Simulation of Emergency Evacuation from Construction Site of Prefabricated Buildings

Abstract

To ensure the safe construction of prefabricated buildings and improve the efficiency of the safe evacuation of construction personnel after a fire caused by improper operation during construction, this study used the PyroSim software to numerically simulate a fire situation based on the size and volume of a prefabricated building construction site. The variation rules of smoke visibility, CO concentration, and ambient temperature in the construction site of prefabricated buildings were analyzed and the available safe evacuation time was determined. Moreover, the Pathfinder software was used for simulation in combination with the physical attributes of personnel, evacuation speed, and personnel proportions. The time required for safe evacuation was determined and the factors influencing the evacuation time, such as the quantity and location of stacked prefabricated components, machinery, and appliances, and the number of on-site construction personnel, were analyzed. The results reveal that the original layout of the prefabricated building construction site cannot facilitate the safe evacuation of all construction personnel. The bottleneck area for the evacuation of construction personnel is the indoor corridor and evacuation stairway. The quantity and location of stacked items at the construction site greatly influence the evacuation time. When the number of construction personnel on each floor reaches a certain value, restrictions should be imposed. The results obtained by this study can provide the theoretical basis for the rational planning of evacuation routes and construction site management.