SAFE-R: a new model to study the evacuation profile of a building

Adequate numbers of Safe and Accessible Fire Escape-Routes (SAFE-R) are a priori requirement for efficient movement and rapid evacuation of a building. The complexity of the evacuation process is associated with the flow of occupants through various paths available inside the building. Several methods and algorithms are now available to analyse the problem related to evacuation. Mathematical modelling plays an important role to predict the number of paths available within the building and the flow of occupants through identified paths. In the present paper an algorithm, SAFE-R. has been presented. The algorithm is based on the network optimization theory and uses graph theoretical approach to identify the number of paths available for movement of the people. A simple flow equation has been derived to determine the flow rate of evacuees through various paths. Mathematical and computational algorithms have been described. The developed model has been compared with an existing model to show the capabilities of the developed algorithm. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.