• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2024

Recent years have seen a notable increase in fire incidents in university cafeterias, yet the social attention to these occurrences remains limited. Despite quick responses to these incidents preventing loss of life, the need for large-scale evacuation in such high foot traffic areas can cause significant disruptions, economic losses, and panic among students. The potential for stampedes and unpredictable damage during inadequate evacuations underscores the importance of fire safety and evacuation research in these settings. Previous studies have explored evacuation models in various university environments, emphasizing the influence of environmental conditions, personal characteristics, and behavioral patterns on evacuation efficiency. However, research specifically focusing on university cafeterias is scarce. This paper addresses this gap by employing Pathfinder software to analyze fire spread and evacuation safety in a university cafeteria. Pathfinder, an advanced emergency evacuation assessment system, offers realistic 3D simulations, crucial for intuitive and scientific evacuation analysis. The studied cafeteria, encompassing three floors and various functional areas, often exceeds a capacity of 1500 people, primarily students, during peak times. The study includes constructing a model of the cafeteria in Pathfinder and analyzing evacuation scenarios under different fire outbreak conditions on each floor. The paper sets standard safe evacuation criteria (ASET > RSET) and formulates three distinct evacuation scenarios, considering different fire outbreak locations and initial evacuation times on each floor. The simulation results reveal the impact of the fire's location and the evacuation preparation time on the overall evacuation process, highlighting that fires on higher floors or longer evacuation preparation times tend to reduce overall evacuation time.In conclusion, the study emphasizes a multifaceted approach to improve evacuation safety and efficiency in educational settings. Recommendations include expanding staircase widths, optimizing evacuation routes, conducting regular drills, strengthening command during evacuations, and upgrading emergency facilities. The use of information and communication technology for managing emergencies is also suggested. These measures collectively form a comprehensive framework for ensuring safety in educational institutions during fire emergencies.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.237-246
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• 2024

In recent years, the frequent occurrence of fire accidents in university libraries has posed significant threats to the safety of students' lives and property, alongside negative social impacts. Accurately analyzing the factors affecting evacuation during library fires and proposing optimized measures for safe evacuation is thus crucial. This paper utilizes a specific university library as a case study, simulating fire evacuation scenarios using the Pathfinder software, to assess and validate evacuation strategies and propose relevant optimizations. Pathfinder, developed by Thunderhead Engineering in the United States, is an intuitive and straightforward personnel emergency evacuation assessment system, offering advanced visualization interfaces and 3D animation effects. This study aims to construct evacuation models and perform simulation analysis for the selected university library using Pathfinder. The library's structural layout, people flow characteristics, and the nature of fire and smoke spread are considered in the analysis. Additionally, evacuation scenarios involving different fire outbreak locations and the status of emergency exits are examined. The findings underscore the importance of effective evacuation in fire situations, highlighting how environmental conditions, individual characteristics, and behavioral patterns significantly influence evacuation efficiency. Through these investigations, the study enhances understanding and optimization of evacuation strategies in fire scenarios, thereby improving safety and efficiency. The research not only provides concrete and practical guidelines for building design, management, and emergency response planning in libraries but also offers valuable insights for the design and management of effective evacuation systems in buildings, crucial for ensuring occupant safety and minimizing loss of life in potential hazard situations

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.13-20
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• 2015

As building height is increased, more careful decisions about the required safe egress time is needed for evacuation. This study analyzed the influence of three training sessions on the vertical speed of evacuation in the high rise building. Evacuation experiments were done in a high-rise office building in Seoul, and we analyzed the vertical evacuation speed as a function of density using a camera. Controlled and uncontrolled total evacuation were compared using the Pathfinder simulation. The process of repeated training, changed the specific stair utilization rate from 6.3% to 39.5%. The vertical evacuation speed as a function of density was analyzed using the equation s = 1.004 ? 0.288D, which is very similar to the equation used in a different study. The total evacuation time of the special controlled total evacuation was reduced by about 25% compared to the simultaneous evacuation.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.509-515
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• 2021

This study analyzes the efficient floor layout plan of classrooms for securing evacuation stability in school in case of fire by using the Pathfinder simulation program. Efficient evacuation methods and safety were evaluated by analyzing REST (Required Safe Egress Time) according to the allocation of personnel by floor targeting a high school 5-story building equipped with a ramp and stairs. The current status of personnel assignments exceeded the Required Safe Egress Time(RSET), resulting in a problem with evacuation safety. When students were placed on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors, the result was that the time exceeded RSET the most. When students were placed on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors, the result was that they completed evacuation in the shortest time, less than RSET. In the current state, when evacuation was guided by designating an evacuation exit depending on the location, the result of shortening RSET was obtained. As a result, it is effective to put the students on the lower floors when placing students in high-rise school buildings in terms of evacuation safety, and in the preliminary training, it is required to designate evacuation exits so that they can use the nearest exit for each location in case of a fire. As a future research project, additional research is needed on the RSET when a fire occurs in a specific location according to whether the automatic fire door at that location is opened or closed.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.210-218
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• 2016

In this study, the fire analysis program FDS and Pathfinder was used to analysis a simulated accidental fire of a narrow dwelling space as a test bed. The results showed that the evacuation time of the H form internal building structure was the fastest at 285 seconds. In addition, when the automatic sprinkler system functioned with the entrances closed, the temperature distribution was lower and the visible smoke density was reduced.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.419-425
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• 2021

This study analyzed the safety of evacuation according to the number of exits and the direction of evacuation routes with evacuation simulations of the Pathfinder in case of a fire at a highway service area. It was also analyzed of the difference in RSET by comparing the single or double types of the exit of a facility. The results were as follows. When only one direction exit was opened, all of the RSET were exceeded. When two or more different directions were opened according to the general principle of evacuation, all results met the RSET. The simulations showed that two or more different directions were more shortened in RSET than the one same direction. The result of the types of doors showed that the single type door was shortened in RSET rather than the double type doors. For the evacuation safety in a fire at the highway service areas, firstly, it is necessary to secure two or more exits in a fire at all times. Secondly, the exits should not be same directions. Finally, it is suggested that the exit should be installed with a single type of door.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Disaster Information Conference
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• 2023.11a
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• pp.347-348
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• 2023

본 논문에서는 실제 규모 데이터센터의 3D 모델링을 기반으로 대상 공간별 화재 시나리오를 선정하여 화재 및 피난 시뮬레이션을 수행하였다. FDS와 Pathfinder는 full coupling 방식을 사용할 수 없는 한계가 있으며 semi coupling의 경우 가시화에는 도움이 되나 결과에 영향을 주지 않는다. 따라서 재실자의 피난 상황 시 경로에 대한 안전성과 화재 위험 노출 정도를 시각적으로 분석하는 것이 가능한 semi coupling과 시뮬레이션 결과 데이터 분석을 병행하여 수행하였다. 전산실의 경우 서버의 기능상실 한계 온도가 32도이기 때문에 서버 기능 정지 상황에 도달하는 시간을 중점적으로 분석하였다. 전산실은 업무 및 고객 서비스와 관련된 모든 데이터들을 저장하기 위해 항시 기동 되어야 하는데 전산실 내 화재가 발생할 경우 1~2분 이내 서버 기능이 정지되는 상황이 발생하였다. 따라서, 서버가 안전하게 계속 동작하기 위해서는 전력 계측 및 제어 케이블 열화, 서버 장치의 건전성이 유지되어야 하며 초기 화재를 빠르게 감지하여 진압하여야 한다. 피난 시뮬레이션의 경우 가시도를 상실하게 되는 시간이 약 195초(5m 미만) 인근으로 인원이 해당 층을 완전히 벗어나는 데 걸리는 시간이 약 125.6초였던 것을 보면 대피하기에 충분한 허용 피난시간(ASET)을 확보하고 있음을 알 수 있었다.