Evacuation time analysis of high-rise building by Using Pathfinder case study: Residential Occupancy

Abstract

This research involves the study of evacuation time for a high-rise and extra-large building in Bangkok, which has 41 stories. The height of building is 143.7 meters and the building have usage area of 31,898 square meters. The objectives of this research are the estimate time of the building evacuation. The building occupant load of 2,461 persons was estimated according to NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. The simulation via Pathfinder was carried out for 4 cases; Case 1 fire in resident room on the 13th floor is to ensure that the type fires most likely to occur, Case 2 fire in lounge at the 35th floor that a large number of occupants in a large area and Case 3,4 from case 1 and case 2 the exit stair at the inside is not available. The building evacuation times are 2,321 seconds, 2,410.8 seconds, 2,736.3 seconds, and 2,841.8 seconds respectively. In the case where only one exit stair is available, the building evacuation time may be increase because of the congestions at the exit stair.