Panel: Fundamentals of egress calculations for life safety for egress assessments

Abstract

SummaryThe purpose of this panel was to allow data users, that is, consultants and engineers, who assess the life safety of structures and regulators who approve these assessments the opportunity to discuss the current state of egress analysis from their perspectives. In other words, what datasets do engineers/consultants consistently use to assess the life safety of structures? How useful are these data and what additional data should/could data collectors and model developers provide to them to improve the quality of their work in the field? From this panel discussion, an egress roadmap for future research could be developed that would aid researchers in the field of human behaviour in fire to collect data and produce models that better support data users' needs and requirements. The format of the panel session was a brief response by engineering consultants, a data collector and an evacuation modeller to a series of questions related to the current status of egress analysis, followed by a facilitated open floor discussion on issues arising. The panel session was audio taped and the summary that follows, although not a verbatim account, is a close reflection of the views expressed and issues raised. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.