1999 Volume 64 Issue 521 Pages 1-8
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of fire safety measures on evacuation safety in care facilities for the elderly. Fire safety measures include fire protection provisions and management profiles. In order to accomplish this goal, the authers developed an evacuation simulation model, which could simulate rescuers' behavior to assist non-ambulatory occupants. The model can set conditions concerning each occupant's egress ability and track the movements of individual occupants or rescuers. Several case studies are conducted for two types of care facilities. In the case studies, the effect of several fire safety measures are evaluated from two points of view: building safety features in relation to the spread of smoke and the evacuation risk. From the results of case studies, the effectiveness of fire safety measures is discussed.
