Effect of floor openings on evacuation efficiency in multipurpose commercial buildings: IFC mall in Yeouido, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

ABSTRACT To achieve evacuation-optimized design at the architectural planning phase, this study analyzed the effect of floor openings in multipurpose commercial buildings on their evacuation efficiency. Herein, the IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul, Korea was considered the study site, because all the factors influencing the evacuation efficiency can be controlled owing to the underground location of all floors. Therefore, all evacuees followed the same evacuation direction. Comprehensively, a spatial analysis methodology(Cellular ECEM) was employed to derive the evacuation costs through the sum of visibility cost and distance cost. Subsequently, the evacuation costs were compared in all cases to review the hindrances in evacuation according to the type and area ratio of the planned floor opening, and several causes of evacuation cost deviations were discussed. Overall, increasing the area of the floor opening deteriorates the evacuation efficiency. The evacuation efficiency increased if the area of the floor opening is appropriately separated and a bridge is constructed in the middle to connect a path. Furthermore, following the longer path around the floor opening to use the main vertical means of circulation, owing to the connection between the atrium and floor opening, is more vulnerable toward evacuation efficiency than other floor opening types.