GB2096225A - Flexible fire escape - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible fire escape for facilitating escape from above ground level floors of a building which is on fire. The invention comprises a flexible ladder (1) which is secured near one of the ends (5) to the wall (3) of the building by a bolt (4). The flexible ladder (1) may be rolled or folded up in a cupboard (2), or in the cavity (15) of a cavity wall beneath a hinged window sill. In the event of a fire, the flexible ladder (1) is lowered out of the window (6) to provide escape from the building. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flexible fire escape The present invention relates to a flexible fire escape for facilitating escape from above ground level floors of a building which is on fire.

In the event of fire in a building, people must obviously be able to gain access to the ground to escape from the building. The internal staircases of a building which normally provide this access are often cut off by the flames and/or smoke of the fire.

It is well known for buildings to be provided on an external wall with a permanent fire escape in the form of a metal staircase. Such fire escapes are used instead of or in addition to the internal staircases to allow people trapped on the floors above ground level of a burning building to escape.

It is very common, however, for buildings to have no permanent fire escape. This is especially true of domestic buildings, where the cost of an external metal staircase is prohibitive to the owner and also such a fire escape is very unsightly.

Even when a building has a permanent fire escape, access to it is often prevented by the flames and/or smoke of the fire. In this case, the only means of escape to ground level for people trapped in the upper floors of the building is through a window. People are often forced to escape the fire by jumping from the upper floor windows of the building with the result that they are seriously injured or killed by their fall. Other people remain in the building and are killed by the fire.

The present invention thus seeks to solve the problem of escape from a burning building by providing a flexible fire escape which is stored inside the building and which may be easily put into operation by any individual in the event of a fire.

According to the invention there is provided a flexible fire escape for facilitating escape from above ground level floors of a building which is on fire, comprising a flexible ladder which is secured near one of its ends to a fixed part of the building adjacent a window.

The present invention has the advantage that, in the event of a fire which cuts off all other escape routes from a building, the flexible ladder can simply be lowered through the window to the ground and thereby provide a simple means of escape. The ladder should be long enough to reach to ground level or to another level from which escape is possible, for example the flat roof of a contiguous building. This flexible fire escape can be provided at every window above ground level in a building, thereby providing means for all the occupants to escape.

The flexible ladder is advantageously folded or rolled up to take up the minimum of space.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flexible ladder is stored in a cupboard adjacent the window, which cupboard has a hinged lid providing immediate access to the ladder. Such a cupboard may be decorated to complement the decor of the room in which it is situated and thereby avoid being unsightly. The end of the ladder may be secured to either the wall or the floor of the building by metal fasteners, e.g.

bolts.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flexible ladder is stored in the cavity between the two skins of a cavity wall. In this case, the internal sill of the window is in the form of a hinged lid to the cavity. New buildings can be built with extra wide cavities beneath each window in which to store a flexible fire escape ladder.

The cupboard or cavity containing the flexible ladder may also house a fire extinguisher, in which case one person can fight the fire while others lower the ladder and escape.

Embodiments of the present invention will.now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagram of a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a diagram of a second embodiment of the invention, and Figure 3 is a diagram of a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a flexible rope ladder 1 which is rolled up in a cupboard 2. The rope ladder 1 is secured to the wall 3 by a bolt 4 near its end 5.

The cupboard 2 is built up against the wall 3 underneath the window 6. The cupboard 2 has a hinged lid 7 so that, in the event of a fire, the lid 7 can quickly be opened and the ladder 1 lowered to the ground.

In Figure 2 there is a radiator 9 fixed beneath the window 6, so that the cupboard 8 cannot be built up against the wall 3. In this case, the rope ladder 1 is secured near its end 5 to the floor 10 by a bolt 11. The cupboard 8 also contains a fire extinguisher 1 2.

Figures 1 and 2 show how the present invention may be applied to existing buildings. The cupboard 2 may be painted or otherwise decorated to complement the decor of the room in which the window 6 is situated.

Figure 3 shows how new buildings can incorporate the present invention. The wall 3 is made up of an internal skin 13 and an external skin 1 4 with a cavity 1 5 in between the two skins 13, 14. The wall 3 is built so that the cavity 1 5 beneath the window 6 is wide enough to allow the rope ladder 1 to be rolled up between the skins 13, 14. The rope ladder 1 is secured to the external skin 12 by a bolt 1 6. Access to the cavity 15 is gained by way of a hinged internal window sill 1 7 which forms the lid of the cavity.

The rope ladder 1 in Figures 1 to 3 is long enough to reach to ground level or to another level from which escape is possible, for example the flat roof of a contiguous building.

The flexible ladder may also be formed of chain, cable wire or any material which can be rolled or folded up.

The present invention may be used in existing domestic buildings, offices and other buildings and also buildings which are still to be built may be designed to incorporate this invention.

Claims (11)

1. A flexible fire escape for facilitating escape from above ground level floors of a building which is on fire, comprising a flexible ladder which is secured near one of its ends to a fixed part of the building adjacent a window.

2. A flexible fire escape according to Claim 1, wherein the flexible ladder is rolled up.

3. A flexible fire escape according to Claim 1, wherein the flexible ladder is folded up.

4. A flexible fire escape according to any preceding claim, wherein the flexible ladder is contained in a cupboard with a hinged lid.

5. A flexible fire escape according to any preceding claim, wherein the flexible ladder is contained in a cavity between two leaves of a wall beneath the window.

6. A flexible fire escape according to Claim 5, wherein the internal window sill of the window is hinged to form a lid to the cavity.

7. A flexible fire escape according to any preceding claim, wherein the length of the flexible ladder is commensurate with the height of the window about ground level.

8. A flexible fire escape according to any preceding claim, wherein the flexible ladder is a rope ladder.

9. A flexible fire escape according to Claims 1 to 7, wherein the flexible ladder is made of chain.

10. A flexible fire escape according to Claims 1 to 7, wherein the flexible ladder is made of cable wire.

11. A flexible fire escape substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.