will be described. For fire signal 1(1), "activation required" is set to "required" and "activation timing" is set to "10 seconds", and for fire signal 1(2), "activation required" is set to "required" and "activation timing" is set to "5 seconds". Therefore, when the fire receiver 11 receives both fire signal 1(1) and fire signal 1(2), it executes operation control according to the interlocking table of FIG. 2 to activate the evacuation device 12(1) 10 seconds after receiving fire signal 1(1) or 5 seconds after receiving fire signal 1(2), whichever is earlier.

In FIG. 2, both "necessity of activation" and "activation timing" are set in advance as an interlocking table, but the evacuation system according to the present invention is not limited to such an interlocking table. The fire receiver 11 can also execute activation control that specifies either "necessity of activation" or "activation timing" using an interlocking table in which only one of "necessity of activation" and "activation timing" is set.

In other words, the fire control device 11 can perform the following three controls.
First operation control: An operation control that specifies only the operation timing and outputs an operation signal to each of one or more evacuation devices in accordance with the specified operation timing.
Second operation control: Operation control that specifies only whether or not operation is necessary, and outputs an operation signal to each of one or more evacuation devices in accordance with the specified whether or not operation is necessary.
Third operation control: Operation control that specifies both the necessity for operation and the timing of operation, and outputs an operation signal to each of one or more evacuation devices in accordance with the specified necessity for operation and the timing of operation.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, an emergency exit light can be provided near the evacuation equipment 12. In this case, when the fire receiver 11 determines that the evacuation equipment 12 needs to be activated, it can immediately turn on the emergency exit light to guide evacuees in the direction of the evacuation equipment 12. Furthermore, the fire receiver 11 can activate the evacuation equipment 12 when a time set as the "activation timing" has elapsed since turning on the emergency exit light.

Also, the interlocking table shown in FIG. 2 is just an example, and the fire receiver 11 can also execute operation control in the following procedure.
Step 1: The evacuation equipment 12 is stored in association with installation location information.
Step 2: When a fire signal is received, based on the results of comparing the location information contained in the fire signal with the installation location information associated with each of the evacuation devices, determine at least one of the activation timing and the necessity for activation for each of the evacuation devices, and execute activation control.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to realize an evacuation system having a function of executing operation control that specifies at least one of the operation timing and the necessity of operation of one or more evacuation devices depending on the location of the fire. As a result, it is possible to guide evacuation by using the evacuation devices quickly, simply, and effectively when a fire occurs.

Embodiment 2.
In the second embodiment, a specific configuration, a series of operations, and various examples of the evacuation system described in the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, we will explain the symbols used in each diagram. Figure 3 is a diagram explaining the roles of the symbols used in the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 shows the symbols and roles of "smoke detectors," "emergency lights," and "fire control devices."

Smoke detectors output a fire signal when they detect a predetermined amount of smoke or more in the area in which they are installed. Heat detectors output a fire signal when they detect a predetermined amount of heat or more in the area in which they are installed.

The emergency exit lights are installed near the evacuation equipment 12 and act as indicator lights to show the location of the evacuation equipment 12. The emergency exit lights are turned on and off by the fire receiver 11.

When the fire receiver 11 receives a fire signal output from a smoke detector, heat detector, etc., it controls the lighting of emergency exit lights and the operation of evacuation equipment 12. Furthermore, the fire receiver 11 can output a transfer signal to the outside to notify a security company, etc. that a fire has occurred.

The emergency alarm device is an integrated combination of an emergency light, a bell, and a push button. Specifically, when the push button is pressed, the emergency alarm device transmits a fire signal, controls the illumination of the indicator light, controls the ringing of the bell, controls the illumination of the emergency lights, and controls the operation of the evacuation device 12.

An evacuation ladder, which is an example of an evacuation device, can be automatically activated in response to a command from the fire receiver 11 or the emergency alarm device complex, and is configured to be extended from the floor on which it is installed to the floor below in the building.

Example 1: Building pattern 1
Example 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic overall layout of building pattern 1 in Example 1 of the present invention. Building pattern 1 has the following characteristics in terms of building types and evacuation routes.
-Type of building: 5-story tenant building, smoke detectors installed on each floor -Evacuation route: 1 staircase, 1 evacuation device (emergency stairs)

In the first embodiment of the present invention, in order to compare a series of operations of the evacuation system when a fire occurs at four different locations, the following four cases will be described as examples.
Case 1: If a fire breaks out on the first floor Case 2: If a fire breaks out on the second floor Case 3: If a fire breaks out near the stairs on the third floor Case 4: If a fire breaks out near the stairs on the fifth floor

(1) Case 1: When a fire breaks out on the first floor When a smoke detector installed on the first floor outputs a fire signal, the fire receiver 11 immediately turns on all emergency exit lights installed on the second to fifth floors according to the interlocking table, and deploys the escape ladders, which are escape devices, after a delay time due to the activation timing has elapsed. This allows evacuees on any floor to evacuate using the nearest staircase or escape ladder. In this case, a separate fire door on the staircase automatically closes in the event of a fire, allowing safe evacuation without fire or smoke entering.

If a smoke detector installed on the staircase outputs a fire signal, the fire receiver 11 can execute the same operation control as when a smoke detector installed on the first floor outputs a fire signal, according to the interlocking table. This allows evacuees to avoid the staircase, where the fire originates, and to head to the evacuation route by relying on the light of the emergency exit lights, allowing them to evacuate safely.

(2) Case 2: When a fire breaks out on the second floor When both smoke detectors installed on the second floor output a fire signal, the fire receiver 11 turns on only the emergency exit lights installed on the second floor according to the interlocking table, and deploys the escape ladder, which is an evacuation device, after a delay time due to the activation timing has elapsed. By controlling the operation in this way, it is possible to encourage evacuees on the second floor who have difficulty using the stairs to use the escape ladder.

Also, by not turning on the emergency exit lights for the third floor and above, evacuees on the third floor and above are forced to evacuate using the stairs. At that time, since there is a possibility that the stairs will become congested with evacuees on the third floor and above, evacuees on the second floor who are unable to reach the stairs due to the fire will be given priority in evacuating using the emergency ladder.

(3) Case 3: When a fire breaks out near the stairs on the third floor If the smoke detector on the staircase side of the two smoke detectors installed on the third floor outputs a fire signal, the fire receiver 11 will turn on the emergency lights installed on the third to fifth floors in accordance with the interlocking table, will not turn on the emergency lights installed on the second floor, which is lower than the location of the fire, and will deploy the evacuation ladder, which is an evacuation device, after a delay time due to the activation timing has elapsed.

This means that evacuees on the third to fifth floors, where the fire broke out, can use either the stairs or the escape ladder, encouraging them to use the escape ladder that is farther away from the location of the fire. Furthermore, evacuees on the second floor can be made to use an escape route that uses the stairs, allowing them to evacuate safely and quickly.

(4) Case 4: In the event that a fire breaks out near the stairs on the fifth floor If the smoke detector on the staircase side of the two smoke detectors installed on the fifth floor outputs a fire signal, the fire receiver 11 will, in the same manner as in Case 3, turn on the emergency exit lights installed on the fifth floor according to the interlocking table, and will not turn on the emergency exit lights installed on the second to fourth floors below the location of the fire. After a delay time due to the activation timing has elapsed, the fire ladder, which is an evacuation device, will be deployed.

The light of the emergency exit lights can encourage evacuees on the floor where the fire started to avoid the stairs near the source of the fire and to use escape ladders farther from the source of the fire. Furthermore, evacuees on the second to fourth floors can be encouraged to use escape routes that use the stairs, and evacuees on the fifth floor can be encouraged to use escape ladders that are farther from the source of the fire. This allows for safe and rapid evacuation.

The cases described above are not limited to the construction of building pattern 1. For example, in a six-story apartment building where heat detectors are installed on each floor from the second to sixth floors, and smoke detectors are installed in the common corridors, stairs, and on the first floor, it is possible to operate in the same way by matching the floors.

Example 2: Building pattern 2
Example 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic layout of the entire building pattern 2 in Example 2 of the present invention. In Fig. 5, the right side of the paper corresponds to the east. Although not shown, on each of the second to fifth floors, emergency exit lights are installed near the windows where the evacuation equipment is installed.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing a schematic layout of the first floor of building pattern 2 in embodiment 2 of the present invention. Furthermore, Figure 7 is a diagram showing a schematic layout of the second to fifth floors of building pattern 2 in embodiment 2 of the present invention. In Figures 6 and 7, the downward direction on the paper is the north direction.

Building pattern 2 has the following characteristics in terms of building type and evacuation route.
・Type of building: 5-story private lodging; heat detectors installed in each room on the 1st to 5th floors, and smoke detectors installed in the hallways; ・Evacuation routes: 1 central staircase, 2 evacuation equipment (escape ladders)

The receiver 11 also includes an interlocking table according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, in the second embodiment, the area subject to fire monitoring is divided into 10 areas, and the evacuation devices 12 and emergency exit lights that should be interlocked when each area is identified as the location of a fire are specified in advance.

In the third embodiment, specific operations will be described using the following three cases as examples.
Case 1: When a fire breaks out on the first floor Case 2: When a fire breaks out on the west side of the second floor Case 3: When a fire breaks out on the east side of the third floor

(1) Case 1: When a fire breaks out on the first floor When a fire breaks out on the first floor, the fire receiver 11 will immediately turn on all emergency exit lights installed on the west and east sides of the second to fifth floors in accordance with the interlocking table, and will also deploy both the evacuation ladders corresponding to the evacuation equipment on the west side and the evacuation ladders corresponding to the evacuation equipment on the east side.

(2) Case 2: When a fire breaks out on the west side of the second floor When a fire breaks out on the west side of the second floor, the fire receiver 11 will immediately turn on all emergency exit lights installed on the east side of the second to fifth floors in accordance with the interlocking table, and will also deploy the evacuation ladders that correspond to the evacuation equipment on the east side.

(3) Case 3: When a fire breaks out on the east side of the third floor When a fire breaks out on the east side of the third floor, the fire receiver 11 will immediately turn on the emergency exit lights installed on the west side of the third to fifth floors in accordance with the interlocking table, will not turn on the emergency exit lights installed on the west side of the second floor, which is lower than the location of the fire, and will deploy the escape ladder that corresponds to the escape equipment on the west side.

By controlling the operation in this way, it is possible to safely and quickly guide evacuees wherever they are in the building to the appropriate evacuation route depending on the location of the fire.

In both the first and second embodiments of the present invention, an example was described in which the fire receiver 11 is equipped with an interlocking table, but it is possible to implement the present invention and obtain the same effect even in a building that does not have a fire receiver and is only equipped with equipment such as an emergency alarm system or a transmitter that issues an alarm by pressing a button when a person actually discovers a fire. In that case, the emergency alarm system can be made to store an interlocking table as explained in each embodiment, and can also be equipped with a wireless or wired device that can instruct the operation of evacuation equipment.

1 Fire signal, 10 Evacuation system, 11 Fire receiver, 12 Evacuation equipment.

Claims (2)

One or more evacuation devices to be used for evacuation in the event of a fire;
An emergency exit light provided near the one or more evacuation devices and serving as an indicator light for indicating the installation position of the evacuation device;
a fire receiver that receives a fire signal including location information for identifying a location of a fire and controls the illumination of the emergency exit lights and the operation of the evacuation equipment based on the fire signal;
An evacuation system comprising:
The fire receiver includes:
A linkage table is stored in advance that specifies the evacuation device to be activated, the activation timing, and the guide light to be turned on for each of the location information that may be included in the fire signal ;
an evacuation system that uses the position information included in the received fire signal and the interlocking table to control the operation of the evacuation equipment and the lighting of the emergency exit lights. The evacuation system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more evacuation devices are evacuation ladders that extend from an installation floor to a lower floor of a multi-story building.