A Study on Improving Safety Performance through Efficient Prioritization for Fire and Evacuation Safety in Commercial Buildings

In recent years, many nations around the world, including the Republic of Korea, have shown keen interest in the regeneration of cities as a viable solution to a host of environmental issues the world is facing today. As such, development of various regeneration methods is being undertaken. One integral part of the said initiatives is the recycling of existing buildings that are aging, though the focus is being placed on improving the internal and external aesthetics and structural performance rather than on enhancing fire safety performance of buildings. Reflecting such trends, relatively fewer studies have been conducted to address the ways to improve the safety performance during disasters such as fire which lead to fatality and massive property losses. Given the rationale, this study proposed a building owner/manager-friendly comprehensive and effective way to improve the safety performance of aging commercial buildings during fire/evacuation incidents so as to address the particular susceptibility exhibited by such buildings during disasters that result in large casualties and property damages. Statistical techniques were used to establish the buildings’ properties relating to fire and evacuation. Also AHP analysis was performed to calculate property-specific weightings. In consideration of the calculated weightings and condition of buildings, the study proposed a logic and decision-making tool for the owner/manager such that a comprehensive improvement can be made about the fire/evacuation performance.