Simulation-Based analysis of evacuation performance for assembly buildings in accordance with the Turkish fire regulation

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of the standards determined within the Turkish "Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings" scope on evacuation time. The evacuation performance of assembly-purpose structures was measured within the limitations imposed by the regulation. Three classes of assembly-purpose structures were analyzed, including the definition of the highest user load in the regulation. Scenarios A, B, and C, consisting of 230 sub-scenarios with varying user numbers, were created, resulting in a total of 690 different sub-scenarios being analyzed. The scenarios were analyzed using the Pathfinder program. The findings indicate that the user load is a decisive factor in evacuation time. Additionally, the exit width per person specified in the regulation was observed to be larger than necessary to maintain the same conditions. Minimum Required Safe Egress Time (RSET) values were determined for the three different assembly structures with the highest user load definition in the regulation within a fire regulation-compliant building. It was concluded that the exit capacity should exceed the limits set by the regulation to achieve shorter evacuation times. The study's findings demonstrate the need to include performance-based definitions in future amendments to the regulation. This study emphasizes the significance of performance-based analyses to underscore that overreliance on prescriptive definitions can impose limitations during the design process, negatively affecting efficiency.