THE ANALYSIS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND EVACUATION IN A FIRE THE ANALYSIS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND EVACUATION IN A FIRE

SITUATION IN A BUILDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Technical University Faculty of Civil

SITUATION IN A BUILDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Technical University

“Gheorghe Asachi”

Iassy, Romania

Faculty of Civil

Engineering and

Building ServicesDan Diaconu-Şotropa, Zeno Cosmin GrigoraşTechnical University “Gheorghe Asachi” from, Iassy, RomaniaTechnical University “Gheorghe Asachi” from, Iassy, Romania

Abstract Content and method of research Main tenability criteriaAbstract

• The paper presents the analysis of a human evacuation

from a higher education building located in Iassy,

Content and method of research

• The case study analyzes the safe evacuation of people in

the building (positioned as specified above) for two

Main tenability criteria

- the visibility through smoke layer, quantified by

minimum visible distance which is 10 m (for large rooms);from a higher education building located in Iassy,

Romania, by means of engineering techniques to

approach fire safety.

• This paper is based on the assumption of starting a fire in

the building (positioned as specified above) for two

possible situations:

- S1, human evacuation through both primary and

secondary access;

minimum visible distance which is 10 m (for large rooms);

- Fractional Effective Dose (FED), quantified by the

maximum value of 1 (a non-lethal environment for

adults).• This paper is based on the assumption of starting a fire in

the space of a hall for festivities, located on the ground

floor of the building, near two human evacuation routes.

secondary access;

- S2, human evacuation through the main access

(secondary access being accidentally locked).

adults).

floor of the building, near two human evacuation routes. (secondary access being accidentally locked).

• The supposed fire start in the festivity hall, located on the

ground floor and close to the main exit of the building. The

interior furniture is specific to the office type spaces andinterior furniture is specific to the office type spaces and

predominantly cellulosic/wood, HRR = 250 kW/m2..

• We analyzed, by means of the finite volume method, fire

The research instrument

Results

Image from “Tenability criteria for design of smoke hazard management systems” by Dr. Weng Poh

Building presentation

Analyzed building: Faculty of Civil Engineering and

• We analyzed, by means of the finite volume method, fire

development and human evacuation inside the building in

both S1 and S2 situations. The types of analysis involved

by the case study requires the use of a virtual discreteGraphical variation of the temperature (left) and the

visibility (right) at the ground floor (red line–critical values):

Results

Analyzed building: Faculty of Civil Engineering and

Building Services

Location: Iassy, Romania

Height: ground floor + 4 floors

by the case study requires the use of a virtual discrete

model, with finite volumes.

FDS 5.5.3 - based on Fluid Dynamics (Computational Fluid

Dynamics, CFD) and applied to Fire Dynamics; designed

visibility (right) at the ground floor (red line–critical values):

Height: ground floor + 4 floors

Ground area: 826 m2

Usable floor area: 3340 m2

Built volume:

Dynamics, CFD) and applied to Fire Dynamics; designed

by NIST U.S.A.

FDS+Evac 2.2.1 - analyzing the human evacuation in fireBuilt volume: 12820 m3

People accommodated: over 700

FDS+Evac 2.2.1 - analyzing the human evacuation in fire

situation; developed by VTT Finland.

SmokeView 5.6 - postprocessor software used for

overview of the results.• The main features of the building are:

- on the ground floor, three halls for teaching activities

(accommodating, at the time of the fire, 50 persons each)

overview of the results.

Discrete model for fire development and human evacuation(accommodating, at the time of the fire, 50 persons each)

and a hall for festivities (without people at the time of the

fire);• The numerical simulation of the spread of smoke and hot

gases inside the building used a virtual model with 2- on the 1st floor ... 3rd floor, three lecture halls

(accommodating, at the time of the fire, 50 persons each)

and a laboratory (with 20 computer workplaces each);

gases inside the building used a virtual model with 2

meshes.

• The numerical simulation for human evacuation of the

building was performed on a virtual model with 6 mainand a laboratory (with 20 computer workplaces each);

- on the 4th floor, a lecture hall (accommodating, at the

time of the fire, 50 persons);.

• The access to the floors is done through two staircases,

building was performed on a virtual model with 6 main

meshes corresponding to each level, and 7 secondary

meshes corresponding to stair landings.

• A finite volume size is 0.20 × 0.20 × 0.38 m.• The access to the floors is done through two staircases,

with two ramps and intermediate landing:

- the main staircase, centrally located, allows access from

• A finite volume size is 0.20 × 0.20 × 0.38 m.

• The authors used the following data for analysis:

- the movement speed for an adult person model is has athe ground floor to the second floor; further, the access to

the next floors is allowed through other staircase located at

the edge of the hall;

- the movement speed for an adult person model is has a

uniform distribution with the values : minimum 0.95 m/s and

maximum 1.55 m/s;

- the detection time (the time interval between the alarmFED =0,04 (S1) FED =0,06 (S2)

the edge of the hall;

- the secondary staircase, located in the outer limit of the

main hall, provides the access from the ground floor to the

top floor of the building.

- the detection time (the time interval between the alarm

activation and the moment when the occupants of the

building are aware of the danger) is establish to 120 s ...

180 s with a uniform distribution;Conclusions

FEDmax=0,04 (S1) FEDmax=0,06 (S2)

top floor of the building. 180 s with a uniform distribution;

- the reaction time is set to 5 s and a triangular distribution,

with were specified a minimum value of 1s and maximumThe current case study, following the performed

numerical simulations, shows that the travel time for

Conclusions

with were specified a minimum value of 1s and maximum

of 9 s its assumed.numerical simulations, shows that the travel time for

evacuation (the time for occupants to travel to a place

of safety - the exterior of the building) is higher than

the norm prescriptive time and it is possible that thethe norm prescriptive time and it is possible that the

engineering approach to human evacuation in case of

fire to be closer to reality.fire to be closer to reality.

Situation

Numerical

simulation

The Romanian specific

prescriptive regulation Situation simulation

FDS+Evac

prescriptive regulation

P118-99

S1 340 s 125 s

Main tenability criteria

S1 340 s 125 s

S2 406 s 63 s

Contact information

The main tenability criteria in the interaction of occupants-

Main tenability criteria

Dan Diaconu-Şotropa, Professor PhD. Eng., Tehnical

Contact information

The ground floor plan

The main tenability criteria in the interaction of occupants-

effluents, considered in the analysis for safe evacuation

during the supposed fire, are:

-the radiant heat is 2.5 kW/m2 and/or the maximum

University, Iassy, Romania

ddiaconu@ce.tuiasi.ro 00-40-744-505857

The ground floor planME - main exit; MSC - main staircase; SSC - secondary staircase;

SSCE - secondary staircase entrance;

-the radiant heat is 2.5 kW/m2 and/or the maximum

permissible temperature at the bottom of the top layer of

smoke is 2000C;

Zeno Cosmin Grigoraş, Eng. MSc student, Tehnical

University, Iassy, Romania

zeno.grigoras@gmail.com 00-40-742-961328zeno.grigoras@gmail.com 00-40-742-961328