Simulation of the Rhode Island nightclub fire using buildingEXODUS V4.0 and SMARTFIRE V4.1

buildingEXODUS V4.0 simulation of the Rhode Island nightclub fire. The fire conditions are predicted using SMARTFIRE V4.1. The simulation predicts evacuation through available doors and windows. A number of people perish in this simulation due to the rapidly developing fire. The colour coding of the people indicates the response time band for the occupants. The people coloured red reacted most rapidly, they are on the dance floor. The colour of the floor is an indication of the smoke concentration at head height. The darker the colour, the thicker the smoke at head height. Finally, the body markings on the floor represents where we predict a fatality occured - The animation was generated in 2008

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• evacuation simulation
• fire simulation

[PimpingRice]

This is so confusing 

[FSEGresearch]

@PimpingRice Most mass evacuations are confusing. What do you find confusing about the video?

[PimpingRice]

@FSEGresearch Agree, but it is not the evacuations fault. Whereas it is the designer who is either clear or unclear. You failed to provide color white and yellow and what exit is which in comparison to the video.

[FSEGresearch]

@PimpingRice The design of the night club was compliant with regulations. But I believe that too many people were in the nightclub. This is one of the reasons that so many people died. In addition, the exits were not well positioned (one exit in the kitchen for example). Also, most people were only familar with the main exit as this is the only exit that would normally be used. This exit was quite narrrow (for the number of people who would use it) and had restricted access due to security.

[000Winter000]

I don`t see the stage..

[FSEGresearch]

@000Winter000 The stage is to the right of the dance floor in the alcove. It is the first floor area covered in black tiles indicating the teh presence fo smoke at head height.

[FSEGresearch]

@resdsox1 By trying to reproduce actual events we can identify potential problems with our models and improve them. By improving our models, they become better design tools enabling engineers to design safer structures and hopefully preventing similar disasters from happening in the future. Real world incidents, provide us with important insight into real human behaviours that we cannot ever hope to reproduce in an experiment. So some good can come out of these tragedies.

[FSEGresearch]

@AgentMrX7 Yes, this is a difficulty in many night clubs. By their very nature they are dark places, with dim lighting. In many cases the signage is poor - detracts from the ambience in the eyes of the operators - and the exits are usually poorly lit. In some cases the emergency exits may even be locked due to "security" issues. Whenever you go to such public venues, you should always scope out the place and make sure you know where the emergency exits are, and that they work!

[FSEGresearch]

@SteveWard3928 No problems with the questions, we are happy to answer any questions. Exits be they windows or doors are coloured organge if they are not being used and they change colour to green when they are in operation. The windows take some time before they go from organge to green. Pool tables are in the room to the right of the main exit, The bar is to the left of the main entrance.

[FSEGresearch]

@SteveWard3928 The colours of the people represent different ranges of response times - this is the time between the occupants being alerted and the time that they start to evacuate. The yellow people have quite long response times as they are not in contact with the developing fire hazards

[SteveWard3928]

Who are the people in yellow?

[SteveWard3928]

OK so the green boxes are windows, orangish boxes are doors?? The band stage is on the far wall from the 2 orange boxes that are side by side (Main entrance?)? Are the pool tables to the right of main entrance? Are those offices to the left of main entrance? Sorry for the questions as we do not live in Rhode Island. S&S

[FSEGresearch]

@TheWaynelds Yes.