A Review of Building Evacuation Models - NIST Virtual Library

occupant type/characteristics then correspond to a particular body size (or distribution of body
sizes) and unimpeded walking speed, which is used in the velocity equation A.10. The velocities
shown in Table A.4 are frequently followed by a ± value. This indicates that a range of
velocities are distributed to that specific occupant type. For instance, for an “all male” group,
velocities can range from 1.15 to 1.55 m/s. The chart of occupant characteristics is shown in
Table A.5.
Table A.4: Corresponding body sizes and initial velocity for various occupant types in Simulex
% % % % % Body Size
Median Male Female Child Elderly (m 2 )
Occupant
Characteristic /
Population
Initial
Velocity
m/s
All Elderly 0 0 0 0 100 0.113 0.8
± 0.3
All Male 0 100 0 0 0 0.130 1.35
± 0.2
All Female 0 0 100 0 0 0.101 1.15
± 0.2
All Children 0 0 0 100 0 0.070 0.9
± 0.3
All 1.0 m/s 100 0 0 0 0 0.118 1.0
All 1.2 m/s 100 0 0 0 0 0.130 1.2
All 1.3 m/s 100 0 0 0 0 0.118 1.3
All 1.4 m/s 100 0 0 0 0 0.118 1.4
Office Staff 0 60 40 0 0 Multiple Range
Commuters 0 50 40 10 0 Multiple Range
Shoppers 0 35 40 15 10 Multiple Range
School
Population
0 3 7 90 0 Multiple Range
The body sizes, shown in Table A.5 and labeled in Figure A.13, are calculated using an elliptical
body size and the equation for the area of an ellipse. The length of the ellipse (the torso diameter
added to 2 shoulder radii) is multiplied time the width of the ellipse (the torso diameter) which is
then multiplied by π/4. This gives the specified body size in m 2 . The table below also reiterates
that each body type is assigned an unimpeded walking speed, and some of these vary during
distribution among the group. For instance, the adult male body type has an unimpeded velocity
of 1.35 m/s which can vary by ±0.2 m/s when distributed among the population group.
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