Required Safe Egress Time: Data and Modeling.
Required Safe Egress Time: Data and Modeling.
(356 K)
Averill, J. D.; Reneke, P. A.; Peacock, R. D.
Performance-Based Codes and Fire Safety Design Methods,
7th International Conference. Sky is the Limit.
Proceedings and Case Studies. April 16-18, 2008,
Auckland, New Zealand, Society of Fire Protection
Engineers, Bethesda, MD, 301-311 pp, 2008.
Keywords:
performance based codes; fire safety; safety
engineering; regulations; egress; fire data; fire
models; computation; evacuation; occupants; people
movement; exit signs; computational fluid dynamics;
databases
Abstract:
This paper identifies sources of uncertainty in RSET
(required safe egress time) calculations, with focus on
data and modeling. A model for efficiently calculating
the range of egress solutions for a particular design is
presented. Three recommendations for future research are
proposed. First, future data collections and model
inputs should utilize distributions. Second, future data
collections should focus on emergency evacuation data
rather than fire drill data. Finally, modeling output
should utilize cumulative distribution functions to
visualize the range of egress solutions.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899