A comparison between actual and predicted evacuation times

Evacuation times and occupancy movement were observed in three university buildings during a simulated fire emergency. Two of the buildings were tall buildings, which contained offices, computer rooms, libraries, study rooms, and lecture theatres. The other building was a one-storey building, which was constructed of three large lecture theatres. All buildings were relatively new and were equipped with emergency lighting, illuminated exit signs, and evacuation alarms that varied between a siren type, and a pre-recorded PA message. Human behaviour and movement were studied visually and recorded with video cameras. The total evacuation time, pre-movement time-lags, and the non-direct evacuation behaviour were analysed. The building occupant loads were recorded, and this, together with CAD drawings, served as in data to the evacuation model Simulex. In addition to the measured data, occupant load factors recommended in the literature were used to derive input data to a second set of simulations. The theoretical evacuation times were calculated and compared with the actual recorded escape times. It was found the Simulex can be used with confidence to simulate travel times for the buildings previously described. The pre-movement times presented in the literature for office buildings and places of assembly seemed to be very conservative in comparison with the measured time-lags. It was also found that individuals with pre-recorded PA information were faster in the completion of pre-movement activities, than those in siren alarm evacuations, though the time difference were small (< 32 s). A difference in premovement times was discovered between the dissimilar activities performed in the enclosures. (C) 2001 Fire SEPT. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.