WO2005116519A1

WO2005116519A1 - Smoke detection and escape system

Info

Publication number: WO2005116519A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/050072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Desmond Edwards
Original assignee: Bu Innovations Limited
Priority date: 2004-05-26
Filing date: 2005-05-25
Publication date: 2005-12-08
Also published as: GB0411758D0

Abstract

A luminaire (10) for a building for security and/or emergency lighting has at least one first lamp (28) for security illumination, at least one second lamp (24) for exit path illumination and/or a sounder (34) for exit path indication, and control means (12) operable in one state to illuminate the first lamp and in a second state to operate the first and second lamps and/or to sound the sounder. Escape lighting apparatus may comprise a plurality of said luminaires and cables for chain interconnection of said luminaires at spaced intervals along at least one escape route. The luninaires may each incorporate a photoelectric or ionization type smoke detector (22) to which the control means is responsive. A set of the luminaires may comprose a microprocesor or microcontroller operated master unit (10a) and a plurality of slave units (10b, 10c, 10d). Also provided is a luminaire for a building for security and/or emergency lighting having compressible fixing means for ceiling mounting thereof, a switch (36) associated with the fixing means and a control unit arranged to receive a signal when the state of the switch is altered, the arrangement being such that upward force applied to the luminaire alters the state of the switch and provides said signal. The luminaire is easy to test or to hush by a push from ground level e.g. applied to the luminaire using a pole.

Description

SMOKE DETECTION AND ESCAPE SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a luminaire for a building for security and/or emergency lighting having at least one first lamp for security illumination, and which may also be combined with a smoke detector. It also relates to a set of the luminaires chain-connected together along an escape path and arranged to operate in sequence to indicate a direction of movement along the escape path.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The need to provide illuminated escape paths for directing aircraft passengers towards emergency exits has long been recognised. US-A-4794373 (Harrison), for example, discloses an under-carpet lighting strip provided at intervals with bulbs in light-transmissive housings which are visible through spaced apertures in the carpet. The lamps may be sequentially actuated so as to impart a visual direction signal to a viewer. Buildings are required to incorporate effective warning systems in the event of fire. For example in the UK, the requirement to provide a building with means of warning and escape is specified in Approved Document B to the Building Regulations, 2000, downloadable from http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent groups/odpm _buildreg documents/page/odpm_breg _0 27756.pdf. These regulations require there to be appropriate provisions for early warning of fire and appropriate means of escape in case of fire from the building to a place of safety outside the building. Buildings other than dwellings need escape routes marked by emergency exit signs of adequate size, which may be required to be supplied with power via a protected circuit. Emergency lighting is an important component of means of escape, and in the UK should be installed in accordance with the British Standard Specification BS 5266 : Part 1 : 1999 - Code of Practice for Emergency Lighting. According to that code, emergency lighting should indicate escape routes clearly and provide illumination along the escape routes to allow safe movement towards the final exits. Furthermore, the effective indication of escape routes for those with visual or hearing impairment is becoming a matter of increasing concern. US-A-6646545 (Bligh) gives a detailed explanation of the problems faced by people in large public buildings in the event of fire, and in particular the problems that disoriented people in an unfamiliar and smoke-filled space may face when attempting by trial and error to find an exit. The solution proposed by Bligh is to provide a colour- coded evacuation signalling system controlled by a microprocessor responsive to temperature and air quality data. Direction- indicating symbols formed by light-emitting diodes connected in series to form a continuous strip or array laid flush in the centre of an uncovered or covered floor, corridor or walkway are illuminated to guide evacuees, various units of the diodes of selected colour being illuminable to identify danger zones and safe zones leading to designated exits.

US-A-2004/0062055 (Rozenberg) is concerned with the design of LED-based luminaires for security or emergency lighting in buildings and in particular with meeting illumination standards required by BS 5226:1:1999 using ceiling-mounted arrays of LEDs. The disclosed solution is to provide luminaires based on arrays of LED's on a support having an optical axis, the diodes increasing in number with distance from the optical axis. The beams from the luminaires are somewhat directional, and this property may be used to assist in defining an escape path illuminated by a plurality of the luminaires spaced along the path. There are currently no products that exist on the market which alert to a fire and a guide along the escape route. A combination of passive smoke detectors and exit signage is the current method used to alert to a fire and highlight the escape route. There is need for a device that can replace/combine the combination of systems. There are also no existing systems that provide clear guidance for those with hearing and sight restrictions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides apparatus for providing a warning in the event of fire, comprising within a housing unit a smoke detector, a luminaire, and a control circuit responsive to the smoke detector to illuminate at least one luminaire lamp on smoke detection.

The invention further provides a plurality of units chain or ring connected together for mounting at spaced intervals along a building escape path, each unit having a smoke detector and a luminaire, and at least a master unit in said chain or ring having a control circuit responsive to the smoke detector to illuminate at least one luminaire lamp on smoke detection.

The invention also provides a luminaire for a building for security and/or emergency lighting having at least one first lamp for security illumination, at least one second lamp for exit path illumination, and control means operable in one state to illuminate the first lamp and in a second state to operate the first and second lamps.

A green light is preferable for said second lamp due to the association with safety and the command 'Go'.

In an alternative aspect, the invention provides luminaire for a building for security and/or emergency lighting having at least one first lamp for security illumination, a sounder for exit path indication, and control means operable in one state to illuminate the first lamp and in a second state to operate the first lamp and to sound the sounder.

The above luminaires may be series or chain connected together along an escape route so that the sound 'bleeps' along the chain of units. Each unit may typically 'bleep' for 1.5 seconds along the string of units (85 dB at 3m), the frequency of the sounder being in the range of 2200/2800 Hz (optimum range for awakening people). Testing showed that this was a preferred time to make the direction towards the exit distinguishable and easy to follow. Once a cycle has been completed and the final unit in the chain (Master Unit) has sounded a period of silence e.g. for 2 seconds desirable occurs to make the guidance system more intuitive and to ensure the escape route is recognisable. This sequence may be set by the instructions programmed onto a PIC chip.

The invention further provides a luminaire for a building for security and/or emergency lighting having at least one first lamp for security illumination, at least one second lamp for exit path illumination and a sounder for exit path indication, and control means operable in one state to illuminate the first lamp and in a second state to operate the first and second lamps and to sound the sounder.

Typically the first lamp provides downlight and the second lamp provides light at a small downward inclination from the horizontal, e.g. the second lamp edge illuminating a relatively thin horizontally directed strip or surround.

In a yet further aspect, the invention provides a luminaire for a building for security and/or emergency lighting having compressible fixing means for ceiling mounting thereof, a switch associated with the fixing means and a control unit arranged to receive a signal when the state of the switch is altered, the arrangement being such that upward force applied to the luminaire alters the state of the switch and provides said signal. The fixing means may be at least one compressible pillar for holding a body of said luminaire in spaced relationship below the ceiling e.g. two, three or four of said pillars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

How the invention may be put into effect will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a diagram of a first embodiment of a combined smoke detector and luminaire according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a simplified plan of an exit path forming part of a building with a chain of the smoke detectors and/or luminaires of Fig. 1 ceiling mounted along the exit path; Fig. 3 is a diagram of a second embodiment of a set of combined smoke detectors and luminaires chain connected together along an exit path; Figs. 4a and 4b together are a wiring diagram of the control circuit of the master smoke detector and luminaire of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a combined smoke detector and luminaire unit according to the invention, Fig. 6 is a top perspective view thereof, Fig 7 is an underneath perspective view thereof, and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic exploded view showing some of the major components thereof; Fig. 9a is a diagrammatic view of part of an edge-lit transparent optionally clear or coloured strip for providing guidance lighting with a strong horizontal component and showing a facet pattern, and Fig 9b is a detail of the strip showing facet angles. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The purpose of embodiments of the present smoke detection and escape system is to for example detect smoke or other form of hazard and guide any occupants of a building along the escape route or other point of safety in the event of a fire, or other type of hazard when triggered to do so. Other hazards for example but not exclusively could include gases, earthquakes, bomb alarms, hostile intruders and so on. The system provides an intuitive method to guide any occupants to a point of safety, without the need for any pre-training to recognise and understand the system's instructions. Additionally, verbal instructions may be incorporated into the units via a pre recorded or transmitted message advising occupants on the actions they should take. The system comprises of two or more interconnected units, each spaced along the escape route, which may include, by way of example only, ionizing smoke detecting sensors.

Fig. 1 shows a combined smoke detector and luminaire unit 10 for incorporation into a chain of smoke detector and/or luminaire units ceiling-mountable along an escape path. The unit includes a microprocessor or microcontroller 12 having interface units

14, 16 for connection via power and/or data connectors 46, 48 which may be RJ45 connectors to adjacent units in a chain of such units. The microcontroller can drive one or more path lamps 24 which may be white incandescent lamps but are preferably an array of white LED's via path lamp driver 26, one or more guidance lamps 28 which again may be coloured incandescent lamps but are preferably an array of coloured (preferably near-infrared) LEDs via guidance lamp driver 30, and sound output transducer 28 which may be driven by transducer driver 32 and which typically provides warning sounds at 2200-2800 MHz at 85 Db at a distance of 3 metres. The microcontroller 12 continuously monitors the state of smoke detector 22 which may be an ionising smoke detector, and in the event of a change of state indicating the presence of smoke begins an alarm routine. A local power supply 18 is provided e.g. in the form of rechargeable back-up batteries which have a capacity e.g. to operate the unit for e.g. about 6 days in standby mode and about 4 hours in alarm mode without external power, the batteries of the local power supply being trickle-charged via external power supply 20 which may be e.g. a low voltage DC supply converted from mains AC using a switch mode power supply unit (not shown).

The stored programs in the microcontroller 12 or in external EPROM include a smoke detection routine 38 that includes stored instructions to monitor the state of smoke detector 22 and to change the state of the unit from stand-by to alarm on detection of smoke. An alarm state select/timer routine 40 operates in the alarm state of the unit and contains instructions for operation in a first illumination only state where only the path lamp driver 26 and the path lamps 24 are active and a second guidance state where preferably the path lamp driver 26 and path lamps 24 remain operative but additionally the guidance lamp driver 30 and guidance lamps 28 and/or the transducer driver 32 and sound transducer 34 are operative. Stored instructions provide for alternation of illumination only state and the guidance state for desired times and in a desired mark/space ratio. A sequencer routine 42 responds to a unit address entered by manual control when the unit 10 is fitted e.g. by removing address pins in a jumper unit 45 to cause the unit 10 when in its alarm mode to enter the guidance state in sequenced and timed relationship to the guidance states of other units along the exit path. As any one unit lOa-lOf (Fig. 2) detects smoke or receives a transmitted signal from an external source, then the system is triggered.

1. Firstly the units lOa-lOf may emit a constant white light by path lamps 24, illuminating the passageway should mains power/lights fail, or at night for security purposes.

2. In the event of fire, the system may then emit a 'bleep' or other audible signal via sound transmitters 34 of the units 10a- 1 Of sequentially along the escape route, via each unit to the exit or point of safety. The 'beeps' may last approximately 1.5 seconds. Once one cycle has reached the end of the escape path the system may pause for e.g. about two seconds before the sequence restarts. The audible signal also acts to instruct the visually impaired.

3. As each unit may then emit a 'bleep' or other audible signal it emits via guidance lamps 28 a near-infrared e.g. green light around the unit to provide a visual indication of the path along the escape route to the point of safety. Thus the system, in a preferred embodiment, combined an audible direction signal that may be useful should smoke inhibit sight, with the light providing a visual aid along the escape route, which provides a signal which may also be useful for the hard of hearing.

The unit also includes a test routine 44 which may be put into operation by actuating external push switch 36 for a predetermined minimum period e.g. 4 seconds to activate the system. The push system may be incorporated into supports for the unit, so that the all that is required is to push upwards on the unit as a whole. To 'Hush' the system the master unit may optionally be pushed towards the ceiling in the same manner as to 'test' the system. The system may also be activated via a signal external to the system transmitted to it by cable or receives a transmitted signal from an external source.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram for an embodiment based on a master unit 10a and slave units 10b, 10c and lOd disposed along an exit path. An external power supply 20 in the form of mains AC leads to an internal power supply 18 that delivers 9 V DC and has internal batteries that are trickle-charged to provide back-up power in the event of mains failure and which provides power to microcontroller board 10 of the master unit 10a. Each unit has a smoke detector 22a-22d associated with it, the smoke detectors being parallel-connected to the master microcontroller board 10. Each unit has a lighting PCB 50a-54a which has downlighting and guidance lamps supported within transluscent housings 50b-54b as will be more fully described below.

In Fig. 4, a master control PCB has microcontroller U2 which is clocked by an oscillator circuit of capacitors Cl and C2 and crystal oscillator XI connected to input pins CLKIN and CLKOUT of microprocessor U2 (type P1C18F84A). The external push switch is connected across terminals Jl and J2, loaded via resistor R13 and connected to reset input MCLR of the microcontroller. The ionization smoke detector is connected between terminals J ION 0P+V and J ION 0P0V across which is connected pull-down resistor R14, and the state of the detector is monitored at ionizing input line RB04NT (pin 6) of the microprocessor. Change of state also causes a signal to appear at terminal JIONA, where it is available to other chained units. A visible indication of the state of the smoke detector is also give by blue LED D26 which is connected via current-limiting resistor R20 across ionization smoke detector terminals JION 8V and J ION 0V. In the normal state of the smoke detector the resistance between the terminals is high and voltage across R20 and D26 causes that diode to be bright, indicating that the smoke detector is working but inactive. If an alarm condition is sensed, the resistance across the terminals becomes low, the voltage across R20 and D26 becomes negligible, and D26 is extinguished.

In the event of an alarm condition being sensed, the microcontroller supplies a signal at output pin RAO (17) which appears via current-limiting resistor R16 and blocking diode D28 at the output pin J WHTLGHTA where it provides a downlight activation signal for the downlight LED's of the slave units lOb-lOd. A line from the output side of D28 also passes to the base of lamp drive transistor Q2 to drive through current-limiting resistors R1-R4 white downlight LED's D1-D8 which are series- connected in pairs. Also in the event of an alarm condition, output signals appear in separate timed phases at pins RB1-RB4 to energise guidance lamps of the master unit 10a and the slave units lOb-lOd. The master unit output at pin RBI appears through R16 and D28 and is supplied to a jumper unit. Provided jumper pins JMP1 and JMP5 for the master unit are connected, a turn-on voltage is applied to the base of guidance phase drive transistor Ql. Parallel series-connected pairs of guidance LEDs D10, Dl 1 - D24, D25 are driven via load resistors R6 - R12 and become illuminated. At the same time, a buzzer connected across terminals BUZZER- 1 and BUZZER-2 in parallel with the diode pairs is activated to provide an audible signal. In the three other phases, guidance phase drive signals appear via R17 and D29 at pin J SLV1A, via R18 and D30 at pin J SLV2A and R19 and D32 to pin J SLV3A and are obeyed by the slave units of jumper pins JMP 2-7, 3-6 or 4-5 respectively are connected.

A first RJ45 socket has connections J EARTHA, J_+9vA, J WHITELIGHTA, J SLV1 A, J SLV2A, J SLV3A and J IONA. It is desirable to be able to chain connect master and slave units, and for this purpose there are provided parallel connections for a second RJ45 socket with pins J EARTHB, J_+9vB, J WHITELIGHTB, J SLV1B, J SLV2B, J SLV3B and J IONB. The circuits for the slave units are identical to the master units except that the microcontroller is omitted, and the setting of the jumper pins is different. It will be appreciated that alternative address indicators e.g DIP switches may replace the jumpers.

Figs 5-8 show a practical embodiment of a master unit forming part of a set of chain connected units of the kind described above. The slave units are similar except that they do not have a microcontroller on the main PCB 76. The principal components are a top casing 56 with a frame 58 for ceiling mounting of the unit, a green plastics diffuser 62 that fits peripherally beneath the top casing and is arranged to direct emitted guidance light sideways and slightly downwards and a lower casing 68 formed with apertures 88 to allow ambient air to reach the smoke detector 80 and to allow sound from buzzer 81 to escape. Fig 6 shows a pair of RJ45 sockets 66 to receive ribbon cables for unit interconnections. Between the upper and the lower casing there is fitted a smoke detector PCB 78 which carries e.g. an ionization-type or photoelectric-type smoke detector 80, the main PCB 76 which in the case of the master unit carries the microcontroller 74 and other circuit components together with downlight LCD's 70 and horizontally directed guidance LCD's 84 and buzzer 81. Assembly screws 64 hold he components of the device are held together. A particular feature of one embodiment of the design is that the unit is supported on a plurality (in this instance four) of spring-loaded compressible pillars 60 that fit between the unit and the ceiling. One of the pillars has associated therewith a microswitch that provides the push switch 36. To activate the unit the plastic casing 68 on the bottom of the unit is pushed towards the ceiling. If a thrust of greater than e.g. 5N is applied to the underside of the unit e.g. from ground level using a pole, the pillars 60 become compressed, the microswitch 36 closes and a signal is supplied to the microcontroller e.g. to perform a test or to reset or hush.

The lower casing 68 was designed to use clear ABS plastic and may be injection moulded using no side cores, the interior being spark eroded rather than adding a filler to the plastic which would interfere with transparency. ABS has a translucency of 90% desirable for allowing the LED emitted light through, and it has stiffness desirable for minimizing deflection of the bottom casing 68 which occurs when pressure is applied to test or give a hush signal to the system. The lower casing is injection moulded, requiring no side cores. For aesthetics the PCB is not visible through the casing. Spark erosion does not significantly reduce transparency while diffusing the emitted light. The top casing 56 may be made from the same grade of ABS and requires side cores to allow the communication socket locating positions. Again, the plastic may be spark eroded to diffuse the light emitted from the internal LED's and stop the PCB being visible.

Various methods were investigated to achieve the method of side illumination. Creating a green light source which had a low current drain was desired. The method adopted used 3mm white LED's 84 placed into recesses spaced along the sides of a fluorescent and transparent plastic surround 86 (Fig. 8) which provides the diffuser 62 of the earlier figures and which fits in substantially coplanar manner around the main PCB 76. In this arrangement the horizontally directed guidance LCDs 84 (Fig. 5) fit into correspondingly positioned small recesses along the inner edges of the surround 86 for edge illuminating the diffuser to provide guidance light. The opposite edges of the plastic to the LEDs are angled to shine the light intensely down the escape path, Snell's law being applied to gain the correct angles on the edge of the plastic. By providing longitudinally directed angled facets at the outer periphery of surround 86 alternating at downward-facing angles of e.g. 24° and 5° substantially no light need be wasted, i.e. towards the ceiling/to the floor (see Figs 9a, 9b). The green guidance light is therefore channelled at a greater intensity along the escape route.

The system may be mains powered with a battery back-up but can be powered by any alternative sources, i.e. fuel cells, capacitive or other energy storage device. The power supply and batteries may be integrated or located in a separate unit.

Connection of multiple Systems-T e systems can be linked to create coverage of a larger area. If several escape routes meet at one exit point then one master unit can be used with several streams of units leading from it down various routes. This will result in the systems individually guiding occupants to one exit point. This may be physically achieved by extra ports on the PCB which allow one or more systems to be run from one master. If greater than 6 systems are connected from one master unit an up-rated power supply unit is required over 1500 mAh (as presently used).

Claims

1. A luminaire for a building for security and/or emergency lighting having at least one first lamp for security illumination, at least one second lamp for exit path illumination, and control means operable in one state to illuminate the first lamp and in a second state to operate the first and second lamps.

2. The luminaire of claim 1, having a housing provided with fixings for ceiling mounting.

3. The luminaire of claim 2, wherein resiliently compressible means in the fixings permits limited upward travel of the luminaire when pushed from its underside, and further comprising switch means actuatable on upward travel of the luminaire to provide a signal to said control means to change state.

4. The luminaire of any preceding claim, wherein said at least one first lamp is for providing white light.

5. The luminaire of any preceding claim, wherein said at least one first lamp is a LED array.

6. The luminaire of any preceding claim, wherein said at least one second lamp is for providing near- infrared light.

7. The luminaire of claim 6, wherein said at least one second lamp is a LED array.

8. The luminaire of any preceding claim wherein the first lamp or lamps in use face generally downwardly and the second lamp or lamps in use face towards the horizontal.

9. The luminaire of claim 8, wherein the second lamp or lamps edge are arranged to edge-light a horizontal diffuser.

10. The luminaire of claim 9, wherein the horizontal diffuser is a thin sheet-like member of light-transmissive plastics material that extends around the periphery of the unit.

11. The luminaire of any preceding claim, further comprising a sound transducer operable in its second state by the control means.

12. The luninaire of any preceding claim, wherein the control means includes stored instructions on receipt of an alarm signal to cycle between the first and second states each of which is maintained for a predetermined period.

13. Escape lighting apparatus comprising a plurality of the luminaires of any of claims 1-12 and cables for chain or parallel interconnection of said luminaires at spaced intervals along at least one escape route.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising a microprocesor or microcontroller operated master unit and a plurality of slave units.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14, wherein addresses or positions of said units are denoted by jumpers or DIP switches.

16. A luminaire for a building for security and/or emergency lighting having at least one first lamp for security illumination, a sounder for exit path indication, and control means operable in one state to illuminate the first lamp and in a second state to operate the first and to sound the sounder.

17. A luminaire for a building for security and/or emergency lighting having at least one first lamp for security illumination, at least one second lamp for exit path illumination and a sounder for exit path indication, and control means operable in one state to illuminate the first lamp and in a second state to operate the first and second lamps and to sound the sounder.

18. The luninaire of claim 16 or 17, wherein the first lamp provides downlight and the second lamp provides light at a small downward inclination from the horizintal.

19. The luminaire of claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein the second lamp edge illuminates a relatively thin horizontally directed strip or surroiund.

20. A luminaire for a building for security and/or emergency lighting having compressible fixing means for ceiling mounting thereof, a switch associated with the fixing means and a control unit arranged to receive a signal when the state of the switch is altered, the arrangement being such that upward force applied to the luminaire alters the state of the switch and provides said signal.

21. The luminaire of claim 20 wherein the fixing means is at least one compressible pillar for holding a body of said luminaire in spaced relationship below the ceilng.

22. The luminaire of claim 21 having two, three or four of said pillars.

23. Apparatus for providing a warning in the event of fire, comprising within a housing unit a smoke detector, a luminaire, and a control circuit responsive to the smoke detector to illuminate at least one luminaire lamp on smoke detection.

24. Apparatus for providing a warning in the event of fire, comprising a plurality of units chain or ring connected together for mounting at spaced intervals along a building escape path, each unit having a smoke detector and a luminaire, and at least a master unit in said chain or ring having a control circuit responsive to the smoke detectors of each unit to illuminate at least one luminaire lamp of each unit on smoke detection.