Centralized Evacuation Control System for Building Fire Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional occupant evacuation operation systems in buildings are complex, difficult to configure and adapt to changing regulations and building structures, and require extensive cabling, leading to system failures and inefficiencies in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A centralized control system that integrates with elevator and fire alarm systems, using a configurable model and network connections to manage occupant evacuation operations, allowing for easy adaptation to building-specific requirements and regulatory changes, with minimal cabling and a single source of information for evacuation procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional control units are placed on each floor or control multiple floors with extensive cable connections, then the system can provide fire alarm detection and elevator control functions, but the cable connections increase significantly leading to more system failures and complex configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control units into a single centralized control unit that integrates fire alarm detection, evaluation, and elevator control functions. This consolidation eliminates the need for extensive cable connections between multiple distributed control units and reduces connection points, thereby decreasing system failures while maintaining all necessary control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized control unit performs multiple functions including fire alarm signal reception, alarm status evaluation, evacuation status determination, and elevator control signal generation. This multi-functional approach replaces what previously required multiple separate control units, reducing cable complexity while preserving system reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manually configured generic control functions with Boolean logic are used, then the system can handle various alarm states, but the system becomes difficult to reconfigure when building changes or regulation updates occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit employs dynamic, programmable logic that can be reconfigured through software rather than fixed hardware wiring. This allows the system to adapt to building changes and regulation updates by modifying control parameters and logic through programming, eliminating the need for complex manual reconfiguration or hardware changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses programmable parameters and configurable settings that can be adjusted to reflect different building layouts, evacuation requirements, and regulatory standards. This parametric approach allows flexible adaptation without changing the physical system architecture, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If hard-wired outputs connected to the elevator system are used, then direct control signals can be transmitted, but any changes in building usage or construction require difficult reconfiguration or hardware substitution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hard-wired mechanical connections with electronic signal transmission through a standardized interface. The centralized control unit communicates with the elevator system through programmable output signals that can be reconfigured via software, eliminating the need for physical wire reconfiguration when building changes occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses dynamic, reconfigurable signal routing and control logic that can adapt to different building configurations and usage patterns. This allows the system to maintain ease of installation while gaining flexibility to accommodate future changes without hardware substitution.
4Ease of operation
If multiple control units are distributed throughout the building, then localized control functions can be provided, but the system requires extensive cabling and manual configuration that increases failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates localized control functions into a centralized control unit that maintains the ability to provide floor-specific control decisions. By centralizing the control logic while preserving localized response capabilities, the system reduces the number of physical control units and their connections, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling and configuration of an occupant evacuation operation (OEO) in a multi-story building has an elevator control system, a fire alarm detection system with a plurality of fire sensor devices, wherein the fire alarm detection system generates fire alarm information signals, and a central control system coupled with the elevator control system and the fire alarm detection system. The central control system has a data processing system with a processor and memory which provide a configurable model of the multi-story building, receive signals from the fire alarm detection system and receive signals and transmit control signals from/to the elevator control system. The configurable model allows configuration of the system creating a model of the functionalities in the multi-story building required for the OEO, and the central control system controls the OEO based on the signals received from the fire alarm detection system and the elevator control system.