High Rise Buildings
Historic Archive 01 of the Zephinie Vertical Escape Chute Technology
The ZEC Multiple Entry
History of Development Summary:
The ZEC Multiple Entry evacuation system, patented in 1973, represents the first unique mass evacuation design that has sustained to the present year of 2001!
Research started in 1968:
Gerard Zephinie's research began in 1968, and encompassed fourteen different design techniques including net and diaphragm types, to name a few. The fourteen design techniques were analyzed and compared to an 86-year collection of class related international patents. The French safety industry and fire authorities declared at that time that the claims of the Vertical Evacuation and UFO (Unidentified flying objects) were impossible.
System and test analysis would help to define that a continuous radial elastic constriction which would add a "Form" effect in a sitting-like position. This would offer an effortless full control of the descending motion controlling the ability to stop. Gutta-percha film provided by a major French rubber company, Kleber Colombre, were the first to be used successfully. Later, critical analysis obliged the use of a helix positioned synthetic elastomer thread of
low module.
The Industrial Development began in 1973:
The patenting of the "Twin Concentric Independent Sleeve," was delayed until 1973 due to financial limitation and was later industrialized. Acknowledgement and thanks is given to the generous sponsoring of the British Courtault Ltd Company and the assistance of the Geneva Laboratories of American Dupont Corporation.
At a cost of over one-million dollars, including sponsoring, hundreds of thousands of French volunteers, and the support of the French press lead by a major new paper, France Soir, the creation of the final development of the ZEC technology became a reality in the period of 1973-1975.
In 1975, the Safety industry surprised by the results of the ZEC's success considered the new technology as a billion dollar threat of loss in potential sales to building owner's capital utilities compared against the corporate utilities of the Safety industries.
Actually, the dozens of Zephinie inventions forming the ZEC Vertical Evacuation technology represented the new basic international standard of reference of Vertical Evacuation Technology!
Gerald Zephinie is also the inventor of the "Multi-chamber Pneumatic Pressure Controlled Vertical Chute" technology.
