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Displaying 51 - 75 of 128

A probabilistic approach for the analysis of stair evacuation movement data

January 1, 2014
Author(s)
Enrico Ronchi, Erica D. Kuligowski, Richard D. Peacock, Paul A. Reneke
This paper presents an innovative method to study stair evacuation data based on a probabilistic analysis of occupant travel paths. This type of approach relies on a detailed video analysis of people movement and pattern reconstruction. Conditional

Preliminary Reconnaissance of the May 20, 2013, Newcastle-Moore Tornado in Oklahoma

December 3, 2013
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski, Long Phan, Marc L. Levitan, David P. Jorgensen
This is a report on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reconnaissance to collect information on the performance of one critical facility and two educational facilities in the May 20, 2013, Newcastle-Moore tornado in Oklahoma. The

Bounding Defaults in Egress Models

November 28, 2013
Author(s)
Steve M. Gwynne, Erica D. Kuligowski, Michael Spearpoint, Enrico Ronchi
The developers of egress models are in a difficult position. It is in their interest to develop models that are quick and easy to employ and at the same time to reduce accidental model misuse. While default values enables out-of-the-box use of models

Guidance on Fire Emergency Procedures for Emergency Stair Travel Devices

November 26, 2013
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski
This document provides specific detailed guidance and recommendations on the use of emergency stair travel devices, or stair descent devices, for evacuation of persons with mobility impairments during fire emergencies in buildings. The people who would

Draft Final Report, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Technical Investigation of the May 22, 2011, Tornado in Joplin, Missouri (NIST NCSTAR 3) ***Draft for Public Comments***

November 21, 2013
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski, Franklin T. Lombardo, Long Phan, Marc L. Levitan, David P. Jorgensen
This is the final report of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) investigation of the May 22, 2011, tornado in Joplin, Missouri, conducted under the National Construction Safety Team Act. This report describes the wind field of the

The Process of Verification and Validation of Building Fire Evacuation Models

November 21, 2013
Author(s)
Enrico Ronchi, Erica D. Kuligowski, Paul A. Reneke, Richard Peacock, Daniel Nilsson
To date, there is no International standard on the methods and tests to assess the verification and validation (V&V) of building fire evacuation models, i.e., model testers adopt inconsistent procedures or tests designed for other model uses. For instance

Stair evacuation of older adults and people with mobility impairments

October 31, 2013
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski, Richard D. Peacock, Emily Wiess, Bryan Hoskins
Engineers analyze occupant movement data for the safety and protection of a population during emergency building evacuations. Quantifiable variables, such as: stairwell geometry, pre-evacuation delay, occupant speed, and population density form engineering

General Guidance on Emergency Communication Strategies for Buildings

February 12, 2013
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski
When a building emergency occurs, it is not always sufficient to simply initiate alarm bells. Individuals may not know what the alarm bell means and as a result may respond inappropriately to its sound. Many buildings have installed mass notification or

Analysis of Egress From the World Trade Center Towers on September 11, 2001

January 31, 2013
Author(s)
Richard D. Peacock, Jason D. Averill, Erica D. Kuligowski
This paper provides an analysis of the evacuation of the World Trade Center towers culled from telephone and face-to-face interviews with survivors. A decedent analysis explores where occupants were located when each tower was attacked. Multiple regression

Modeling the Evacuation of the World Trade Center Towers on September 11, 2001

January 31, 2013
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski, Richard D. Peacock, Jason D. Averill
This paper provides an analysis of the evacuation of the World Trade Center towers culled from telephone and face-to-face interviews with survivors. A decedent analysis explores where occupants were located when each tower was attacked. Multiple regression

Progress Report National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Technical Investigation of the May 22, 2011, Tornado in Joplin, Missouri (NISTSP 1139)

November 15, 2012
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski, Franklin T. Lombardo, Long Phan, Marc L. Levitan, David P. Jorgensen
On June 29, 2011, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that it would conduct a technical investigation of the tornado that struck Joplin, MO, on May 22, 2011. In November 2011, NIST released a draft plan for the study and

Evacuation of People with Disabilities on Stairs

September 18, 2012
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski, Bryan Hoskins, Richard D. Peacock, Emily A. Wiess
The time that it takes a population to reach safety when descending a stairwell during building evacuations is typically described by measureable engineering variables. These engineering variables include stairwell geometry, speed, density, and pre

More Thoughts on Defaults

September 18, 2012
Author(s)
Steve M. Gwynne, Erica D. Kuligowski, Michael Spearpoint
In this paper, the use of default values in egress models is explored and specific values are proposed to combat issues of model misuse. The authors suggest that defaults should represent the most credibly conservative estimates available for core egress

Proposed General Approach to Fire-Safety Scenarios

May 29, 2012
Author(s)
Amanda P. Robbins, Erica D. Kuligowski, Steve M. Gwynne
A systematic approach to the identification of fire-safety scenarios for analysis is desirable in order to identify important scenarios and to help ensure a consistent approach for different analysts. The number of possible fire-safety scenarios in any

Investigation Plan - National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Technical Investigation of Building and Emergency Communications System Performance in the Joplin, Missouri, Tornado of May 22, 2011

May 24, 2012
Author(s)
Marc L. Levitan, Long T. Phan, Erica D. Kuligowski, Franklin T. Lombardo, David P. Jorgensen
Following the May 22, 2011 tornado that devastated the City of Joplin, NIST sent four engineers to Missouri on May 24 through May 28 to conduct a preliminary reconnaissance. Based on analysis of the data collected and other criteria required by law and

Building Occupant Safety Research 2012

May 17, 2012
Author(s)
Richard D. Peacock, Erica D. Kuligowski, Jason D. Averill
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

Developing Emergency Communication Strategies for Buildings

March 12, 2012
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski, Steve M. Gwynne, Kathryn M. Butler, Bryan L. Hoskins, Carolyn Sandler
The purpose of this document is to provide the foundation for the development of a guidance document on emergency communication message content and dissemination strategies. The document answers three major questions regarding emergency communication

Recommendations for Elevator Messaging Strategies

January 6, 2012
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski, Bryan L. Hoskins
Building occupants, who have been instructed to use elevators for evacuation, and have subsequently congregated within the elevator lobby for eventual evacuation, are presented with an uncertain and potentially intimidating situation. For example, waiting

Predicting Human Behavior during Fires

October 4, 2011
Author(s)
Erica D. Kuligowski
Evacuation models, including engineering hand calculations and computational tools, are used to evaluate the level of safety provided by buildings during evacuation. Building designs and occupant procedures are based on the results produced from these