Safety & Emergency Features
Please click on the following link to read how the Sesame System conforms to the British Standards "Power lifting platforms for use by disabled persons-Code of practice" and Part M of the Building Regulations "Access to and Use of Buildings"
The Controls
The Sesame System Standard controls require the user to hold constant pressure on each button; as soon as the pressure is released the Sesame System comes to a complete halt. This puts the user in full control of the Sesame System at all times.
Emergency stop buttons would also be in placed around the Sesame system, for example, the top landing station, on the lift and at the bottom landing station. This enables onlookers to intervene in the unlikely event of an emergency.
The Lifting Platform
The lifting platform can be lowered in the event of a building power cut with a key switch situated on one of the control stations. This key will have its own independent battery power supply.
The workings below the lifting platform will be concealed by a solid stainless steel skirt which will prevent and crush areas as the lift lowers and anyone falling below the lift.
A large pit space is required for the solid stainless steel skirt to lower into, so when pit depth is an issue, Sesame install a toughened Roller shutter blind to prevent anyone falling below the lifting platform. The platform will then be fitted with emergency trip bars that stop the lifts movement when triggered. To continue lowering the lifting platform once the trip bars have been triggered the lift must be raised first, this prevents any further immediate lowering of the lift by an unsuspected user.
The retracted stairs are clad at a standard 90 degree riser to tread finish. This means that as the lifting platform rises past the retracted stairs, it passes a flat surface rather than treads with an overhang at the front which would crush the toes of the user. We do allow, in accordance to British Standards, up to a 15 degree lip which also allows the users toes, when pressed against the retracted stairs, to pass safely without any catching. Please click on the following link to help explain the above and to go into more detail on cladding the Sesame System.
The lifting platforms speed is variable to the clients requirements up to 0.15m/s
The Sesame Stairs
The Sesame Stairs can only be moved by pressing and holding the "Stairs Forward" or "Stairs Back" buttons. This ensures the user is aware of any pedestrian movement around the moving stairs at all times. If anyone approaches the stairs the user simply removes their pressure and the stairs come to a complete halt. Each moving part has a gap of just 6mm which is 4mm smaller than the British Standards 10mm maximum gap recommendations. This prevents any crushing of any sort including fingers.
The Sesame engineers will set the steps at a safe moving speed to give any pedestrian ample time to move if in front of the extended steps. In the unlikely event of a pedestrian or wheelchair user in front of the moving steps they will simply be slowly nudged by the steps (with the 6mm gaps preventing any crush areas) and in many cases the steps would be stopped by the obstruction.
As mentioned in "The Lifting Platform" section above, the retracted stairs are clad at a standard 90 degree riser to tread finish. This means that as the lifting platform rises past the retracted stairs, it passes a flat surface rather than treads with an overhang at the front which would crush the toes of the user. We do allow, in accordance to British Standards, up to a 15 degree lip which also allows the users toes, when pressed against the retracted stairs, to pass safely without any catching.
The Gates, Rising Barriers and Rising button Boxes
The Gates, Rising Barriers and Rising button Boxes are automatic therefore they are all fitted with pressure switches that gently reverse the direction of movement when an obstruction such as a foot below the barrier, a wheelchair on top of the rising button box or a user standing too close to the closing gate. The rest of the Sesame Systems sequences are placed on hold until the gates, barriers or rising button posts have completed their cycle without any obstructions. The obstructer then has time to leave the Sesame Platform or re-position themselves before moving the stairs or lowering the lift.
Power
The Sesame System is powered by an earthed 24v single phase power supply. The type of plug socket you will find in any house hold. The power supply is housed either in the Sesame Pit below ground or in a machine room. For external installations, this socket os obviously waterproofed.
As an additional option the Sesame System can be fitted with an alternative battery back up UPS System. This will enable the Sesame System to function normally in the case of a building power cut.
Sesame Systems installed in a Fire Exit
We have been given planning permission by councils such as Westminster to install the Sesame System into the full width staircase of a fire exit, for Example the BBC Beaumont House installation on our Examples Web Page.
In this instance the Sesame System is fitted with an alternative battery back up UPS power supply. This will enable the Sesame System to function normally in the case of a building power cut.
In the unlikely event of the Sesame System failing due to a fault within the controls of the system, the button stations can be fitted with an ultimate override key switch to give a trained on site member of staff service status which will bypass limit switches, pressure switches etc to then extend the Sesame Systems stairs for pedestrian use or to raise and lower the lift to evacuate wheelchair users during a fire.
