The effect of an ageing and less fit population on the ability of people to egress buildings |
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Authors: | Michael Spearpoint Hamish A MacLennan |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand;2. Consultant to Holmes Fire & Safety Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | The functional capability of building occupants to egress from buildings is likely to change as populations age and become less fit. A review of the current health literature suggests obesity can be used to determine the likely reduction in walking speed and also as a marker for other egress related factors such as the risk of falls. This paper examines the possible effects of gender, age and obesity and uses a Monte Carlo network evacuation model to examine whether these changes will significantly increase the total evacuation time from an exemplar high-rise building. Modelling results suggest that total evacuation times may increase by up to 20% when comparing historical data from Canada in 1971 with a future New Zealand scenario for 2031. |
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