Citation

Pauls J. Fire Technol. 1984; 20(1): 27-47.

Affiliation

National Research Council, Canada

Copyright

(Copyright © 1984, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF02390046

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Problems posed by the movement of people in buildings are influenced by design features, some of which are dictated by safety codes and standards. Over the last decade research addressing these problems has led to recommendations that depart from traditional design and regulatory practices. Empirical studies of crowd movement suggest a more cost-effective, performance-oriented approach to selecting egress stair widths using the "effective-width" model. Research suggests that by building stairs with larger treads, improved visibility, and better handrails, it is possible to improve comfort and safety in normal, everyday use and reduce the risk posed by crowd conditions in emergency egress situations.