Influence of lit emergency signs and illuminated settings on walking speeds in smoky corridors

Abstract Evacuees within fire-affected buildings may have to escape through smoke-filled corridors without the aid of lighting, with a high probability of failing to escape. It is thus of vital importance to enhance evacuation safety procedures. It is equally necessary to study changes in walking speeds in situations of fire escapes in order to accurately estimate time required to escape. This paper focuses on measuring changes in walking speeds of evacuees, as influenced by emergency signs, smoke, and illumination. Participants, 20 non-disabled individuals with normal vision, were made to individually traverse a corridor in which conditions were controlled, including the presence/absence of an emergency exit sign, smoke density, and ceiling lights. Changes in walking speeds under the three aforementioned conditions, including smoky or blackout conditions, were accurately measured and their influences on walking speeds were identified. The results will be useful to estimate evacuation time in situations of fires.