Modeling of Building Egress

Recommended Prerequisites

2^nd cycle.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods of theoretical lessons aim at the global learning of the course, discuss the concepts, the key subjects and the ones of more complexity. At the end of each subject that constitute the program of the course, a synthesis is made and some problems are proposed, both theoretical and practical, so that students can reflect on these subjects, mature concepts and do some practical exercises.

In this course students will have to carry out a work of modeling the egress of a building that receives public, using an advanced calculation model, the FDS + EVAC.

Learning Outcomes

The movement of people in emergency situations is an aspect of extreme importance in Fire Safety. Therefore proper design of escape routes is extremely important so that people can evacuate the building in an emergency situation.

In this course, attended by students who wish to make their PhD Thesis in the field of egress of buildings in case of fire, necessary knowledge to model egress in buildings in case of an emergency will be transmitted.

Subjects are developed related to the modeling of the egress of buildings in case of fire, especially the representation of buildings, people's behavior, the existence of obstacles in the evacuation, the number of people and distance between them and the selection of routes that they can do.

Some simulation models of egress in buildings in case of fire will be presented, with particular emphasis to the FDS + EVAC. Students must be empowered to use these models.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction to Modeling Egress in Buildings
2. The Significance of Data Collection for Modeling
3. Fundamental Aspects to Consider in Modeling
4. Geometric and Physical Modeling of Buildings
5. Modeling of the Preceding Stage to the Beginning of Egress
6. Modeling of People’s Behavior
7. Modeling the Choice of Routes
8. Modeling Movement of People
9. Validation of Simulation Models
10. Analysis of some known models (FDS + EVAC)

Assessment Methods

assessment
elaboration of a final report: 100.0%

Bibliography

Bogart, A. F. Van. – Fire and Evacuation Times. E. Story-Scientia, Antuérpia, 1978.

Canter, D. – Fires and Human Behavior.  Wiley, London, 1980.

Nelson, H. E.; Maclennan, H. A. – Emergency Movement.  SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering. NFPA, Quincy, Massachusetts, Section 2, Chapter 6, p. 106-115, 1988.

Bryan, John L. – Behavioural Response to Fire and Smoke.  Ed. Philip J. DiNenno [et al.].  1st ed.  Quincy, Massachusetts : NFPA, 1988.  p. 269-285.

Sime, Jonathan D. – The Concept of Panic in Fires.  Paper presented in the Panel on “Panic“ Session at the Conference on Behaviour in Fires.  Washington: National Bureau of Standards, 30 October -1 November, 1978.

Sime, Jonathan D. – Escape Behaviour in Fires and Evacuations.  Design Against Fire: An introduction to Fire Safety. P. Stoollard e L. Johnston, ed., 1994

Zeltzer, Edouard – Étude des Comportements Humains en Situation de Sinistre (Incendie).  Paris : Ministère de l’intérieur et de la Décentralisation, 1985.