Brisbane International Airport Brisbane, Australia.
Specification:
- A high traffic density public building. The requirement was that in case of an emergency, with limited visibility (smoke) and or a total power failure (total darkness) the public would be automatically, with clear and simple to understand directions, directed to designated points for safe evacuation.
- Building had long corridors and multiple exits, stairs and ramps.
- The system was required to be flexible, and easily maintained, repaired and replaced. Changes were expected to be made to the layout to the building after it was opened.
Design characteristics
For Security and decor reasons, the evacuation systems had to be non-intrusive and therefore not visible in normal operating conditions.
System materials
The following materials were used in the system. Rigid PVC strip panels attached to:
- Aluminum Skirting boards that were colour matched to carpets.
- Aluminum Architrave’s that were colour matched to the door surrounds.
- Luminous paint that was painted into the stair Handrails and external stairs.
- A luminous strip was inserted into the stair nosing.
- Polypropylene signage.
Result achieved
Brisbane International Airport has one of the most advanced passive low-level location emergency evacuation systems in the world for a building of its type. Unless it is specifically demonstrated, the system is almost impossible to be seen in normal operating conditions. The Airport had internal alterations, after opening. In the annual maintenance survey, modification to the evacuation system was completed without difficulty or interference to the building users, maintaining the overall system.
