Evaluation of the regulations for shopping centers with atrium in the context of fire safety and simulating the means of egress by the way of sample projects

The study aims to propose a method regarding fire safety needs that can be usedin design phase of shopping centers with atriums. For this, evacuation andegress principles in bodies of law (TS and BYKHY) from USA (NFPA) andEurope (BS and BR) were reviewed and analyzed comparatively. Theappropriateness of performance criteria, which had been obtained from thebody of law analysis, was tested in a simulation study via sample projects. Withthe simulation model, the study aims to obtain results for a building in designphase due to determination and control of egress. For obtaining requiredresults, the designs are simulated for a few times via making appropriatechanges. Simulations indicated that, both buildings cannot be egressed inpredetermined period of time. The changes that were made in designs gaveprogressive results. Under the illumination of these progresses, the thesisproposes a method that can be used in design phase.Science Code : 601.02.02Key Words : Atrium, shopping center, mean of egress, exits,evacuation, mean of egress component, fire safety, smokecontrol, distance of egress, evacuation time,Number of Pages : 359Advisor : Doç. Dr. Füsun Demirel