Personnel Evacuation Research Articles

Experimental Study on the Effect of Steel Plant's Natural Smoke

In a full-size large steel plant, we analyzed the temperature distribution, the decline rate of dust and the smoke effect in two cases. The results showed that: natural draft reduced the sinking rate from 0.43cm/s to 0.35cm/s, the horizontal spread speed was reduced from 38.87cm/s down to 30.99cm/s in the plant; The highest temperature of workshop roof reduced from 76°C to 60°C; The layer height rose up from 3 m to 5 m, which made a greater affect on the visibility and it was more helpful for personnel evacuation and fire fighting and rescue activities. From the fire temperature and visibility control perspective, experiment proved that the affect of natural draft is good for the large steel plant.

Fire perils exposure caused by defective design and use in high-rise ward buildings

The author made an insightful study of defects incurred by aarchitectural design errors in the gates, gallery, stairs of high-rise ward buildings in existing hospitals. The study revealed the risk exposure for firefighting, rescue and personnel evacuation, and referred to experiences from overseas for remedies and precautions to take in advance. Key words: High-rise ward building; Design defect; Use defect; Fire peril

Diesel oil pool fire characteristic under natural ventilation conditions in tunnels with roof openings

In order to research the fire characteristic under natural ventilation conditions in tunnels with roof openings, full-scale experiment of tunnel fire is designed and conducted. All the experimental data presented in this paper can be further applied for validation of numerical simulation models and reduced-scale experimental results. The physical model of tunnel with roof openings and the mathematical model of tunnel fire are presented in this paper. The tunnel fire under the same conditions as experiment is simulated using CFD software. From the results, it can be seen that most smoke is discharged directly off the tunnel through roof openings, so roof openings are favorable for exhausting smoke. But along with the decrease of smoke temperatures, some smoke may backflow and mix with the smoke-free layer below, which leads to fall in visibility and is unfavorable for personnel evacuation. So it is necessary to research more efficient ways for improving the smoke removal efficiency, such as early fire detection systems, adequate warning signs and setting tunnel cap.

Gypsum board fire resistant assembly codes, standards, and certification.

Fire resistant (FR) assemblies are key components of building a life safety design. These assemblies are typically required to divide buildings into smaller compartments so that, should a fire start, it will remain confined for a sufficient period to allow evacuation and arrival of fire fighting personnel. Properly installed and maintained FR construction has a long history of performance in both saving lives and limiting fire related property damage. This presentation provides an overview of the process used to develop FR assembly ratings and listings where a gypsum wallboard is a key assembly component. The discussion includes the test methods and standards required by model building codes, the process used by designers and manufacturers to obtain design certifications, and how these designs are intended to be applied in the field. There are often occasions where a basic FR assembly may need to be altered to improve performance not directly related to fire resistance. This frequently includes addition or changes in materials or other aspects of a design to improve acoustical performance. However, all changes to FR assembly designs have the potential to change the fire resistance of the assembly. The process required to obtain acceptance of design modifications is discussed.

Benchmarking the UK Military Deployed Trauma System

Benchmarking the UK Military Deployed Trauma System

Inside and somewhat outside Charity

On August 29, 2005, a hurricane named Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Many feared the consequences of such a storm, but very few believed that it could ever happen. This article is a narrative written shortly after the evacuation of patients and personnel from the flooded Charity Hospital. The days at Charity hospital were hot and humid following Katrina, and as time passed the air was permeated by a stench that was inescapable. Rendering care to patients without electricity, and thus light and air conditioning, with a temperature in the 90's and no running water was a challenge. Trying to cool patients with central fever and providing adequate ventilation for unconscious patients was extremely difficult. Without elevators, climbs up to and down from the 14th floor-where the author and his colleagues had their sleeping rooms-and the 12th (surgical intensive care unit [ICU]), seventh (neuro ICU and step-down units), and sixth (medical ICU) floors were tedious. The descent to check the emergency department and obtain a closer look at flooding in the streets around the hospital, which maintained a 4- to 5-foot water level, became prohibitive because of the contemplation of the necessary return ascent. There were 21 patients, mostly neurosurgical, in the neuro ICU and step-down units and wards. This is their story.

Analysis of Difference in Building Materials of Residence Fire by Using Fire Dynamics Simulater (FDS)

This research uses the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) for a computerized and simulated fire analysis on fire retarding performance of division walls and interior decoration materials used in single-level houses in Taiwan and its purpose is to learn, impacts housing materials could produce in case of fire. The same would help study development of fire, smoke, layout of inflammable materials, ventilation effect and activation time of independent smoke detectors available in housing. On the other hand, the research would help check difference in fire retardation performance of wood division panels in regular houses in terms of heat release rate, temperature, fire retardation and smoke level distribution. Finally, thanks to the simulation of activation time of independent smoke detectors available in housing, personnel would be provided with sound conditions for evacuation. When it comes to theoretical mode analysis, the CFD simulator software version FDS 4.0.5 (Fire Dynamics Simulator) launched by NIST/BFEL delivers a simulated fire on Taiwanese housing on parallel arithmetical operations and the outcome is available for reference in the use of building construction materials and design of personnel evacuation. Language: en

Transportation in emergencies: an often neglected story

Looks at the way in which public transport is used for evacuation of personnel in the event of emergencies or disasters. Although the work of the emergency services is well documented, it seems that the important task of evacuation, and particularly the planning, operation and documentation is often overlooked. This article looks at how public transport copes with this task, and suggests that this is due to the sometimes unpredictable nature of the transport system due to roadworks, road closures, accidents, etc. Special events, such as football matches, are a regular occurrence, which include the need to move large crowds to and from the venue. This strategy and planning can be used in the evacuation of people in the event of a disaster.

Vietnam, 1968-1969: a place and a year like no other.

THE VIETNAM WAR touched a generation of Americans with its human tragedy, sacrifice, and strife. In terms of casualties, it was the fourth most costly war in American history. However, despite a monumental military effort and modern technology, the war was lost as support from the American public and its elected officials waned. Now, in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, as we embark on what might well be another protracted war, lessons from the Vietnam experience become relevant. On a positive note, a refined system for the triage, management, and evacuation of wounded military personnel evolved in Vietnam. A wounded soldier could actually be at a well-equipped base hospital within minutes after injury. At those facilities, casualties had a more than 90% chance of survival, despite some of the most horrific wounds in the history of warfare.

Ideas of establishing the information system for emergence decisions on the protection against earthquakes and disaster reduction in cities (application of GIS)

With urban reformation and opening becoming deeper, the work of protection against earthquake and disaster reduction would be more important. In this paper, some ideas are suggested about establishing the information system for emergency decisions on protection against earthquake and disaster reduction in cities. The information system mainly includes a subsystem for rapid evaluation of damage loss from earthquake (which includes input of seismic information, distribution of earthquake intensity, evaluation of seismic fragility on all social factors and etc.) and a subsystem for the decisive information of seismic emergency (which mainly includes project of disaster relief, project of personnel evacuation, dangerous degree warning for the dangerous articles-storing places and protection measures against them, assistant decision on fire due to earthquake, location of head-quarter for providing disaster relief, and etc.). It is thought that the data investigation and collection about all kinds of buildings (including lifeline engineering) are the most important and difficult work as establishing this system.

Army Helicopter Casualty Evacuations in Belize in 1995 and 1996

Since the withdrawal of Royal Air Force Puma helicopters from Belize in 1994, the role of casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) of British military personnel, Belizean citizens and foreign nationals throughout the...

A more cost-effective use of medical air evacuation personnel: Gurland BH, Asensio JA, Kerstein D. American Surgeon. 1995;61:773–777

A more cost-effective use of medical air evacuation personnel: Gurland BH, Asensio JA, Kerstein D. American Surgeon. 1995;61:773–777

The Regional Deterrence Ship (RDS 2010)

ABSTRACT This paper describes the design of a Regional Deterrence Ship (RDS 2010) for the 2010 timeframe. The requirements for the design were for a ship to operate in littoral areas of the world with a mission of deterring regional conflicts and of hampering the efforts of the aggressor in such a conflict. In addition the ship's mission included the evacuation of friendly personnel as hostilities become likely.The problem countering the littoral threat during times of constrained budgets is addressed. Top level requirements for the design, generated in parallel with “…. From the Sea” [1], were used to set the design goals. The paper describes the manner in which littoral warfare changes the nature of the challenges faced by Navy surface combatants, including a ship such as the RDS 2010. A number of factors become more crucial design concerns than for blue water ships, including reduced reaction times, likelihood of attack from hidden land sites, shallow water mines and shallow water USW. Certain other factors become less critical in littoral areas and this also has ship design impacts.While some present ship designs can perform some of the tasks needed in a littoral warfare/regional conflict environment, none represents a completely integrated design (hull, mechanical & electrical; combat systems; fiscal and manning constraints; reduced vulnerability; robust self‐defense, etc.) for a vessel stationed in waters that, without warning, can become hostile. After describing the mission requirements to which the RDS 2010 was designed, the paper discusses the controlling design philosophy and decisions and describes the process used to assess threats to the ship. The process of combat system selection, against the backdrop of expected threat scenarios, is described and the intended approach to integration of the combat system is discussed. In continued on next page recognition that decreased reaction times and surprise attacks are likely to threaten a ship engaged in regional deterrence, discussions of features intended to reduce ship vulnerability and crew casualties are presented in the paper. A description of the characteristics of the final design is presented and accompanied by a design evaluation. The authors also present suggestions for further investigation of promising design features and technologies for employment in such a ship. The paper includes a discussion of lessons learned in the process of producing the design and includes appropriate acknowledgments.The design was performed at the Naval Postgraduate School under the direction of author Calvano by a group of four officer students, which included author Riedel.

Safety Cases: Are They Appropriate for Most Offshore Platforms?

Safety Cases: Are They Appropriate for Most Offshore Platforms?

Accelerating creep of the slopes of a coal mine

A 249 day long record of the accelerating creep of a slope of an open-pit coal mine is analyzed, using linear regression, to test four creep laws. The Saito and Zavodni and Broadbent laws did not lead to a satisfactory estimation of the time of failure as a range of times of failure satisfied the goodness of fit criteria. Using the generalized Saito law, the upper limit for the time of failure was 168 days after the actual failure. Our prediction of a critical slide velocity for the evacuation of pit personnel and equipment, as an indication of impending failure, used two new methods employing the power and exponential laws. Three accelerating creep stages were identified, threshold velocities of 0.02 mm/min and 0.1 mm/min marked the initiation of the second and third stages, respectively.