Improving human safety in cultural heritage buildings: experiments on effectiveness of wayfinding systems in a theatre (original) (raw)

This paper involves individuals' safety in historical buildings in case of fire. An innovative continuous wayfinding system is proposed by using photoluminescent adhesive tiles placed on the paths floor. The system effectiveness is evaluated through evacuation drills in a significant case study (an Italian-style historical theatre). Evacuation times are reduced up to 30% while using the proposed system in respect to the traditional one, also because of the efficient addressing of secondary paths to occupants. Current fire safety regulations in historical buildings are generally limited to the number and dimension of exits and evacuation paths. This approach clearly clashes with preservation criteria because of the need of invasive layout modifications. On the contrary, a "behavioural design" approach could solve this conflict by proposing evacuation facilities based on effective human behaviours. This work proposes an innovative wayfinding system based on phtoluminescent continuous signs. Experiments in a significant real world scenario demonstrate the possibility to considerably decrease the evacuation timing without building layout modifications. Building heritage fire safety, Historical theatres, PLM materials, Reversible systems for human safety and occupants' evacuation, Continuous wayfinding system