The Impact of Exit Route Designs on Evacuation Time for Crawling Occupants

According to the Life Safety Code (R), the distance between the exit access and the exit is a function of the occupants, type and number of obstructions, and the type of hazard. This study investigates the impact of route design on evacuation times for crawling movements. The study compares evacuation time for a straight route to an indirect route design, and the influence of occupant characteristics, in terms of gender and BMI, on evacuation time for occupants crawling an indirect route. Eighteen subjects (9 males and 9 females) in the 19-29 age stratum participated in the study (normal, overweight, and obese). The findings indicate a statistical difference between evacuation time for crawling in a straight route and an indirect one. Furthermore, the study reveals that both gender and BMI are major physical determinants of evacuation time of crawlers in an indirect route. The study is an attempt to provide data on occupant movement in unique circumstances (such as crawling an indirect route). Such data will contribute to enhance the ability of evacuation models to better represent occupant movement in different building enclosures.