Fire Safety Models for High-Rise Residential Buildings in Malaysia

Fire Safety Models for High-Rise Residential Buildings in Malaysia By Yahya Mohamad Yatim Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Heriot-Watt University School of the built Environment June 2009 This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognize that the copyright rests with its author and that no quotation from the thesis and no information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the author or the University (as may be appropriate) i ABSTRACT This research investigated the effects of escape route design and specification, and time taken on evacuation process in high-rise residential buildings in Malaysia. The aim is to produce a fire safety model on how fire safety standards in high-rise residential buildings can be achieved by investigating the relationship between human behaviour and structural design, particularly escape route design and specification. In Malaysia, research on fire safety is very new, particularly research on provision of fire safety in high-rise residential buildings. The number of fire cases involved residential buildings is significantly high compared to other building types. Thus, escape routes in high-rise residential buildings should be designed and constructed to enable the occupants to evacuate the building as soon as fire has been detected. Mixed methodologies i.e. quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted in this research. There are three research methods adopted i.e. observation, simulation and questionnaire. Observations were carried out to identify any problems encountered and to develop the study models for further analysis. Investigations of the effects of escape route design and specification on evacuation process were carried out using specialist software, i.e. Simulex, which simulates the evacuation of people from the building. The aim is to study escape route specifications i.e. staircase, fire door and corridor. Questionnaire surveys were than carried out to investigate the occupant’s characteristics, behaviours, perceptions and motivation factors to evacuate the building. From this research, fire safety models proposed for high-rise residential buildings as follows, (1) Fire safety model to achieve fire safety standard in high-rise residential buildings, (2) Escape route designs and specifications, and, (3) Human behaviour model. There are five fire safety components that need to be enhanced i.e. (1) Fire Safety Awareness, (2) Fire Safety Design, (3) Fire Safety Equipments and Evacuation Skill, (4) Fire Safety Audit, and (5) Fire Safety Enforcement. Besides, there are four factors which highly influence the evacuation process, fire and casualty risk i.e.: (1) People behaviour – knowledge and experience, (2) building element and escape routes design, (3) active fire protection system, and (4) legislation and enforcement. ii For my parents, beloved wife and children (Nur Adlina, Nur Alya, and Muhammad Adam) iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my special sincere thanks and gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Douglas J. Harris, for his guidance, advice, support, encouragement, and help to make this thesis become reality. I wish to thank the University Technology Malaysia and the Government of Malaysia i.e. Ministry of High Education for awarded me scholarship to enable me to carry out this research. I wish to thank Tuan Abdul Jalil, Deputy Commissioner Bomba, Penang and Mr. Mohd Harriri Mohd Noor for assisted me on questionnaire survey, all residents of five high-rise residential buildings in Kuala Lumpur for participating in questionnaire surveys. My many thanks go to the staff at school of the Built Environment, Heriot-watt University, i.e. staff at IT unit, resource centre, and academic office for providing assistance and technical support during my research period. My special thanks to my parents, wife and children for their understanding, support, and patient throughout the years of my study. iv ACADEMIC REGISTRY Research Thesis Submission Name Fire Safety Models for High-Rise Residential Buildings in Malaysia School/PGI: The Built Environment Version: (i.e. First, FINAL Degree Sought: Ph.D. Resubmission, Final) Declaration In accordance with the appropriate regulations, I hereby submit my thesis and I declare that: 1) the thesis embodies the results of my own work and has been composed by myself 2) where appropriate, I have made acknowledgement of work of others and have made reference to work carried out in collaboration with other persons 3) the thesis is the correct version of the thesis for submission* 4) my thesis for the award referred to, deposited in Heriot-Watt University Library, should be made available for loan or photocopying, subject to such conditions as the Librarian may require 5) I understand that as a student of the University I am required to abide by the Regulations of the University and to conform to its discipline. * Please note that it is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that the correct version of the thesis is submitted. Signature of Date: Candidate : 14 JUNE 2009 Submission Submitted By (Name in Capitals): Signature of Individual Submitting: Date Submitted For Completion in Academic Registry Received in the Academic Registry by (name in capitals): Method of Submission (Handed in to Academic Registry; posted through internal/external mail): Signature: Date: v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ii Dedication iii Acknowledgement iv Declaration Statement v Table of Contents vi List of Tables xii List of Figures xiv Glossary of Symbols xxii Published Papers xxiii Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Fire safety issues in Malaysia and United Kingdom 1 1.3 fire safety model analysis 5 1.4 Rationale for research and development of fire safety model 8 1.5 Research questions 10 1.6 Research objectives 11 1.7 Research scopes and limitations 11 1.8 Thesis organisation structure 11 Chapter 2: Literature Review 14 2.1 Introduction 14 2.2 Definition of high-rise building 14 2.3 Population and housing in Malaysia 15 2.4 The science of fire and fire spreading in building 16 2.4.1 Definition found in various references 17 2.4.2 Classes of fire 21 2.4.3 Understanding the basic of chemical and physical nature of fire 22 2.4.4 The stages of fire 24 2.4.5 Fire spreading in building 25 2.5 Regulatory framework and escape routes provision in the UBBL in Malaysia. 27 2.5.1 Regulatory framework in Malaysia 27 vi 2.5.2 Managing residential buildings 28 2.5.3 Escape routes specification as in UBBL ‘84’ 29 2.5.4 Escape routes specification as in Building Regulation 2006 (UK) 38 2.6 Building evacuation simulation package 47 2.7 Fire safety in building background study 49 2.7.1 Defining fire safety 49 2.7.2 Assessing the adequacy of escape routes 50 2.7.3 Research on evacuation from the building 52 2.8 Fire safety management background 54 2.8.1 Fire safety design framework 55 2.8.2 Fire safety risk analysis 55 2.8.3 Fire safety risk assessment in building 59 2.9 Human behaviour study 65 2.10 Chapter conclusion 68 Chapter 3: Research Methodology 69 3.1 Introduction 69 3.2 Research methodology overview 69 3.3 Research outline and process 73 3.4 Research steps 73 3.4.1 Pilot study 74 3.4.2 Building observation and analysis of problem encountered 76 3.4.3 Computer simulation and analysis of design parameters 77 3.4.3.1 Overview of SIMULEX applications 77 3.4.3.2 Example of SIMULEX application 80 3.4.4 Questionnaires and analysis of variances 84 3.4.5 Models development 85 3.5 Chapter conclusion 85 Chapter 4: Observation of Escape Routes in High-Rise Residential Buildings and Development of the Study Models 86 4.1 Introduction 86 4.2 High-rise residential buildings studied in Kuala Lumpur 86 vii 4.2.1 Building A 86 4.2.2 Building B 87 4.2.3 Building C 89 4.2.4 Building D 90 4.2.5 Building E 92 4.3 Observation of high-rise residential buildings in Penang 93 4.4 Analysis of the escape route design and specification 107 4.5 Analysis of staircases in the buildings observed 107 4.5.1 Staircase steps analysis 108 4.5.2 Staircase treads dimension analysis 109 4.5.3 Step Risers analysis 111 4.5.4 Travel distance on escape stairs 113 4.6 Models of building evacuation scenario 117 4.6.1 Evacuation Models 119 4.6.2 Parameters considered in analysis 121 4.6.3 Model determination 124 4.7 Model design environment 129 4.8 Chapter conclusion 129 Chapter 5: An Evaluation of the Condition of Escape Routes in High- Rise Residential Buildings in Malaysia 130 5.1 Introduction 130 5.2 Brief methodology used in research and analysis 130 5.3 Categorisation of issues encountered 131 5.4 Some important issues in evacuation process 133 5.5 Problems encountered in high-rise residential buildings 134 5.5.1 Structural design and construction 134 5.5.2 Facilities for fire safety in building 145 5.5.3 Maintenance 153 5.5.4 Attitude of people 159 5.5.5 Management 169 5.6 Chapter conclusion 170 viii Chapter 6: Human Behaviour Response Issues in High-Rise Residential Buildings in Malaysia 174 6.1 Introduction 174 6.2 Brief research methodology 175 6.2.1 Data analysis 175 6.2.2 Frequency analysis 176 6.2.3 Normalising of data 177 6.2.4 Variables priority and weightage 178 6.2.5 Analysis of means 178 6.3 Building studied 178 6.4 Respondents’ Background 179 6.4.1 Gender 180 6.4.2 Age groups 180 6.4.3 Knowledge and experiences 180 6.4.4 Education background 181 6.5 Questionnaire survey results 182 6.5.1 What would occupants of high-rise residential buildings normally do when they hear fire alarms or see

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