Effectiveness of the redesign of emergency exits in the evacuation of people due to a fire in a shoe store. Simulated case with field models

Abstract

Introduction. The safe design of emergency exits can improve the efficiency of occupant evacuation times during a fire caused by the combustion of polyurethane footwear in a multi-occupancy warehouse. Objective. The effectiveness of the implementation of emergency exits in the evacuation of people from a fire in a polyurethane footwear warehouse was measured using PyroSim and Psthfinder software. Methodology. This investigation first used PyroSim software to create a) the simulation environment of a warehouse, b) the fire caused by the combustion of polyurethane footwear, c) environmental conditions of the event and specific geographic location. Pathfinder software was then used to simulate the evacuation time of personnel and occupants considering the physical attributes of personnel and movement speeds. To deepen the study, a comparison of the evacuation time was established in initial conditions and then with the implementation of emergency doors according to the NFPA 101 standard. Results. In a local of 10m. wide, 15m. long, 3 m high, with two windows of 4.5 m2 and a door of 2.5 m2, in a warehouse located at 2770 m above sea level, with 76% relative humidity, at a temperature of 16°C, 1118 hPa atmospheric pressure, the evacuation time of 20 people At an evacuation walking speed of 1m/s is 40 s. Air extraction systems were not considered because of the houses built adjacent to the case study or disabled people as clients. Conclusion. With the implementation of an evacuation door of 3.4 m2 the time is reduced to 30 s.