THE USE OF ELEVATORS FOR EVACUATION IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Abstract: This study focuses on the human factors associated with elevator use during evacuation in residential buildings. An online survey is conducted to explore seven factors that may influence people’s choice of elevators in China and the United Kingdom, including floor height, waiting time for elevators, crowd density in front of elevators, mobility limitations, instructions, fire location concerning people’s current location, and information about reliability of elevators during evacuation. Based on the results of online survey, a simulation with four scenarios in a fictitious 30-story residential building is performed to explore the evacuation process. Among the seven factors, the presence of people with mobility limitations is the primary factor that can influence people’s choices in China and UK. The usage of the elevators for evacuation in residential buildings increases along with the floor height people are in. Over 90% of people are not willing to wait for elevators for evacuation longer than five minutes. People who are on the fire floor or adjacent floor have less willingness to use elevators. The instructions from a management team unfamiliar to evacuees are not associated with a high willingness to use elevators for evacuation. Information within the evacuation plan about the reliability of elevators for evacuation can increase people’s willingness of using them. Considering total evacuation strategies, instructing people with mobility limitations to use elevators seems to be the priority as it can reduce the total evacuation time and the congestion in the staircase.