| |
|
| |
Vandal Proof
Escape System wins Top Award
July 2001 |
 |
| |
|
Alert
Safety Technologies Ltd has won the Tomorrow's World
Award for Innovation in Industry with its revolutionary
escape system for trains and buses called Safescape®.
The prestigious award was presented by Sir Richard Branson
at a special televised ceremony held at Earl's Court
last Thursday and will be broadcast on the BBC's Tomorrow's
World programme on Thursday, 4 July 2001.
The award was collected by Alert Safety Technologies
Director, Avril McNeill. She said: "We are absolutely
delighted to receive this award. We have worked very
hard to develop the system which offers rail and bus
companies a real alternative to current escape arrangements.
What's more, Safescape® is virtually vandal proof
and will not allow passengers to go on to the railway
tracks unless there is a serious accident."
Safescape® breaks toughened glass windows when a
button is pressed. Currently, passengers are expected
to escape by breaking carriage windows using a small
hammer. This method was criticised at the Ladbroke Grove
Rail Inquiry where passengers reported extreme difficulty
in escaping from burning carriages - the hammers were
difficult to locate and broke when they tried to use
them.
In Lord Cullen's report into the accident, the inadequacy
of the hammer escape method is highlighted and the need
to look for more effective alternatives is made clear.
"The removal of windows by means of using hammers
to break them required to be reviewed as it placed excessive
reliance on untrained individuals. Hence there should
be a method of removing a window. With the introduction
of laminated glass the need to seek an alternative was
urgent." The report then makes a key recommendation
for Train Operators to research such possibilities.
Safescape®, which has been developed with support
from UK Steel Enterprise, is an alternative and one
specifically designed to speed up escape. In a recent
tightly controlled trial, an exit in a smoke filled
carriage was achieved in seconds. In a fire, where smoke
is the real killer, every second counts and the speed
of exit can save lives.
The system is favoured by Train Operators who have been
impressed by the built-in anti-vandal measures. The
device is designed to contain passengers within carriages
unless in extreme emergency conditions, such as fire.
Safescape® is currently being trialled on London
Buses where approval for the system has already been
granted by the Vehicle Inspectorate. A similar trial
will begin shortly on trains.
Anne Clyde of UK Steel Enterprise said: "Winning
this award is a tremendous accolade for this young company.
Alert Safety Technologies has developed enormously over
the past year and the team will build on their reputation
for excellence and innovation. Their emergency escape
system harnesses some impressive technology, has enormous
potential for world-wide sales and we are delighted
to be involved in the project."
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
