Human Behaviors in Fires - Research Paper Example

Movement of People/ Egress October 13, ‘Occupant Behavior, Egress, and Emergency Communications’ (Averill, Mileti, Peacock, Kuligowski, Groner, Proulx, & Nelson, 2005). In a fire safety investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster, behavior, egress, and emergency communications were researched (Averill, Mileti, Peacock, Kuligowski, Groner, Proulx, & Nelson, 2005). This research report confirmed that successful evacuation of a building in a fire situation is dependent on the time that is realistically needed to evacuate and the actual time available for such evacuation. When the time needed exceeds the time available there will be casualties. The objective of the report was to determine what factors contributed to the time needed for egress being much less than the time available. This research project gathered information focusing on the occupant’s behaviors, egress, emergency communications and human factors. Data collection methodologies included interviews with people affected and involved in the disaster and those considered experts in human behavior were utilized to develop a strategy to gather data using a variety of collection methods. Records from earlier incidents were compared with that of the WTC tragedy. Research examined egress provisions provided in the structure of the building such as more or wider stairs, the Windows of the World complex on the 106th and 107th floor. The solution to the egress problem proposed during construction of the building was to provide protected spaces in which occupants of the building would be able to wait to enter stairs that did not have the capacity to meet the demands of egress for the number of people in the building. Though there is no model allowing elevators to be used as a means of egress during fire situations these were relied on heavily during the WTC tragedy because of the limited space of the stairwells and overabundance of those needing to escape. This research report actually concluded with some very strong information as to why egress was not possible for so many people and allows researchers and building designers, along with fire technologists to study ways in which these same factors can be changed as much as possible. It was shown that the highest amount of survivors able to evacuate the building did so within 15 minutes, which was 18% of them. The research states that issues most impacting the occupants egress were environmental cues, experience with 911 as a reliable rescue source, previous experience with evacuations, the assistance from strangers, the need to rest during the egress process on the parts of many of the occupants, elevator usage due to impatience, and the leaving of stairwells (Averill, Mileti, Peacock, Kuligowski, Groner,, Proulx, & Nelson, 2005, p 140-153). The report also offers egress simulation results which are of use to fire technologists in implementing policy changes, changes in building codes, and fire departments including firefighter’s and firefighter educators. ‘Investigation of Uncertainty in Egress Models and Data’ (Meacham, Lord, Moore, Fahy, Proulx, & Notarianni, 2006). The objectives of this research study and report was to use computational analysis in order to better predict the egress and human movement in emergency systems. The methodology used in this report followed a research program that was divided into a five phase process. These phases included the construction of base models, the defining of possible values and variables, an analysis method known as the Monte Carlo, analyzing computer model results statistically, and the identifying of the significant variables (Meacham, Lord, Moore, Fahy, Proulx, & Notarianni, 2006). Variables identified that could be modified were the geometry of the building, the characteristics of the occupants, and those variable that were model specific to the model created in step 1 or phase one of the research project. Conclusions of the study showed that there is not necessarily a group of variables or factors that is present in all building types that play a part in the egress or human movement to exit the building. Variables appear more likely to be case specific and closely connected to the geometry of the building. The interpretation of these findings is that buildings must be studied on an individual bases in creating egress plans in fire situations. This study recommends that additional buildings using this same five step analysis in order to create a large data bank from which more solid conclusions can be made. ‘Applying State-of-the-Art Technologies to Reduce escape Times from Fires Using Environmental Sensing, Improved Occupant Egress Guidance, and Multiple Communication Protocols’ (Street, Hammond, & Williams, 2009) The objective of this research study was to investigate a variety of concepts and technology that have shown potential to improve the residential escape or egress from events resulting in fire. The Naval Research Laboratory was entrusted through the Consumer product safety Commission to complete this research. Methodologies included evaluating how feasible or practical it would be as well as possible to incorporate new technologies over all versus in individual cases helping aid escape and decreasing egress times through the use of a prototype automated egress control system (Street, Hammond, & Williams, 2009) Findings concluded that the prototype functioned as it was intended to when it was built. It was determined the prototype would need a rigorous and well defined testing plan in order to ensure that it response correctly to sensor data in all situations. Recommendations include that a micro-controller system somehow be implemented using less hardware than the prototype. My interpretation of these results is that automated egress control systems in some form are in use in many instances though current ones have failed often, hence the need for research and redesign. I agree with the findings that with tweaks and today’s technology an automated egress system could be possible but because so much depends on human behavior in situations of egress they are only like to lessen the time between alert and reaction, though the reactions are likely to remain the same, causing the same initial problems. ‘Rethinking Egress: A Vision for the Future’ (Averell, & Peacock, Keeney, 2009) The objective of this research report is to reconsider the infrastructure of the concept of egress from buildings in situations of fire. Those in attendance of this conference were to come up with ideas, values and objectives and the conference was attended by forty experts intending to start with no preconceived ideas when mediating over the subject of building evacuation. The main objective was to start fresh allowing new ideas and concepts to be developed that have not been implemented before. Other objectives identified were to primarily save lives and prevent injuries, minimize injuries and danger to firefighters, decrease property damage and the impact on the operations of the site. Reducing stress, grief and economic costs were also objectives. Categories of objectives were also established; enhance detection, decrease response time, minimize evacuation time, improve training and education and develop easy egress procedures. This list is not all inclusive though does highlight those categories most related to our study which is human behavior and egress during fire situations. Methodology included workshop planning sessions by conference call and in person. Ralph Keeney was asked to lead the project based on the framework described in a text of his,’ ‘Value‐Focused Thinking: A Path to Creative Decision-making, (Averell, & Peacock, Keeney, 2009).’ Participants were asked to write down every idea that was relevant to egress, once as individuals and then in groups. On the third morning alternatives were placed in subsets for evaluation. At this time consolidated emergency egress objectives were formed. Alternatives to improve emergency egress included extensive lists; areas of refuse, sprinklers, building code and construction changes, changes in building materials, elevators along with the efficient use of egress system. There were many more alternative classifications. These many alternatives were then evaluated using the criteria of usefulness, feasibility and creativity. Though there were no definitive findings it was absolutely decided that many excellent concepts and ideas were developed that showed potential for further study and development. My interpretation of the report is that are many potentially positive and effective means in improving and reaching the objectives of the conference. Recommendations would include disseminating individualized parts of the many concepts to the appropriate technological group or faction in order to further research and develop the idea along with appropriate testing. This was a very good conference that netted many ideas and concepts and potentially many new areas of focus for fire scientists and others who specialize in certain components of the objectives. References Averell, J., & Peacock, R., Keeney, R. (2009). RETHINKING EGRESS: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE Workshop Proceedings April 1-3, 2008, Warrenton, Virginia [Scholarly project]. In National Institute of Standard and Technology. Retrieved October 14, 2012, from http://www.nist.gov/el/fire_research/upload/Rethinking-Egress-Final-Report.pdf Averill, J., Mileti, D., Peacock, R., Kuligowski, E., Groner, N., Proulx, G., & Nelson, H. (2005). Occupant Behavior, Egress, and Emergency Communications (pp. 1-237) (United States, National Institute of Standards and Technology, US Department of Commerce). National Institute of Standards and Technology. Retrieved October 13, 2012, from http://http://www.mingerfoundation.org/downloads/mobility/nist%20world%20trade%20center.pdf Meacham, B., Lord, J., Moore, A., Fahy, R., Proulx, G., & Notarianni, K. (2006). Investigation of Uncertainty In Egress Models And Data. Jamie Lord. Retrieved October 13, 2012, from http://www.jamielord.com/Publications/UCEMHB.pd Street, T., Hammond, M., & Williams, F. (2009, February 6). Applying State-of-the-Art Technologies to Reduce escape Times from Fires Using Environmental Sensing, Improved Occupant Egress Guidance, and Multiple Communication Protocols. United States Consumer Products Safety Commission. Retrieved October 13, 2012, from https://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia09/os/escape.pdf Read More