Technical Note 1680

Technical Note 1680 PDF

Author: U.s. Department of Commerce

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2014-03-04

Total Pages: 34

ISBN-13: 9781496010544

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Evacuation calculations are increasingly becoming a part of performance-based analyses to assess the level of life safety provided in buildings. In some cases, engineers are using back-ofthe- envelope (hand) calculations to assess life safety, and in others, computational evacuation models are being used. This paper presents a review of 26 current computer evacuation models, and is an updated version of a previous review published in 2005. Models are categorized by their availability, overarching method of simulating occupants, purpose, type of grid/structure, perspective of the occupants, perspective of the building, internal algorithms for simulating occupant behavior and movement, the incorporate of fire effects, the use of computer-aided design drawings, visualization methods, and validation techniques. Models are also categorized based upon whether they simulate special features of an evacuation, including counterflow, exit blockages, fire conditions that affect behavior, incapacitation of the occupants due to toxic smoke products, group behavior, disabled or slower-moving occupant effects, pre-evacuation delays, elevator usage, and occupant route choice.

A Iew of Building Evacuation Models

A Iew of Building Evacuation Models PDF

Author: U.s. Department of Commerce

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2014-02-18

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 9781495964114

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Evacuation calculations are increasingly becoming a part of performance-based analyses to assess the level of life safety provided in buildings. In some cases, engineers are using back-of-the-envelope (hand) calculations to assess life safety, and in others, evacuation models are being used. Hand calculations usually follow the equations given in the Emergency Movement Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) Handbook2 to calculate mass flow evacuation from any height of building. The occupants are assumed to be standing at the doorway to the stair on each floor as soon as the evacuation begins. The calculation focuses mainly on points of constriction throughout the building (commonly the door to the outside) and calculates the time for the occupants to flow past these points and to the outside.

Evacuation Modeling Trends

Evacuation Modeling Trends PDF

Author: Arturo Cuesta

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-10-17

Total Pages: 138

ISBN-13: 3319207083

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This book presents an overview of modeling definitions and concepts, theory on human behavior and human performance data, available tools and simulation approaches, model development, and application and validation methods. It considers the data and research efforts needed to develop and incorporate functions for the different parameters into comprehensive escape and evacuation simulations, with a number of examples illustrating different aspects and approaches. After an overview of basic modeling approaches, the book discusses benefits and challenges of current techniques. The representation of evacuees is a central issue, including human behavior and the proper implementation of representational tools. Key topics include the nature and importance of the different parameters involved in ASET and RSET and the interactions between them. A review of the current literature on verification and validation methods is provided, with a set of recommended verification tests and examples of validation tests. The book concludes with future challenges: new scenarios and factors for future model developments, addresses the problem of using deterministic and/or stochastic approaches and proposes, and discusses the use of evacuation models for supporting timely decisions in real-time. Written by international experts, Evacuation Modeling Trends is designed for those involved in safety, from emergency and intervention personnel to students, engineers and researchers.

The Process of Verification and Validation of Building Fire Evacuation Models

The Process of Verification and Validation of Building Fire Evacuation Models PDF

Author: National Institute of Standards and Technology

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2014-02-24

Total Pages: 90

ISBN-13: 9781496020598

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To date, there is no International standard on the methods and tests to assess the verification and validation (V&V) of building fire evacuation models, i.e., model testers adopt inconsistent procedures or tests designed for other model uses. For instance, the tests presented within the MSC/Circ.1238 Guidelines for evacuation analysis for new and existing passenger ships provided by the International Maritime Organization are often employed for the V&V of models outside their original context of use (building fires instead of maritime applications). This document discusses the main issues associated with the definition of a standard procedure for the V&V of building fire evacuation models. A review of the current procedures, tests (e.g. the MSC/Circ.1238 Guidelines), and methods available in the literature to assess the V&V of building evacuation models is provided. The capabilities of building evacuation models are evaluated studying their five main core components, namely 1) Pre-evacuation time, 2) Movement and Navigation, 3) Exit usage, 4) Route availability and 5) Flow constraints. A set of tests and recommendations about the verification of building evacuation models is proposed. Suggestions on simple qualitative validation tests are provided together with examples of experimental data-sets suitable for the analysis of different core components. The uncertainties associated with evacuation modelling are discussed. In particular, a method for the analysis of behavioural uncertainty (uncertainty due to the use of distributions or stochastic variables to simulate human behaviour in evacuation modelling) is presented. The method consists of a set of convergence criteria based on functional analysis. The last part of this document presents a discussion on the definition of the acceptance criteria for a standard V&V protocol.

Large-Scale Evacuation

Large-Scale Evacuation PDF

Author: Michael K. Lindell

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2018-12-07

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 1351645323

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Large-Scale Evacuation introduces the reader to the steps involved in evacuation modelling for towns and cities, from understanding the hazards that can require large-scale evacuations, through understanding how local officials decide to issue evacuation advisories and households decide whether to comply, to transportation simulation and traffic management strategies. The author team has been recognized internationally for their research and consulting experience in the field of evacuations. Collectively, they have 125 years of experience in evacuation, including more than 140 projects for federal and state agencies. The text explains how to model evacuations that use the road transportation network by combining perspectives from social scientists and transportation engineers, fields that have commonly approached evacuation modelling from distinctly different perspectives. In doing so, it offers a step-by-step guide through the key questions needed to model an evacuation and its impacts to the evacuation route system as well as evacuation management strategies for influencing demand and expanding capacity. The authors also demonstrate how to simulate the resulting traffic and evacuation management strategies that can be used to facilitate evacuee movement and reduce unnecessary demand. Case studies, which identify key points to analyze in an evacuation plan, discuss evacuation termination and re-entry, and highlight challenges that someone developing an evacuation plan or model should expect, are also included. This textbook will be of interest to researchers, practitioners, and advanced students.

Assessment of Total Evacuation Systems for Tall Buildings

Assessment of Total Evacuation Systems for Tall Buildings PDF

Author: Enrico Ronchi

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2014-05-27

Total Pages: 62

ISBN-13: 1493910744

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This SpringerBrief focuses on the use of egress models to assess the optimal strategy for total evacuation in high-rise buildings. It investigates occupant relocation and evacuation strategies involving the exit stairs, elevators, sky bridges and combinations thereof. Chapters review existing information on this topic and describe case study simulations of a multi-component exit strategy. This review provides the architectural design, regulatory and research communities with a thorough understanding of the current and emerging evacuation procedures and possible future options. A model case study simulates seven possible strategies for the total evacuation of two identical twin towers linked with two sky-bridges at different heights. The authors present the layout of the building and the available egress components including both vertical and horizontal egress components, namely stairs, occupant evacuation elevators (OEEs), service elevators, transfer floors and sky-bridges. The evacuation strategies employ a continuous spatial representation evacuation model (Pathfinder) and are cross-validated by a fine network model (STEPS). Assessment of Total Evacuation Systems for Tall Buildings is intended for practitioners as a tool for analyzing evacuation methods and efficient exit strategies. Researchers working in architecture and fire safety will also find the book valuable.

Regional Evacuation Modeling

Regional Evacuation Modeling PDF

Author: Frank Southworth

Publisher:

Published: 1991

Total Pages: 71

ISBN-13:

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A third area requiring much additional effort is the translation of the considerable knowledge we have on evacuee behavior in times of crisis into reliable quantitative measures of the timing of evacuee mobilization, notably by distance from the source of the hazard. Specific evacuation models are referenced and categorized by method. Incorporation of evacuation model findings into the definition of emergency planning zone boundaries is also discussed.

Egress Design Solutions

Egress Design Solutions PDF

Author: Jeffrey Tubbs

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2007-05-01

Total Pages: 547

ISBN-13: 0471719560

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The architect's primary source for information on designing for egress, evacuation, and life safety, Egress Design Solutions, Emergency Evacuation and Crowd Management Planning, is written by proven experts on egress issues. Meacham and Tubbs are engineers with Arup, an international firm with a stellar reputation for quality design and engineering. Their book examines egress solutions in terms of both prescriptive and performance-based code issues. A portion of the book focuses on techniques for providing egress design solutions and for coordinating egress systems with other critical life safety systems. Another part reviews historic and recent tragic life-loss fire events. As such, this is easily the most comprehensive take on the subject, written especially for architects.

A Review of the Methodologies and Critical Appraisal of Computer Models Used in the Simulation of Evacuation from the Built Environment

A Review of the Methodologies and Critical Appraisal of Computer Models Used in the Simulation of Evacuation from the Built Environment PDF

Author: Steve Gwynne

Publisher:

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 93

ISBN-13: 9781899991211

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Computer based analysis of evacuation can be performed using one of three different approaches: optimisation, simulation and risk assessment. Within each approach, different means of representing the enclosure, the population and behavior are possible. 22 different evacuation models have been developed. This review describes and reviews each of the modelling approaches.