- Author
- Cable, E. A.
- Title
- Analysis of Delay in Staff Response to Fire Alarm Signals in Health Care Occupancies.
- Coporate
- Worcester Polytechnic Inst., MA
- Report
- Thesis, January 1993, 163 p.
- Keywords
- health care facilities | time lag | fire alarm systems | signals | human behavior | warning systems | human response
- Abstract
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a strong interest in modernizing its "guide specifications" for fire alarm systems. There has been much confusion as Architects/Engineers propose fire alarm system designs which do not match the VA's requirement for a coded signal, summoning alarm, and evacuation alarm. By VA suggestion and with their total cooperation, 238 "special" fire drills were conducted across the United States to examine staff response to fire alarm signals. An experiment procedure and participant survey form were developed based on availalbe literature concerning human behavior. This procedure measured staff response delay and enabled study into the important features of a fire alarm system and it's performance which significantly influence human response TIME. In 75% of the drills a delay in response greater than 6 seconds was observed, the average delay was 27.2 seconds. This represents the FASTEST response among all staff on the ward. This study examines the behavior of health care staff considering the relationship between early warning fire alarm systems and staff action. The intent is to identify the design features of a fire alarm system and its performance which significantly influence the human response TIME to a fire alarm signal.