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Fire Evacuation and Exit Design in Heritage Cultural Centres

Authors: Dr. John Gales, René Champagne, Dr. Georgette Harun, Hannah Carton, Michael Kinsey

Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore

Book Series : SpringerBriefs in Architectural Design and Technology

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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About this book

This book highlights human behaviour and architectural considerations for prescriptive code requirements for emergency exits in heritage cultural centers. Closed circuit television camera (CCTV) footage from a Canadian heritage cultural centre was analyzed from three separate unannounced evacuations, where recommendations based on the first two evacuations were implemented for the third. This study aims to (1) develop a baseline for the behaviour and actions of people during the pre-movement and movement stages of emergency egress and evacuation situations and (2) collect behavioural and movement data to aid the fire safety community with the decision process for egress and evacuation strategies and (3) interrogate and highlight architectural barriers in heritage structures with respect to emergency evacuation. The discussion of findings includes occupant behaviour, architectural implications and evacuation modelling and considers the often-conflicting intersection between architectural conservation and fire safety.

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Table of Contents

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction to Fire Evacuation and Exit Design in Heritage Cultural Centres

Abstract

Fundamentals of human behaviour in fire are discussed to provide a basis for understanding the research study and results presented in this book. The reader is further directed to numerous primary sources and education materials which detail this subject.

John Gales, René Champagne, Georgette Harun, Hannah Carton, Michael Kinsey

Chapter 2. Data Collection for Evacuations of a Heritage Cultural Centre

Abstract

Three evacuation scenarios of a Cultural Centre in Canada were documented and considered. The first scenario (Scenario 1) represents an unplanned evacuation during the day where an emergency pull station was activated by an occupant. The next scenarios (Scenarios 2 and 3) were annual evacuation drills held over the course of two years. These annual drills were held on days where admission was free to the occupants. Scenario 3 featured implementation of changes to signage and staff training to improve the exit use and egress efficiency. All scenarios are described herein. It is critical to remark that all scenarios can be considered evacuation drills. Neither the staff nor the occupants were informed to the nature of the emergency.

John Gales, René Champagne, Georgette Harun, Hannah Carton, Michael Kinsey

Chapter 3. Human Behavioural Analysis for Evacuations of a Heritage Cultural Centre

Abstract

An unplanned and unannounced evacuation event (Scenario 1) at a Cultural Centre observed 73% of its approximate 1730 occupants (41% capacity) evacuate using the main entranceway, despite, code-compliant exit signs, onsite personnel providing instructions and physical barriers meant to prevent the overuse of the main entrance. The remaining population evacuated using the 11 alternative ground floor exits, with no apparent preference of trend. As a result of the unplanned evacuation event, two planned annual drills were used to investigate factors that effected evacuations of Cultural Centres. These unannounced evacuation drills were conducted and held one year apart (Scenarios 2 and 3). The final drill (Scenario 3) was used to evaluate improved evacuation strategies and staff trainings, implemented by building management after the first two evacuation events.

John Gales, René Champagne, Georgette Harun, Hannah Carton, Michael Kinsey

Chapter 4. Architectural Implications for Evacuation Modelling of a Heritage Cultural Centre

Abstract

There are several architectural elements unique to historic and heritage designated buildings that have an impact on egress, as presented in Chap. 1. Additionally, when heritage buildings are renovated to meet modern code requirements for egress, it is in the best interest of the building to minimize interventions as much as possible to preserve heritage value. The data collected in the study is valuable to the study of emergency egress procedures in heritage buildings specifically and addresses the dearth in modern egress data in heritage buildings raised elsewhere (Thompson et al. in Fire Saf. J. 78:251–261, 2015). The implications of the architectural changes made to the building throughout its service life can be evaluated using a validated egress model, presented herein.

John Gales, René Champagne, Georgette Harun, Hannah Carton, Michael Kinsey

Chapter 5. Strategies for Effective Evacuation of Heritage Cultural Centres

Abstract

Chapters 2 through 4 illustrated three different and real evacuation scenarios of a cultural centre. These were analyzed for behavioural and movement data. The resulting analysis being useful to inform building design and policies of existing and new cultural centres, and further address critical research needs in human behaviour and fire.

John Gales, René Champagne, Georgette Harun, Hannah Carton, Michael Kinsey

Title: Fire Evacuation and Exit Design in Heritage Cultural Centres
Authors: Dr. John Gales
René Champagne
Dr. Georgette Harun
Hannah Carton
Michael Kinsey
Copyright Year: 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore
Electronic ISBN: 978-981-19-1360-0
Print ISBN: 978-981-19-1359-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1360-0