In this mini-series of the Uncovered Witness - Fire Science Revelations, we cover the subject of the means of escape - the technical solutions in our buildings meant to allow for human evacuation in case of a fire.

In the second episode of this mini-series, we cover the fire engineering solutions for building automation that influence the evacuation processes in the buildings. Reflecting on the Beverly Hills Supper Club tragedy, where the systems were not present, we try to evaluate what tools the engineers have in their toolbox.

In this episode, we cover some fundamental approaches to fire safety engineering, such as evaluating Available and Required Safe Egress Time, calculating tenability and using computer modelling. We briefly discuss detection, suppression and smoke control. More information is provided on evacuation elevators and the challenges related to two-way communication that may be necessary to get the most out of them. Finally, we end the episode by discussing how sometimes legislation leaves too much space for free interpretation by the engineers and cases in which this may backfire.

Guests featured in this podcast episode:

• Prof. Daniel Nilsson, University of Canterbury, Halliwell Fire Research
• Dr Coleen Wade, Halliwell Fire Research
• Josh Gibbons, Halliwell Fire Research

Relevant Fire Science Show episodes:

• Fire Fundamentals on Building Automation
• Fire Safety Engineering with Dr Ricky Carvel
• Smoke toxicity Part 1 and Part 2 with prof. David Purser

This show is produced by the Fire Science Media for Halliwell Fire Research. Executive producer - Monika Węgrzyńska, scripting and production - Monika and Wojciech Węgrzyńscy, sound engineer - Mikołaj Jarząbek. All rights reserved. 2024.