EvacSim: A simulation model of occupants with behavioural attributes in emergency evacuation of high-rise building fires

EvacSim is a building evacuation model which is developed based on a discrete event simulation concept. It can simulate a complex variety of human behavioural activities, both deterministically and probabilistically or a combination of both. An occupant may be modelled to respond to cues from the physical environment, or to interact with other occupants, in a manner which depends upon the level of severity perceived by the occupant. A wide variety of situations can be modelled including closed or locked doors, queuing at exits, controlled evacuation sequence, backtracking due to blocked exits, tracking of occupant movements and development of bottlenecks. Stairs, elevators and disabled occupants may also be modelled. A unique feature is the modelling of wardens to perform room-to-room searches and to control the evacuation of floor levels. EvacSim forms part of a greater model for assessing life safety in high-rise building fires