Method and system for emergency evacuation of building occupants and a method for modernization of an existing building with said system

(Original) A method for emergency evacuation of occupants from a multi-story building having a plurality of floors, a stairway, and at least two elevators, each with an elevator car being positionable at selected landings of the floors, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting an emergency condition in the building;
• defining at least one evacuation zone in the building during the emergency condition;
• defining at least one designated floor in the building during the emergency condition;
• and
• evacuating the building occupants from the evacuation zone to the designated floor with at least two elevator cars being positioned at a common floor in the evacuation zone with their doors opened.

(Original) A system for emergency evacuation of occupants from a multi- story building having a plurality of floors, a stairway and at least one elevator with an elevator car positionable at selected landings of the floors, comprising:

• first means for measuring a number of persons;
• second means for detecting an emergency condition in the building;
• and
• a control unit for determining a number of building occupants in the building, the control unit being operative to define at least one evacuation zone in the building during the emergency condition, the control unit being further operative to define at least one designated floor in the building during the emergency condition, whereby the building occupants are evacuated from the evacuation zone to the designated floor by at least one of the elevator car and the stairway.