Numerous factors play in a building’s design and fire safety is among the most important ones. Luckily, fire and egress modelling make predicting fire and occupant behavior possible, leading to increased fire safety. While it is impossible to downplay the increasing threats to safety in our present days, with the underlying complexities of architectural advancements, the urgent need to highlight and suffice safe, fast and effective exodus of people in the aftermath of these rising eventualities is eminent.
WHAT IS EGRESS MODELLING?
Egress modelling is a specialized field within the realm of architectural and fire safety engineering that focuses on simulating and analyzing the movement of people during emergencies particularly evacuations from buildings or confined spaces. This practice utilizes mathematical models and computer simulations to predict and optimize the flow of occupants as they exit a structure or navigate through channeled paths during a crisis such as fire. Egress models take into account factors like;
(a)Building layout
(b)Occupant behavior and movement speed
(c)Exit locations
(d)Signage
(e)Capacity of pathways and exits
(f)Impact of hazardous smoke As a result, egress modelling plays a vital role in enhancing the safety and survivability of occupants during emergency situations.
HOW FIRE AND EGRESS MODEL WORK TOGETHER
Fire and egress model work closely together to improve fire strategy and evacuation plans in buildings. Fire models assess potential hazards and conditions evacuees might encounter such as smoke and heat. Egress model in turn consider the influence of these factors on occupant behavior and movement, helping to optimize escape routes, exit placements and emergency signage. This collaborative approach allows architects, engineers and safety professionals to design buildings that facilitate safe and efficient evacuations during fire and other emergencies, ultimately saving lives and minimizing property damage.
SOME GLOBAL EGRESS AND EVACUATION INCIDENTS
Notable global events have taken the world aback with safety concerns yet on the frontline. For safety stakeholders, it is of uttermost concern as it relates to moving and protecting people to safer ground in real time. Conversely, though it is expected that all buildings are required to comply with life safety codes relating to emergency egress, many codes oftenfall short in considering the dynamics of evacuation during armed conflicts. During the 2008 assault on the Leopold Café in Mumbai approximately over 60 people were eating dinner in a narrow corridor of booths located on the second level when the attack started. Sadly, there was only a single stairwell and no room on the second floor capable of safe refuge.The Bataclan Theater attack in Paris in 2015 saw the terrorists block the main entrance with limited exit as people located on the dance floor and the north side of the building had no way of escape without passing the attackers aim.In 2019, shooting at the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch saw 17 people killed while many where trapped at an exit door operated by a PTE switch.
UNCONVENTIONAL EXIT OPTIONS
When normally discussing the topic of egress, ground level exit doors are presumed to the main points of building discharge. However, during active shooting events, there are many opportunities for escape that don’t meet the standards of fire codes. For people located on higher building levels, it is often safer to escape upward toward the roof than downward through stairwells. In the 2004 attack at the Oasis Compound in Saudi Arabia, 2 people hid on a roof for two days before rescue. At the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech’s Norris Hall, students in room 204 escaped by jumping out through the second story window of their classroom. During the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack, employees of the company, located on the third floor above the Charlie Hebdo office sought safety on the rooftop due to concern about gun fire penetrating their office.
During the siege at Pulse Nightclub, 8 people escaped through an air conditioning vent with police assistance. On that note, making unconventional escape opportunities provides a point of reference for employees to note as evacuation strategies are opened up increasingly.
