PEDESTRIAN FLOW CHARACTERISTICS ON STAIRWAYS DURING DISASTER EVACUATION

Although the design and operation of pedestrian facilities in disaster situations are much more critical than they are under everyday, normal conditions, comparatively little research has been done on people movement during disasters. A preliminary investigation of the nature of pedestrian movement on stairways in high-rise residential buildings under emergency or disaster conditions is described. Such people movement down stairways is the most crucial activity in cases of fire. It was found that current codes and regulations in regard to personal space, speed, and flow of people using stairways under emergency or disaster conditions are in need of revision. Recommendations based on the results of this study are made for designing safe stairways and for developing building code requirements. The findings can also be applied in designing stairways in stadiums, theaters, arenas, and other public facilities where stairways are a part of the pedestrian circulation system.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1985/1047/1047-016.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=PEDESTRIAN+FLOW+CHARACTERISTICS+ON+STAIRWAYS+DURING+DISASTER+EVACUATION&author=C.+Khisty&publication_year=1985
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309039630
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Pedestrians. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Khisty, C J
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 97-102
• Monograph Title: TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DATA, DRIVER PERFORMANCE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE UPDATE
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1047
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Building codes; Emergency exits; Evacuation; Pedestrian flow; Stairs
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00458204
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030903963-0
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-040 034
• Files: HSL, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM