Optimizing safe evacuation using pathfinder: emergency strategies in high-rise and super high-rise complex buildings in the new administrative capital

Abstract

ABSTRACT Recently, the Egyptian government has sought to create new urban spots. The New Administrative Capital was one of those new urban extensions. Architects and urban designers tended to vertical expansion in planning this city as a result of the high cost of the land. Accordingly, high-rise and super-high-rise buildings have been relied upon in the architectural design of the buildings. This study aims to evaluate the achievement of safe occupants’ evacuation in case of fire for two high-rise and one super high-rise complex buildings based on a set of variables. Staircase design, the use of elevators, and the provision of refuge areas were evaluated, through simulating seven scenarios using Pathfinder software. The simulation results comprised an assessment of average stairs traffic jams, the occupant load density on emergency stairs, and the required safe evacuation time (RSET) for each scenario. It was concluded from the study that staircase design has a significant impact on (RSET) time. As well as, evacuation using elevators or relaying on refuge areas as auxiliary means with the emergency stairs may be safer for these types of buildings. Finally, the study provided technical requirements for using refuge areas and elevators in emergency evacuation in high-rise and super high-rise buildings.