GB1414682A - Fire safety systems - Google Patents

Abstract

1414682 Fire safety system K G SMOKE DISPERSAL LTD 26 March 1974 [27 March 1973] 14530/73 Heading ASA A fire safety system in a multi-storey building comprises a supply of water in a container e.g. a swimming pool 1 located on or near the top storey of the building, a turbine 7 located on a lower storey and connected to the water supply by a pipe 3, 5 containing an electromagnetically controlled valve 4, and at least one fan 13 driven by the turbine 7 when the water falls from the container which forces air under pressure through ducts 14 and 15 in communication with shafts 16 and 17 which in turn communicate with parts of the building e.g. a stair well whereby the air pressure in these parts is raised above atmospheric pressure to clear smoke accumulating therein in event of fire. Water after passing through turbine 7 passes via pipes 8, 9 into storage tanks 10, 11. Bypass valve 66 allows water to pass directly into tanks 10, 11 from the container. Fan 13 may be driven by an auxiliary mains electric motor 20 instead of using turbine 7, using the free wheel clutches 19, 67 (Fig. 4 not shown) in the drive shafts. Subsidiary pipes 51 to 54 connected to the mains down pipe 5 may drive subsidiary turbines 55, 56 located on every or several floors if the building is particularly tall. Smoke detectors in the corridors of the building can automatically cause motor 20 to be energised, or in the case of mains electricity failure, cause valve 4 to open. Fire doors which close in response to smoke being detected are also provided.