Residential fires represented approximately 85 percent of all fire deaths and 77 percent of injuries in 2009. Between 2000 and 2009, an average of 2,919 civilians lost their lives annually as the result of residential structure fires, which include one and two-family dwellings, apartments, hotels, motels, dormitories, boarding houses, etc. In the event of a fire, time is the biggest enemy and every second counts! Escape plans help you get out quickly. In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can get out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a house to fill with thick black smoke, and become engulfed in flames. (Source http://www.firesafety.gov). The greatest obstacle in a speedy escape, especially at night is poor visibility, smoke and/or darkness, and uncertainty. Couple this with the confusion of suddenly awaking and fear, and you have the potential for catastrophe, especially with the elderly and children, or if you are in an unfamiliar location such as a hotel. The Guardian system now addresses this issue, and directs you to the safest escape route.

The Guardian system contains two master-controller detectors (MCD), one non-controller center detector (CD), and eight high-intensity light-emitting-diode (LED) marquee escape-marker devices. The two MCD’s are located at two predetermined exit locations, while the CD is centrally located. Each detector contains a downward pointing high intensity white LED, smoke, heat, and flame detectors. As soon as smoke is present, the MCD and CD communicate and initiate an alarm. Microprocessor circuits detect level of smoke, heat, and fire at each detector and initiate the marquee devices to lead residence to the safest exit route. The safest route, illuminated by a marquee sequence from high-intensity Green LED’s starting at the CD provide a quick visual of safe-path conditions, while the unsafe route has flashing High-intensity Red LED’s. The MCD will also contain a high-intensity LED that illuminates green or red, depending on conditions. Our conditioned response to green and red to go and stop allows rapid determination, in the first few seconds of confusion, in selecting the safest exit route. This will greatly facilitate the escape of children and elderly during the first few seconds of a fire, or in unfamiliar situations such as hotels.

The system will contain an “exercise” mode, that when selected waits 30 seconds and initiates an alarm sequence to “randomly select” the correct exit path. This allows purchasers the ability to practice with their family both exit routes, further facilitating an escape during an actual fire.
The system will also allow for the addition of eight additional escape-marker devices for individuals with larger floor space and those who desire more, and more closely spaced escape-markers, and the ability to add an additional centrally located CD.

Never before has a system showed such life saving potential in a fire since the original smoke detector, until now. With multiple detectors, downward facing illumination, and escape marker LEDs we can all sleep a little better.