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Comparing NFPA 130
Comparing NFPA 130
Comparing NFPA 130
In this post, we simulate evacuation of a center-platform station using Pathfinder and compare the results with NFPA 130 and SFPE
calculations. The NFPA 130 Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems (2014) covers life safety and fire protection
requirements for passenger rail systems. NFPA 130 evacuation requirements are similar, but not identical, to those described in
the SFPE Engineering Guide: Human Behavior in Fire (2003) and the SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, Chapters 56-63
(2016). NFPA 130 is a standard that defines requirements, while SFPE is a handbook providing guidelines.
To compare evacuation results, we will use the center-platform station example described in NFPA 130 Annex C. The center-platform
station is an elevated station with the platform above the concourse. The concourse is at grade. The platform is 183 m (600 ft) long to
accommodate the train length. The platform is elevated 9.1 m (30 ft) above the concourse. Six open wells communicate between the
platform and the concourse. Each well contains one stair or one escalator. Details of the stairs and escalators are shown in Figure 1. The
station occupant load is 2314 persons.
Figure 1: NFPA 130 Center Platform Station.
The corresponding Pathfinder model is shown in Figure 2. The platform was assumed to be 9.75 m (32 ft) wide. The stairs were assumed
to have a rise and run of 178 x 280 mm (7 x 11 in.). Fare gates have a minimum 457 mm (18 in.) width below 1000 mm (39.5 in.) and
530 mm (21 in.) width above. The Pathfinder model assumed 530 mm (21 in.) fare gates for the egress calculation. During evacuation,
only one escalator is assumed to be available.
Figure 2: Pathfinder model for the center-platform station.
NFPA 130 and SFPE Calculation using Flow Rates
The flow rates for the evacuation components are shown below. For most of the components, the NFPA 130 flows are greater than the
SFPE values, so we would expect NFPA 130 to predict a shorter evacuation time than SFPE.
Each occupant acts as an independent agent. They choose an initial exit based on shortest estimated total exit times. However, they
monitor the queues forming at the exits and will switch to a different exit if they perceive that to be advantageous (the preference is to
remain in their current queue, see Pathfinder User Manual for details). In addition, each occupant avoids other occupants and barriers.
Figures 5 and 6 show the queues that have formed at 60 seconds. The total Pathfinder exit time is 6.24 minutes vs. 4.94 minutes for
NFPA 130 and 5.76 minutes for SFPE. The platform clears at 5.64 minutes vs. calculated 3.80 minutes (NFPA 130) and 4.31 minutes
(SFPE). The concourse clears at 5.3 minutes. The concourse clears earlier than the platform because a queue forms at the furthest
platform emergency exit and occupants remain committed to that exit rather than walk back to an open exit.
Figure 5: Detail of Pathfinder evacuation simulation at 60 seconds.
Summary
The comparison of evacuation times (4.94 minutes NFPA 130, 5.76 minutes SFPE, and 6.24 minutes Pathfinder) is consistent with
expectations. The SFPE egress component flow rates are slower than NFPA 130, so the SFPE evacuation is longer. The main cause of the
difference between Pathfinder and NFPA 130 and SFPE is that they assume full capacity use of all exits. When the preference to remain
at the current exit and the penalty for walking distance were turned off, Pathfinder gave an exit time of 5.33 minutes.
The Pathfinder results represent what is intended to be a more realistic response during evacuation. In Pathfinder, not all exits are used
to their full capacity throughout the evacuation. This is a first level of added realism.
Some other realistic Pathfinder features that were not used in this study include: initial delay times, distributions of walking speeds,
occupants with impaired mobility, and fire fighter counterflow. Additional aspects that cannot be easily included in the current Pathfinder
simulation include: grouping, fatigue, and impact of the fire (smoke, CO, temperature) on occupant movement. These are recognized as
important and are discussed both in the SFPE Handbook and in a paper by Herbert T. Landow, Safe Egress from Deep Stations.
Using Pathfinder for evacuation simulation can add realism and be a check on other calculations you perform.