- Author
-
Proulx, G.
|
Laroche, C.
|
Pineau, J.
- Title
- Methodology for Evacuation Drill Studies.
- Coporate
- National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
- Report
-
Internal Report 730; IR 730
November 1996
38 p.
- Keywords
-
evacuation
|
methodology
|
fire drills
|
evacuation
|
planning
|
data analysis
|
occupants
|
time
|
people movement
|
human behavior
|
human response
- Identifiers
- FIre Risk Evaluation and Cost Assessment Model (FIRECAM); coding data
- Abstract
- Evacuation drills can be out as a means to educate the public about the procedure for a specitiic building. Drills can also be conducted to obtain data on the occupunts' behaviour, movement and timing of escape. futhe latter case the results of the drill can be used to develop computer models such as the National Research Council of Canada's FiRECAM which can assess the risk to life and the cost of different fire safety features. The methodology used in conducting evacuation drills is essential to obtain meaningful and reliable data. The methodology discussed in this report has been used in a number of apartment and office buildings to obtain data on occupant response during vacuations. The various steps to carry out a successful evacuation drill are presented. The initial planning comprises some ethical considera1tions to be taken into account in developing the study protocol as well as the selection of a suitable building and the participation expected from the local fire department. Specific material to record the drill is necessary comprising video cameras and equipment to measure the audibility of the fire alam. On the day of the drill, different actions should take place in a timely fashion to ensure the success of the exercise and the data-gathering activities. After the drill, all the information gathered is analyzed in a systematic manner and results are interpreted and ocumented. It is important to use a soutnd methodology to study evacuation drills to be confident later in interpreting and generalizing the results. Each drill conducted can be costly since many people have to be involved, material has to be purchased and analysis requires a long time with trained analysts. Further, a drill in abuilding cannot be repeated if something goes wrong. For all these reasons, it is essential to use a dependable methodology that will ensure the success of the study.