Thesis (Ph.D.(Mechanical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 1999. / Summaries in Afrikaans and English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.E.)--University of Canterbury, 2005. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

Emergency evacuation in high-rise apartment building is a challenge for fire safety professionals. Lift evacuation is a controversial issue because the safe operation of lift is not ensured under the existing design and operating conditions. Lifts are not permitted for public evacuation in apartment buildings during fire emergencies as per the provisions of building codes and regulations. However, the concept of using lifts for emergency evacuation has been gaining considerable attention during recent years. The lift evacuation can be considered as an alternative facility if it is efficient, reliable and readily accessible. It can also provide a safer means of evacuation for the aged and disabled persons, who may not be able to evacuate promptly, efficiently and unassisted using the exit stairs during fire emergencies. Moreover, lifts can enable building corporate management to easily and promptly access the fireaffected floor and commence fire fighting. The work on the use of lifts for emergency evacuation was initiated in the early 1990s at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, USA) in which pros and cons were analysed in order to develop suitable guidelines. This research project examines the feasibility of using lifts along with design modifications as an alternative facility for a safer and more efficient emergency evacuation. The scope of this research is limited to apartment buildings where occupant load is low and fire load is generally confined to dwelling compartment units. This research project analysed the important issues in relation to the use of lifts for emergency evacuation. The issues were divided into three categories: human behavioural response, fire hazards and lift operational mechanism. Output variables relating to human behavioural response were modelled and analysed as a stochastic process. Residents’ choice for using evacuation routes was determined using a survey. The issues of fire hazards (fire, smoke and toxic gases) were analysed for occupant safety under variable conditions using the concept of fire safety index. The issues of lift operational mechanism such as lift malfunctioning due to excessive temperature, electric power failure and water damage were considered for developing probabilistic models. An integrated approach of risk assessment for the issues of human behavioural response and fire hazards (such as ‘decision uncertainty’, ‘panic’, ‘nonfatal and fatal injuries’) was developed based on the Multi-Objectives Decision Analysis method. The results for lift and stair systems were compared and the feasibility of using lift with design modifications was analysed for alternative designs and evacuation strategies. The outcomes of this research have shown that using lifts with a protected lobby for up to one-fourth of the building population (who may be aged and disabled) has huge potential as an alternative evacuation facility with enhanced level of safety. Lifts with protected lobby for one-fourth of the building population showed an improved level of fire safety from exposure to fire effluents. The reliability of lift operational mechanism is also improved in protected lift shafts. Lifts with protected lobby for up to one-fourth of the building population and stairs for up to three-fourth of the building population showed an improved evacuation safety. The risks in combined evacuation systems (protected lifts and stairs) are found to be lower when compared to using stairs or protected lifts. Lifts with double lobby protection (for example, two levels of compartmentation with fire and smoke doors for lift lobby) showed further improvements. This research has proposed alternative designs for lifts and developed models for analyzing evacuation effectiveness based on risks related to human behaviour, fire hazards and operational mechanism. It has shown that a combined use of lifts and stairs has significant advantages. The performance based lift evacuation system is achievable in apartment buildings. These research findings are based on uncertainty analysis, which can be further extended to other types of buildings in the future.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2004. / "December 2004." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-61). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

The aim of this study is to examine the role of &lsquo / Turkish Disaster Regulations&rsquo / on architectural design. Although the preliminary aim of Turkish disaster regulations is to provide knowledge for designers and builders to control structural and constructional system of buildings that can resist disasters in the pre-disaster period, these regulations can create some restrictions for architects in their design process. Following an analytical examinations of Turkish disaster regulations that have been developed continuously after different disaster experiences for years from an architectural view, the focus will be given to the 2007 disaster regulation called &lsquo / Specification for Buildings to be Built in Earthquake Areas&rsquo / in order to evaluate critically the limitations of those regulations for architects in their design process. Furthermore, seven types of irregular buildings that are mentioned in 2007 disaster regulation will be examined and discussed in detail.

The aim of this study is to examine the role of &lsquo / Turkish Disaster Regulations&rsquo / on architectural design. Although the preliminary aim of Turkish disaster regulations is to provide knowledge for designers and builders to control structural and constructional system of buildings that can resist disasters in the pre-disaster period, these regulations can create some restrictions for architects in their design process. Following an analytical examinations of Turkish disaster regulations that have been developed continiously after different disaster experiences for years from an architectural view, the focus will be given to the 2007 disaster regulation called &lsquo / Specification for Buildings to be Built in Earthquake Areas&rsquo / in order to evaluate critically the limitations of those regulations for architects in their design process. Furthermore, seven types of irregular buildings that are mentioned in 2007 disaster regulation will be examined and discussed in detail.

Este trabalho versa sobre as principais tomadas de decisão efetuadas durante a elaboração de projetos estruturais de edifícios em alvenaria. Inicialmente são abrangidas definições a respeito de armação de paredes, modulação, técnicas construtivas e utilização de elementos pré-moldados. Apresentam-se ainda critérios para a concepção estrutural e procedimentos de determinação das ações atuantes, bem como sua distribuição ao longo do edifício. São fornecidas orientações para o dimensionamento dos elementos estruturais, fundamentadas na ABNT (NBR-10837). Baseado na teoria exposta, alguns exemplos são elaborados com a finalidade de direcionar as tomadas de decisão no sentido de garantir segurança e economia. / This work deals with the main decisions in structural masonry buildings design. At first, some definitions regarding reinforced masonry, modulation, construction techniques and use of precast concrete elements are discussed. In addition, some structural conception criteria and applied forces determination procedures, as well as forces distribution through out the building\'s height, are presented. Some orientations are given to structural elements design, according to brazilian code ABNT (NBR-10837). Based on the discussed theory, some examples are presented in order to direct the decision making process to assure safety and economy.

Thesis (M.Arch.) - Carleton University, / Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-119). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Este trabalho versa sobre as principais tomadas de decisão efetuadas durante a elaboração de projetos estruturais de edifícios em alvenaria. Inicialmente são abrangidas definições a respeito de armação de paredes, modulação, técnicas construtivas e utilização de elementos pré-moldados. Apresentam-se ainda critérios para a concepção estrutural e procedimentos de determinação das ações atuantes, bem como sua distribuição ao longo do edifício. São fornecidas orientações para o dimensionamento dos elementos estruturais, fundamentadas na ABNT (NBR-10837). Baseado na teoria exposta, alguns exemplos são elaborados com a finalidade de direcionar as tomadas de decisão no sentido de garantir segurança e economia. / This work deals with the main decisions in structural masonry buildings design. At first, some definitions regarding reinforced masonry, modulation, construction techniques and use of precast concrete elements are discussed. In addition, some structural conception criteria and applied forces determination procedures, as well as forces distribution through out the building\'s height, are presented. Some orientations are given to structural elements design, according to brazilian code ABNT (NBR-10837). Based on the discussed theory, some examples are presented in order to direct the decision making process to assure safety and economy.

O mercado da construção civil vem tendo crescimento significativo e as construtoras e incorporadoras, visando sua manutenção no mercado, vêm buscando procedimentos para produzir edifícios rapidamente, com qualidade e a um preço acessível, para suprir a demanda mercadológica. Neste contexto, nos deparamos com a coordenação de projetos de edifícios, que visa garantir ao empreendimento a sua construção no prazo, com qualidade e sem desperdícios e retrabalho, fazendo uso de um processo seriado com procedimentos padrões. Por essa razão, o presente trabalho aborda a coordenação de projetos de edifícios, seus conceitos, suas atividades, como estas são realizadas e quais ferramentais de apoio são indispensáveis à garantia dessa qualidade esperada. Objetiva-se discutir a coordenação de projeto de edifícios, mostrando sua importância e necessidade, bem como mostrar as suas melhores práticas e as suas ferramentas de apoio indispensáveis. Para a realização da pesquisa foi feita revisão bibliográfica sobre o tema e um estudo de caso realizado em duas empresas que são construtoras e incorporadoras e que possuem um departamento interno responsável pela coordenação de projetos de edifícios. Como ferramenta do estudo de caso foram utilizadas entrevistas com profissionais das empresas e com profissionais externos à empresa, que atuam na área em estudo. Nos departamentos de coordenação de projetos de edifícios das empresas estudadas, foram coletados documentos que formalizam a coordenação. Os dados coletados da empresa na prática foram confrontados com a literatura pesquisada para o embasamento da pesquisa. Com isso, foi possível mostrar, neste trabalho, as melhores práticas e suas ferramentas de apoio para coordenação de projetos de edifícios, por meio desse confronto teoria-prática. / The construction market has had significant growth and builders and developers in order to maintain the market are seeking procedures to produce buildings faster and with a high quality and affordable to meet the market demand. In this context, we are faced with the coordination of building projects aimed at ensuring the development of their construction on time quality and without waste and rework through the process in series. For this reason, this paper addresses the coordination of building projects its concepts their activities as they are carried out and what kind of support tools are needed to ensure the expected quality. It aims to promote the coordination of building design, showing their importance and need, demonstrating their best practices and the tools that are essential. The study was conducted through a literature review on the subject and a case study carried out in two businesses company that are builders and developers and have an internal department responsible for the coordination of building projects. To support the case study were used interviews with business people and professionals outside the company working in the study area. In the departments of project coordination buildings of the companies studied were collected documents formalizing the coordination. The data collected from the company\'s practice were confronted with the literature in order to support the fundamentals of the research. Thus it was possible to demonstrate in this work, best practices and tools to support coordination of building projects, through the comparison between theory and practice.