Course syllabus
Människors beteende vid brand
Human Behaviour in Fire
VBRN10, 8 credits, A (Second Cycle)
Valid for: 2012/13
Decided by: Education Board 2
Date of Decision: 2012-03-16
General Information
Main field: Fire Safety Technology.
Compulsory for: MFST1
Elective for: BI3, RH4
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English
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.
Learning outcomes
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)
Competences and skills
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.
Examination details
Grading scale: TH
Assessment: The final certificate is based on a written examination, reports/presentations, and laboratory exercise reports.
Admission
The number of participants is limited to: 35
Selection: Credits awarded or credited within the study programme.
Reading list
- 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.
Contact and other information
Course coordinator: Universitetslektor Daniel Nilsson, daniel.nilsson@brand.lth.se
Further information: Group assignments require active participation. Each group member must individually be able to account for the content of the assignment. If a group member does not fulfill the demands of the group or ignores hers/his commitment, she/he can be reassigned to another group or get a fail result.