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An experiment on ascending evacuation on a long, stationary escalator

Arias, Silvia LU ; Ronchi, Enrico LU orcid ; Johan, Norén ; Delin, Mattias ; Kuklane, Kalev LU ; Halder, Amitava LU orcid and Fridolf, Karl (2016) Interflam’16, 14th International Conference and Exhibition on Fire Science and Engineering, London, UK, 4- 6th July 2016
Abstract
Ascending evacuation is becoming more relevant with underground stations reaching increasing depths. Therefore there is need for better understanding of the effects of physical exertion during evacuation. An experiment was conducted in a 61 m long, stationary escalator in Stockholm (Sweden) in order to obtain data on walking speeds, resting and behavior, which consisted on measuring the walking speed and gathering data about the perceived exertion of test participants walking up the escalator. The walking speeds of 29 single individuals and a group of 21 individuals were obtained. The results showed that people decrease their walking speed with the height, and some of them need to take breaks along the climb. No clear influence of... (More)
Ascending evacuation is becoming more relevant with underground stations reaching increasing depths. Therefore there is need for better understanding of the effects of physical exertion during evacuation. An experiment was conducted in a 61 m long, stationary escalator in Stockholm (Sweden) in order to obtain data on walking speeds, resting and behavior, which consisted on measuring the walking speed and gathering data about the perceived exertion of test participants walking up the escalator. The walking speeds of 29 single individuals and a group of 21 individuals were obtained. The results showed that people decrease their walking speed with the height, and some of them need to take breaks along the climb. No clear influence of background participants’ variables was found on the results. In the group experiment, the slower people had an impact on the walking speed of others due to the reduced space between them at the beginning of the climb. However, the slower participants gradually move to the right hand of the escalator to allow overtaking on the left hand side, and the faster ones could move at their preferred speed. This behavior is similar that observed during regular use of escalators. (Less)
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Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Interflam 2016
conference name
Interflam’16, 14th International Conference and Exhibition on Fire Science and Engineering, London, UK, 4- 6th July 2016
conference location
London, United Kingdom
conference dates
2016-07-04 - 2016-07-06
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
64f7bbe7-0b67-4a08-934d-4db651882793
date added to LUP
2016-11-21 11:47:15
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:10:30
@inproceedings{64f7bbe7-0b67-4a08-934d-4db651882793,
  abstract     = {{Ascending evacuation is becoming more relevant with underground stations reaching increasing depths. Therefore there is need for better understanding of the effects of physical exertion during evacuation. An experiment was conducted in a 61 m long, stationary escalator in Stockholm (Sweden) in order to obtain data on walking speeds, resting and behavior, which consisted on measuring the walking speed and gathering data about the perceived exertion of test participants walking up the escalator. The walking speeds of 29 single individuals and a group of 21 individuals were obtained. The results showed that people decrease their walking speed with the height, and some of them need to take breaks along the climb. No clear influence of background participants’ variables was found on the results. In the group experiment, the slower people had an impact on the walking speed of others due to the reduced space between them at the beginning of the climb. However, the slower participants gradually move to the right hand of the escalator to allow overtaking on the left hand side, and the faster ones could move at their preferred speed. This behavior is similar that observed during regular use of escalators.}},
  author       = {{Arias, Silvia and Ronchi, Enrico and Johan, Norén and Delin, Mattias and Kuklane, Kalev and Halder, Amitava and Fridolf, Karl}},
  booktitle    = {{Interflam 2016}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{An experiment on ascending evacuation on a long, stationary escalator}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}