Aim
The aim is that students should be able to understand and apply theories of human behaviour in fire, both fire setting and evacuation behaviour, after completion of the course. Student should furthermore recognize the importance of cultural and demographic factors for evacuation. The aim of the course is also that students are able to understand different egress modelling approaches and their limitations. In addition, students should understand and be able to apply relevant guidelines and regulations.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to explain the various factors (psychological and environmental) that influence fire setting behaviour

• be able to explain RSET-models (simple stimuli-response models) that are commonly user in guidelines and regulations

• be able to describe different theories of human behaviour in fire (e.g. role-rule model, affiliation, affordances and help in emergencies)

• be able to state typical walking speeds for evacuation and explain how movement of people is influenced by demographic factors (e.g. age and mobility)

• be able to explain social influence and give examples of situations when social influence will be particularly important

• be able to explain the basic assumptions behind egress models (network, grid and continuous models)

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

• apply RSET-models (simple stimuli-response models) to estimate the required safe escape time

• analyse a fire accident and relate the behaviour of occupants to theories of human behaviour in fire

• analyse exit design based on the theory of affordances

• apply egress models to simulate movement of people during evacuation

• analyse results from simulations with egress models and relate the results to the assumptions of the model

• select appropriate occupant behaviour scenarios for fire safety engineering design

• communicate theories of human behaviour in fire to laymen and experts

• communicate results from simulations with egress models to laymen and experts (oral, written and graphic representation)

• independently seek information (articles, reports, manuals, etc) about human behaviour in fire

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• adequately consider relevant scientific and ethical aspects of experiments with human participants (evacuation experiments)

• adequately consider relevant ethical aspects relating to analysis of evacuation with egress models

Contents
The course provides students with insight into theories of human behaviour in fires, both fire setting and evacuation behaviour, and computer modelling of evacuation. During the first part of the course focus is placed on lectures and laboratory exercises. During the second part of the course the students focus on their group assignment, which is presented to fellow students and teachers at the final seminar. An exam will be held at the end of the course.

Literature
Canter, D, Breaux, J, & Sime, J: Domestic, Multiple Occupancy, and Hospital Fires. In D. Canter (Ed.), Fire and Human Behaviour (pp. 117-136): John Whiley & Sons, Ltd. 1980.
Hartson, H R: Cognitive, physical, sensory, and functional affordances in interaction design. Behaviour & Information Technology, 22(5), 315-338, 2003.
Helbing, D, & Molnár, P: Social force model for pedestrian dynamics. Physical Review E, 51(5), 4282-4286, 1995.
Sime, J: Movement Towards the Familiar - Person and Place Affiliation in a Fire Entrapment Setting. Environment and Behaviour, 17(6), 697-724, 1985.
In additon scientific papers within the area "Human behaviour in fire" are included.