Oliver Zechlin

Influence of Emissions on Pedestrian Evacuation

Emissions like fire, smoke, noxious gases etc. have a crucial impact on the evacuation of large buildings in case of an emergency. Given static egress plans, the predefined escape route might be blocked by any of these emissions. Since the exact location of an emission is not known during planning stage, it is not possible to include this phenomenon into static egress plans. However, if the building is equipped with an adequate selection of detectors and sensors, egress plans can be dynamically adapted during an emergency. Optimal escape routes are calculated by a pedestrian simulation. The results of the simulation will be communicated to the occupants (by means of dynamic signage, hand-held devices, voice evacuation).