Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

An important part the world’s population is neglected in today’s fire safety design - children. The vast amounts of data as well as the empirical models applied describe adults. This paper embraces the fact that there is a difference between children and adults, regarding evacuation and that children´s movement parameters are age dependent. On the basis of 16 full scale evacuation experiments made in 10 Danish daycare centers the present paper gives input data applicable in fire safety design on flow through doors, walking speed in horizontal plane and spiral stairs. Parameters distinguish small children in the age of 0-2 years from older ones in the age 3-6 years. An empirical model of children´s flow through doors is introduced. It is found that there is a higher need of assistance during evacuation for children in the age of 0-2 years. At last some behavioral aspects noticed during the evacuations are discussed for further understanding on the topic.