On the challenges of evacuation and rescue operations in high-rise buildings

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the challenges faced by occupants and fire fighters during evacuation and rescue operations in high-rise buildings. Design/methodology/approach: The paper has analysed the published literature for the purpose of identifying and examining the factors that make high-rise buildings a high-risk type of facility to fire and the common avenues of fire spread in high-rise buildings. The paper then investigates a number of evacuation strategies in high-rise buildings and the set of human factors affecting high-rise evacuations. It also discusses the challenges that building occupants and fire departments face during a fire emergency. Findings: The paper has established that high-rise buildings are a high-risk type of facility in fire emergencies due to a combination of three risk factors. The characteristics of the occupants to consider when designing the means of escape were identified, and the challenges faced by fire fighters during rescue operation in high-rise fires were classified under five main categories. Originality/value: The paper provides for an exchange of knowledge, thus facilitating a better comprehension of the roles of designers, building services engineers, facility managers and professionals in safety in the provision and maintenance of safety systems in high-rise buildings.