Enhancing Refuge Space Safety: Tape Application to Reduce Door Leakage during Fires

Abstract

As global climate change intensifies, the frequency and severity of wildfires affecting communities worldwide are on the rise. Therefore, the issue of residential safety for people is becoming increasingly crucial. During a fire, smoke particles and toxic emissions could infiltrate the refuge space through gaps in doors, making it a primary risk factor for casualties. It is worth conducting in‐depth research and investigation on how to effectively utilize available tools and facilities to enhance the probability of survival while waiting for rescue behind closed doors. This study uses iron, aluminum, and wooden doors as experimental samples. Thirty participants conducted a total of 1,620 experiments using six different qualities of tape to investigate the impact of applying different layers of tape on improving door leakage and the time required for tape application. This study proposes that in situations when people are waiting for rescue in refuge spaces, the most efficient course of action would involve the fastest available tape. The rationale behind this is that while different types of tape may vary in their smoke‐shielding effectiveness, using three layers of tape can meet the leakage effectiveness standards, specifically less than 25 m3/hr at a differential pressure of 25 Pa.