Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simulation study on the effect of pre-evacuation time and exit width on evacuation

  • Articles
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Occupant pre-evacuation time is often oversimplified into an explicit value in evacuation calculation. In fact, it is not an explicit value but a random variable following some kind of probability distribution. In order to analyze the importance of pre-evacuation time in evacuation calculation, Grid-Flow evacuation model is utilized to study the effect of pre-evacuation time on evacuation under different occupant densities and exit widths in a single room scenario. The evacuation time calculated by using normal pre-evacuation distribution is compared with that calculated by explicit pre-evacuation time. Two faults are presented when pre-evacuation time is considered as an explicit value. The theory of congestion and queue is presented to analyze the calculation results. Moreover, this paper also presents probability distribution of the total evacuation time when the pre-evacuation time follows normal distribution. The results show that the evacuation time is dominated by pre-evacuation time and hardly dependent on occupant density when the mean pre-evacuation time is long. For long mean pre-evacuation time, low occupant density or wide exit, when pre-evacuation time follows normal distribution, the total evacuation time also follows normal distribution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gwynne S, Galea E R, Owen M, et al. A review of the methodologies used in evacuation modeling. Fire and Materials, 1999, 23(6): 383–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Helbing D, Farkas L, Viesek T. Simulating dynamical features of escape panic. Nature, 2000, 407(28): 487–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Fang W F, Yang L Z, Fan W C. Simulation of bi-direction pedestrian movement using a cellular automata model. Physica A, 2003, 321(3–4): 633–640

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gwynne S, Galea E R, Owen M, et al. A review of the methodologies used in the computer simulation of evacuation from the built environment. Building and Environment, 1999, 34(6): 741–749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Tajima Y, Nagatani T. Scaling behavior of crowd flow outside a hall. Physica A, 2001, 292(1–4): 545–554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Fahy R, Proulx G. Human behaviour in the world trade centre evacuation. In: Hasemi Y, ed. 5th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science. Melbourne: International Association for Fire Safety Science, 1997. 713–724

    Google Scholar 

  7. Shields T J, Boyce K E. A study of evacuation from large retail stores. Fire Safety Journal, 2000, 35(1): 25–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Proulx G. Occupant response during a residential highrise fire. Fire and Materials, 1999, 23(6): 317–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bryan J L. Human behaviour in fire: The development and maturity of a scholarly study area. Fire and Materials, 1999, 23(6): 249–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Proulx G, Fahy R. The time delay to start evacuation: Review of five case studies. In: Hasemi Y, ed. 5th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science. Melbourne: International Association for Fire Safety Science, 1997. 783–794

    Google Scholar 

  11. MacLennan H A, Regan M A, Ware R. An engineering model for the estimation of occupant pre-movement and or response times and the probability of their occurrence. Five and Materials, 1999, 23(6): 255–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Purser D A, Bensilum M. Quantification of behavior for engineering design standards and escape time calculations. Safety Science, 2001, 38(2): 157–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bensilum M, Purser D A. GridFlow: An object-oriented building evacuation model combining pre-movement and movement behaviours for performance-based design. In: Evans D, ed. 7th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science. Worcester: International Association for Fire Safety Science, 2002. 941–952

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mahmut B N, Horasan. Design occupant groups concept applied to fire safety engineering human behaviour studies. In: Evans D, ed. 7th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science. Worcester: International Association for Fire Safety Science, 2002. 953–962

    Google Scholar 

  15. Nelson H E, ’Bud’ MacLennan H A. The SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering. 2nd ed. MA: National Fire Protection Association, 1995. 3/286–295

    Google Scholar 

  16. British Standards Institution. Part 1: Guide to the application of fire safety engineering principles, British Standard BS DD240 Fire Safety Engineering in Buildings. London: British Standards Institution, 1997

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    Chu Guanquan, Sun Jinhua, Wang Qingsong & Chen Sining

Authors
  1. Chu Guanquan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sun Jinhua
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wang Qingsong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chen Sining
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Chu Guanquan or Sun Jinhua.

About this article

Cite this article

Chu, G., Sun, J., Wang, Q. et al. Simulation study on the effect of pre-evacuation time and exit width on evacuation. CHINESE SCI BULL 51, 1381–1388 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-006-1381-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-006-1381-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation