SIST ISO/TR 13387-8:2001

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 13387-8
First edition
1999-10-15
Fire safety engineering —
Part 8:
Life safety — Occupant behaviour, location
and condition
Ingénierie de la sécurité contre l'incendie —
Partie 8: Sécurité des personnes — Comportement des occupants,
emplacement et état physique
A
Reference number
ISO/TR 13387-8:1999(E)

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ISO/TR 13387-8:1999(E)
Contents
1 Scope .1
2 Normative references .1
3 Terms and definitions .2
4 Design subsystem 5 of the total fire safety design system .3
4.1 General.3
4.2 Information system.3
4.3 Function of subsystem 5 .4
5 Subsystem 5 (SS5) life safety: evaluations.6
5.1 General.6
5.2 Inputs required from the global information bus .6
5.3 Occupant location .9
5.4 Occupant condition .14
6 Engineering methods .20
6.1 General.20
6.2 Engineering methods for evaluating occupant location .20
6.3 Engineering methods for evaluation of occupant condition.25
(informative)
Annex A Building and occupant information .31
Annex B (informative) Firefighting and rescue facilities.34
Bibliography.35
©  ISO 1999
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Organization for Standardization
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Genève 20 • Switzerland
Internet iso@iso.ch
Printed in Switzerland
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ISO/TR 13387-8:1999(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO
member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The main task of ISO technical committees is to prepare International Standards, but in exceptional circumstances a
technical committee may propose the publication of a Technical Report of one of the following types:
 type 1, when the required support cannot be obtained for the publication of an International Standard, despite
repeated efforts;
 type 2, when the subject is still under technical development or where for any other reason there is the future
but not immediate possibility of an agreement on an International Standard;
 type 3, when a technical committee has collected data of a different kind from that which is normally published
as an International Standard (“state of the art“, for example).
Technical Reports of types 1 and 2 are subject to review within three years of publication, to decide whether they
can be transformed into International Standards. Technical Reports of type 3 do not necessarily have to be
reviewed until the data they provide are considered to be no longer valid or useful.
ISO/TR 13387-8, which is a Technical Report of type 2, was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 92, Fire
safety, Subcommittee SC 4, Fire safety engineering.
It is one of eight parts which outlines important aspects which need to be considered in making a fundamental
approach to the provision of fire safety in buildings. The approach ignores any constraints which may apply as a
consequence of regulations or codes; following the approach will not, therefore, necessarily mean compliance with
national regulations.
ISO/TR 13387 consists of the following parts, under the general title Fire safety engineering:
 Part 1: Application of fire performance concepts to design objectives
 Part 2: Design fire scenarios and design fires
 Part 3: Assessment and verification of mathematical fire models
 Part 4: Initiation and development of fire and generation of fire effluents
 Part 5: Movement of fire effluents
 Part 6: Structural response and fire spread beyond the enclosure of origin
 Part 7: Detection, activation and suppression
 Part 8: Life safety — Occupant behaviour, location and condition
Annexes A and B of this part of ISO 13387 are for information only.
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Introduction
This part of ISO 13387 provides guidance on engineering methods currently available for the evaluation of occupant
behaviour, particularly escape behaviour, during a fire emergency and for the evaluation of occupant condition,
particularly in relation to exposure to fire effluent and heat. These are reported as two major evaluation outputs:
occupant location and condition.
In order to achieve these evaluations, detailed input information is required in four main areas:
a) the building design and emergency life safety management strategy;
b) the occupant characteristics;
c) the fire simulation dynamics;
d) the intervention effects.
The response of occupants to a fire condition is influenced by a whole range of variables in these four categories,
related to the characterization of the occupants in terms of their number, distribution within the building at different
times, their familiarity with the building, their abilities, behaviours and other attributes; the characterization of the
building including its use, layout and services; the provision for warnings, means of escape and emergency
management strategy; the interaction of all these features with the developing fire scenario and provisions for
emergency intervention (fire brigade and rescue facilities). Key aspects on theses inputs are described in
annexes A and B.
This part of ISO 13387 is intended for use together with the other parts of ISO 13387. These latter provide the input
information for this part of ISO 13387 but take up the output from this document.
Clause 4 of this document outlines the information flow system for subsystem 5 (SS5), i.e. life safety, the life safety
engineering flow chart, and the interactions between this part and the other parts of ISO 13387.
Clause 5 describes the processes involved in the evaluation of parameters relating to location and condition of
building occupants exposed to a fire with respect to time. Occupant location and condition are outputs necessary for
the global information bus to enable a determination of whether the life safety objectives of the design have been
achieved. Life safety objectives and their evaluation is described in ISO/TR 13387-1.
Clause 6 is a discussion of the engineering methods available for the evaluations.
Further bibliography can be found in the other parts of ISO 13387.
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TECHNICAL REPORT  © ISO ISO/TR 13387-8:1999(E)
Fire safety engineering —
Part 8:
Life safety — Occupant behaviour, location and condition
1 Scope
Should a fire occur in which occupants are exposed to fire effluent and/or heat, the objective of the fire safety
engineering strategy is to ensure that such exposure does not significantly impede or prevent the safe escape (if
required) of essentially all occupants, without their experiencing or developing serious health effects.
This part of ISO 13387 is intended to provide guidance to designers, regulators and fire safety professionals on the
engineering methods available to evaluate the location and condition of the occupants of a building exposed to a
fire.
This part of ISO 13387 addresses the assumptions 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 part of ISO 13387 also provides a framework for reviewing the suitability of an engineering method for
assessing the life safety potential of a building for its occupants.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this part of ISO/TR 13387. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these
publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this part of ISO/TR 13387 are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For
undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC
maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO/TR 13387-1, Fire safety engineering — Part 1: Application of fire performance concepts to design objectives.
ISO/TR 13387-2, Fire safety engineering — Part 2: Design fire scenarios and design fires.
ISO/TR 13387-3, Fire safety engineering — Part 3: Assessment and verification of mathematical fire models.
ISO/TR 13387-4, Fire safety engineering — Part 4: Initiation and development of fire and generation of fire effluents.
ISO/TR 13387-5, Fire safety engineering — Part 5: Movement of fire effluents.
ISO/TR 13387-6, Fire safety engineering — Part 6: Structural response and fire spread beyond the enclosure of
origin.
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ISO/TR 13387-7, Fire safety engineering — Part 7: Detection, activation and suppression.
1)
ISO 13571:— , Fire hazard analysis — Life-threatening components of fire.
ISO 13943, Fire safety — Vocabulary.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this part of ISO 13387, the definitions given in ISO 13943, ISO/TR 13387-1 and the following
apply:
3.1
asphyxiant
toxicant causing hypoxia, resulting in central nervous system depression with loss of consciousness and ultimately
death
3.2
defend in place
life safety strategy in which occupants are encouraged to remain in their current location rather than to attempt
escape during a fire
3.3
evacuation process
process which enables occupants of a building to reach a place of safety (where appropriate), consisting of pre-
movement and movement processes
3.4
fractional effective concentration
FEC
ratio of the concentration of an irritant to that expected to produce a given effect on an exposed subject; when not
used with reference to a specific irritant, this term represents the summation of FECs for all irritants in a combustion
atmosphere
3.5
fractional effective dose
FED
ratio of the concentration of the asphyxiant toxicant to that concentration of the asphyxiant expected to produce a
given effect on an exposed subject; when not used with reference to a specific asphyxiant, this term represents the
summation of FEDs for all asphyxiants in a combustion atmosphere
3.6
incapacitation
state of physical inability to accomplish a specific task, for example safe escape from a fire
3.7
irritation,
,sensory or upper respiratory. the stimulation of nerve receptors in the eyes, nose, mouth throat and respiratory
tract, causing varying degrees of discomfort and pain along with the initiation of a range of physiological responses
(including reflex eye closure, tear production, coughing, bronchoconstriction)
3.8
movement processes
process which enables occupants of a building to reach a place of safety once they have begun to evacuate, where
appropriate

1)
To be published.
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3.9
pre-movement process
process occurring during which the occupants recognize and respond to the alarm or cue of fire, where appropriate,
before they begin to evacuate
NOTE This process can be divided into two components, “recognition” and “response” [see also defend in place (3.2) and
movement processes (3.8)].
3.10
recognition
process occurring during the period after an alarm or cue has been given but before occupants of a building begin
to respond
NOTE The recognition time ends when the occupants realize that there is a need to respond.
3.11
response
process occurring after occupants recognize the alarms or cues and begin to respond to them, but where
appropriate, before they begin to evacuate
3.12
impaired escape capability
effects on willingness and efficiency of escape actions, which may delay, slow or prevent evacuation
4 Design subsystem 5 of the total fire safety design system
4.1 General
An ideal fire safety design would ensure that building occupants are able to reach a place of safety without ever
coming into contact with or even being aware of fire effluent and/or heat. This should be the main design criterion
for the safety of the majority of occupants in multi-compartment buildings. However, there will inevitably be some
potential scenarios when some occupants will become aware of or be exposed to fire effluent, particularly when the
occupants are in the enclosure of fire origin. This may vary between slight smoke contamination, common in many
accidental fires, to life threatening exposures such as in major fire disasters. For all of these types of scenarios, it is
important to be able to assess the likely effects of such exposures, either as part of the main design or as part of a
risk assessment.
In most systems of fire safety regulation measures are taken to ensure the life safety of the occupants by prevention
of ignition, prevention of fire spread, provision of facilities and access for fire brigades, provision of detection and
warning systems and adequate means of escape. These are often applied through prescriptive means covered by
documents and codes relating to national legislative requirements.
The fire safety engineering approach adopted in the work of ISO/TC 92/SC 4 considers a performance-based
approach to achieve a global objective of fire safe design. The global design, described in more detail in the
framework document, ISO/TR 13387-1, is subdivided into a series of subsystems. One principle is that inter-
relationships and inter-dependencies of the various subsystems are appreciated, and that the consequence of all
the considerations taking place in any one subsystem are identified and realized. Another principle is that the
evaluation is time based to reflect the fact that real fires vary in growth rate and spread with time. Despite this
performance based approach it has to be recognized that some prescriptive parameters may need to be observed
in any assessment of the life safety provisions within a building.
4.2 Information system
In the framework document the total fire safety design is illustrated by a global information bus which has three
layers: global information, subsystem evaluations and subsystem processes. The information system for this
subsystem is illustrated in Figure 1.
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4.3 Function of subsystem 5
The function of subsystem 5 is to determine the location and condition of the occupants with respect to time. The
analysis necessary is illustrated in the flow chart, Figure 2.
The upper part of the flow chart shows the input data from the relevant sections of the global information system
and the framework document ISO/TR 13387-1.
The next part identifies the processes necessary for the evaluations.
The next part shows the evaluation of occupant condition and location, which are output to the global information
system at the bottom for further processing.
ISO TC 92/SC 4 FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING BUS SYSTEM
Subsystem 5 (SS5) — Life safety — Occupant behaviour, location and condition
Figure 1 — Illustration of the global information, evaluation and process buses for SS5
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Figure 2 — Life safety engineering flow chart
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5 Subsystem 5 (SS5) life safety: evaluations
5.1 General
The purpose of any life safety strategy is to ensure that, in the event of a fire the occupants will be able to leave the
building, evacuate to a designated space within a building, or remain in situ (as appropriate), without being exposed
to untenable conditions. An ideal fire safety design would ensure that building occupants are able to reach a place
of safety without ever coming into contact with or even being aware of fire effluent and/or heat. This should be the
main design criterion for multi-compartment buildings. However, there will inevitably be some potential scenarios
when some occupants will become aware of or be exposed to fire effluent, particularly when the occupants are in
the enclosure of fire origin. This may vary between slight smoke contamination, common in many accidental fires, to
life threatening exposures such as in major fire disasters. For all of these types of scenarios, it is important to be
able to assess the likely effects of such exposures, either as part of the main design or as part of a risk assessment.
A single acceptable criterion of no permitted exposure could impose serious constraints on the design. This part of
ISO 13387 allows for a more flexible approach to fire safety engineering by providing a basis for estimating levels of
exposure that would not be expected to seriously impair escape or impair health.
Whilst the processes for determining the occupant location and the occupant condition can be dealt with as discreet
issues, there is in reality significant interaction between them. Guidance is given in this clause on the processes
involved and on these potential interactions. The life safety strategy developed for a building is an integral element
of the design philosophy detailed in the framework document ISO/TR 13387-1.
The strategy may require evacuation of the occupants, by either simultaneous or phased procedures, evacuation to
a place of safety within a building or that occupants remain in a place of safety. The strategy should not normally
rely on direct assistance to the occupants, except for special cases such as evacuation of people with disabilities.
In order to determine the adequacy of fire engineering design of buildings in terms of life safety, it is necessary to
evaluate over time, the impact of the design fire scenario on the occupants in terms of their:
a) location;
b) condition.
The location of occupants within a building, at any one time, and the way occupant location changes with time
during normal use and emergency situations depends upon the interaction of a variety of parameters related to the
characteristics of the building and the occupants, the fire safety management system adopted and the developing
fire scenario. The condition of the occupants depends upon their psychological and physiological state before the
fire and the subsequent effects of the developing emergency including any exposure to fire effluent and heat.
As a result of the very large number of variables involved, difficulties in their identification and quantification and
difficulties in predicting interactions between them, not even the most complex and sophisticated behavioural and
physiological model can hope to provide a full representation of all the possible processes and outcomes of any
scenario. Some methods are designed to address only one or a few of these processes, while others claim to
provide a more global approach. It is therefore important when evaluating any particular building design to take
account of all the parameters which may affect the life safety of occupants and chose appropriate evaluation
methodology. The different methods available are reviewed in clause 6. It is essential that a design review is first
undertaken before the application of any of the engineering methods discussed. The following subclauses introduce
the various inputs and parameters to be considered and discuss aspects that are essential to the evaluation
process.
5.2 Inputs required from the global information bus
As shown in Figure 2 there are essentially four categories of information required to determine the condition and
location of occupants:
a) the building characteristics and fire safety management strategy;
b) the occupant characteristics;
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c) the fire simulation dynamics;
d) intervention effects.
5.2.1 The building characteristics and fire safety management strategy
The first major input to the life safety evaluation processes comprises details of the building characteristics, its
management in relation to fire safety and the emergency life safety strategy. These comprise the basic building
dimensions, internal arrangement and services relevant to fire safety, as follows:
 layout and geometry (including size, building height, ceiling height, layout, complexity, compartment,
subdivision into internal spaces, interconnection of spaces; travel distances; door and stair corridor widths,
normal circulation routes, opening/closing forces of fire doors; door furniture);
 escape routes [including: visual access, complexity, protection (passive/active), lengths, horizontal, vertical
(escape upwards or downwards), accessibility (for example by break-glass and key only, by crash bar), use
during normal flows in building, final exits (number distribution related to characterization data), etc.];
 building use [including general building/occupancy type (for example office, department store, theatre, etc.),
layout and functions/uses in particular locations within the building which may impact on likely behavioural
responses and escape route usage (some functions may tend to provide easy access and escape while others
may not)];
 fire safety management system (including management of the building; management and maintenance of
essential equipment; management of staff and occupants of the building; fire prevention management;
management flexibility; training of staff and occupants, security and fire surveillance, emergency procedures);
 life safety strategy (including life safety design philosophy, evacuation strategies; passive/active fire control
systems, fire detection, alarm and communication systems, facilities for fire brigade, emergency lighting,
wayfinding system, fire safety management);
 application of active systems (including sprinkler/spray systems, sprinklers for life safety, gas suppression
systems, smoke management or extraction and ventilation systems);
 signs and lighting (including emergency lighting);
 refuge areas (form, degrees of protection and tolerability, communication systems and connection to escape
routes, staging areas, access for assisted escape or rescue);
 environmental considerations (for example wind and internal air pressurization on door opening force,
evacuations in wet, hot or cold conditions, dress requirements, effect of snow on exits).
Guidance on these parameters is given in A.1.
5.2.2 The occupant characteristics
The second major input to the life safety evaluation process is the occupant characteristics. The main
considerations are the likely nature and timing of occupant response to cues or alarms and likely subsequent
pattern and timing of occupant movements, particularly in carrying out an evacuation if required. Also important is
the likely susceptibility of the occupants to sight of or exposure to fire effluent or heat.
Occupant characteristics to be considered include:
a) population numbers and density: expected numbers in each occupied space including seasonal variations;
b) familiarity with the building: depends on factors such as occupancy type, frequency of visits and participation in
emergency evacuations;
c) distribution and activities;
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d) alertness: depends on factors such as activities, time of day, sleeping or awake;
e) mobility: depends on factors such as age and any disabilities;
f) physical and mental ability;
g) social affiliation: extent to which occupants present as individuals or in groups such as family groups, groups of
friends, etc.;
h) role and responsibility: includes categories such as member of the public, manager, floor warden, etc.;
i) location: location in building relative to escape routes, etc.;
j) commitment: extent of commitment to activities engaged in before the fire;
k) focal point: point where occupant attention is directed, such as the stage in a theatre or a counter in a shop;
l) responsiveness: extent to which occupant is likely to respond to alarms, etc.;
m) occupant condition: as determined by the analysis of occupant condition.
Guidance on these parameters is given in A.2.
5.2.3 The fire simulation dynamics
The third major input to the life safety evaluation process is the fire simulation dynamics. The object of the life safety
design is to protect occupants from exposure to fire effluents or heat (or physical trauma from structural failure).
This is achieved by a combination of the provision of adequate means of escape and protection of occupied spaces.
In order to evaluate life safety during a fire it is necessary to obtain continuous information on the extent of the fire
and fire effluent and their effect on the building.
The following specific factors need to be considered:
a) Fire alarms and cues available to occupants.
When the fire originates in an occupied enclosure it is necessary to determine the visibility of the flames and
smoke, so that an estimate can be made of the time when occupants would become aware of the situation, and
how they would respond to it. For both occupied and unoccupied fire enclosures it is necessary to know when
an automatic alarm system would be triggered, and when information on fire spread would be available from
analogue addressable systems. The main requirement is to be able to determine what information is available
to building occupants throughout the fire incident.
b) Fire size and extent, smoke density, toxic gas concentrations, temperature and heat flux in all building
enclosures, activation of suppression and smoke control systems.
For all enclosures in the building it is necessary to know the size of the fire, the extent to which it is contained
or has spread through adjacent enclosures, any structural failures and the temperature and heat fluxes in
affected enclosures. It is also necessary to known the optical density and concentrations of irritant gases in the
smoke, and the concentrations of asphyxiant gases present. For occupied enclosures this information is
required to assess the tenability of the enclosure to occupants, and the extent to which their escape out of each
enclosure is affected. For unoccupied enclosures the information is required particularly if they form part of
potential escape routes or refuges. Where the fire effluent is in well defined layers, the height of the hot layer
and downward radiant flux need to be reported.
5.2.4 Intervention effects
Circumstances may arise in a building where the intervention of the fire brigade is necessary to secure the safety of
the occupants. To assist the fire brigade in the execution of intervention strategies, it is necessary to include
appropriate facilities in the design of the building. Further guidance in given in annex B.
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5.3 Occupant location
At the moment the fire starts, the building will contain a
...