A Study on the Evacuation Performance According to Variation in Remoteness between Exit Stairways in Tall Buildings

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of remoteness between exit stairways on evacuationperformance. Firstly, we reviewed the design regulations of the U.S., the U.K., and South Korea, in relation to remotenessbetween Exit stairways. Secondly, evacuation simulation was implemented, in order to evaluate the adequacy of eachstandard. Eight tall buildings in South Korea were selected for the simulation. Evacuation performance was assessed fordifferent remote distances between Exit stairways. Lastly, this research analyses the evacuation simulation data statisticallyin relation to the effect of remoteness on evacuation time. We found that as the distance between two exit stairwaysincreases, the total evacuation time and average evacuation time for evacuees decreases. There was no statistical influencebetween the maximum travel distance of the evacuee and the remoteness between two exit stairways, but there was asignificant effect on the average travel distance of the evacuees. In addition, the results from the optimal point showed thatthe L_ratio had the highest evacuation time at 0.44, while the D_ratio had the highest evacuation time at 0.38.