PD 7974-6:2019 - Page 3

Application of fire safety engineering principles to the design of buildings. Human factors: Life safety strategies. Occupant evacuation, behaviour and condition (Sub-system 6) | Status: Confirmed, Current

1 Scope This Published Document is intended to provide guidance to designers, regulators and fire safety professionals on the engineering methods available for the evaluation of life safety aspects of a fire safety engineering design in relation to escape and tenability strategies. The objective of the fire safety engineering strategy is to ensure exposure to the effects of fire does not impede the safe escape of occupants or cause exposure to conditions leading to adverse health effects. Guidance is presented regarding the evaluation and management of occupant behaviour during a fire emergency and for the evaluation of occupant condition related to exposure to fire effluent and heat. This Published Document addresses the parameters that underlie the basic principles of designing for life safety and provides guidance on the processes, assessments and calculations necessary to determine the location and condition of the occupants of the building, with respect to time. This is achieved using the information presented on the evaluation, quantification and management of occupant behaviour, particularly escape behaviour, during a fire emergency. This Published Document also provides a framework for reviewing the suitability of an engineering method for assessing the life safety potential of a building for its occupants.