 |
| |
“…rapid, total egress … regardless of building height.”
“…improves means of egress for handicapped… physically frail, and asthmatic or cardiac cases.” |
|
• Ensures escape of occupants from a burning or otherwise distressed high rise building.
• Provides order-of-magnitude reduction of current evacuation times for rapid, total egress of occupants of a burning or otherwise distressed high rise building, regardless of building height.
• Eliminates catastrophic effect of blocked stairways, and also:
+ Greatly improves means of egress for handicapped, or disabled, or medically
impaired occupants, e.g., wheelchair-bound, crutch and walker users, those who
have visual or hearing deficiencies or are physically frail, and asthmatic or
cardiac cases.
+ Reduces risk of being struck by falling debris when exiting the distressed
building (as currently exists after occupants successfully make vertical transit to
ground level).
+ Increases incident commander’s options with regard to strategic and tactical
approach to each fire situation.
• Provides order-of-magnitude acceleration of firefighter/rescuer ingress into the
burning or distressed building, which results in:
+ Large reduction of time for deployment to staging, attack and support
levels in the distressed building.
|
|
“…reduction in physical and mental stress on the fire-fighters/rescuers. ”
“Less time for small fire to enlarge and increase occupant risk.” |
|
+ Major reduction in physical and mental stress on the
fire-fighters/rescuers and a corresponding increase in their endurance level.
+ Significant reduction of time between initiating event and
application of fire control and rescue efforts, thus delivering important
benefits in terms of rescue, fire control and property loss.
+ Less time for small fire to enlarge and increase occupant risk and property
damage, because of enhanced ability of fire-fighters to rapidly access the fire
floors.
+ Improvement in the deployment effectiveness of fire-fighters by shifting the
ratio of attacking fire-fighters to equipment supplying fire fighters.
+ More rapid evacuation of fire-fighters and other rescue workers in case
of sudden emergence of lethal danger, or disablement.
• Provides opportunity for conveniently located, strategic pre-positioning of fire-fighting and rescuer equipment. For example, replacement breathing air cylinders, bolt and cable cutters and other forcing equipment such as “jaws of life” (Hurst tools), to increase on-station time.
• Provides redundant supply of electric power, water, communications, and other utilities to the distressed building, as needed, which can make the critical difference in many situations. |
