Academic research into evacuation strategies in high-rise buildings

At BB7’s Innovation Lab, we are passionate about exploring the complex challenges in fire engineering through academic collaboration. One recent example of this is our partnership with the University of Leeds where our team supported research into evacuation processes and strategies in high-rise buildings.

This project was led by Millie Newman, a third-year bachelor’s student, and supervised by Professor Nikolaos Nikitas. On the BB7 side, Lefteris Koutsoloukas provided guidance to ensure the research was practical and insightful. Millie’s dissertation looked at the impact of special attributes (occupant needs and building characteristics) on evacuation strategies and how people respond in emergency situations.

The research used advanced simulation techniques to model evacuation scenarios, taking into account factors such as lift usage, queuing and occupants requiring assistance. The model assumed most occupants started at the same time but showed how realistic variations (e.g. delayed responses from disabled occupants) could be included in future versions. This is a reflection of the growing importance of performance-based design in high-rise safety planning.

During the presentation Millie presented her findings and explained the assumptions behind her model. Our colleagues asked questions on inclusivity, accessibility and evacuation logistics, including wheelchair usage and lift capacity. The session showed how detailed modelling can reveal subtle insights into occupant behaviour in emergency situations.

This research not only advances our understanding of high-rise evacuation but also strengthens the link between academic study and practical engineering application. Millie’s work is a great example of the innovative thinking we encourage at BB7 and the value of developing talent in fire engineering.

We’re proud to support talented students like Millie and look forward to working with the University of Leeds on future research projects to make buildings safer for everyone.