Building Occupant Safety Research 2008

Published

June 12, 2009

Author(s)

Richard D. Peacock, Jason D. Averill, Erica D. Kuligowski, Richard W. Bukowski

Abstract

Historically, building egress systems have evolved in response to specific large loss incidents. Currently, systems are designed around a concept of providing stair capacity for the largest occupant load floor in the building with little or no consideration of occupant behavior, needs of emergency responders, or evolving technologies. Aggressive building designs, changing occupant demographics, and consumer demand for more efficient systems have forced egress designs beyond the traditional stairwell-based approaches, with little technical foundation for performance and economic trade-offs. With support from the U. S. General Services Administration (GSA), the Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology has been conducting research to provide appropriate scientific underpinnings for understanding occupant movement, behavior and overall safety during building emergencies. This disk includes the results of the 2008 research program conducted by BFRL in cooperation with GSA. This research has formed the technical basis for significant revisions to model building code provisions that consider the impact of multiple aspects building design and use including the emergency use of elevators by occupants and first responders, appropriate design of stairwells, and occupant behavior during building emergencies.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 1091

Report Number

1091

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Keywords

fire safety, egress, stairwells, elevators, high rise buildings, refuge, occupants, evacuation

Citation

Peacock, R. , Averill, J. , Kuligowski, E. and Bukowski, R. (2009), Building Occupant Safety Research 2008, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Accessed April 19, 2024)