§ 17

Emptying: time through outlets

How long does it take to get everyone out through the exits?

Answer: When a concert ends, or an area needs emptied, the free width in the exits decides how quickly it goes. Green Guide reckons at most 82 persons per metre width per minute on level floor or ramp and 66 on stairs. The calculator shows how long it takes to empty the area, and how wide the exit must be to reach it in the time the safety plan allows.

Formula

Flow = fri bredde × personer pr. meter pr. minut

Tid = personer ÷ flow

Bredde der skal til = personer ÷ (personer pr. meter pr. minut × tilladt tid)

Green Guide (6th edition): 82 persons per metre per minute on flat floor and ramps 66 on stairs.

Symbols and units in the formula
Symbol	Meaning	Unit
personer	Number of people in the area	personer
bredde_m	Total clear width at exits	m
rate	Substrate in exit	pers./m/min
tid_min	Time allowed (safety plan or fire strategy)	min
=	Time to empty the area	min
=	Persons per minute through the exits	personer/min
=	Free width needed at that time	m

Validity and source

Source: Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide), 6. udgave: 82 pers./m/min pa plant gulv, 66 pa trapper

Does not apply when

Indicative. The width is the FREE width: a half-closed gate, a fence or a food tent at the exit does not count. How long a time is allowed is in the event's safety plan or the building's fire strategy. In an evacuation there is no time to calculate: plan it beforehand.

Worked example

The calculator's own default values inserted. The figures are calculated with exactly the formula the tool uses.

Substituted

Number of people in the area1,500 personer
Total clear width at exits6 m
Substrate in exit82 pers./m/min
Time allowed (safety plan or fire strategy)8 min

Giver

Time to empty the area3.0 min
Persons per minute through the exits492 personer/min
Free width needed at that time2.3 m

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Sådan bruger du den

Når et arrangement slutter, eller et område skal tømmes, bestemmer den fri bredde i udgangene tiden. Beregneren bruger Green Guides tal på 82 personer pr. meter pr. minut på plant gulv og 66 på trapper.

Step by step

Find antallet af personer.
Mål den fri bredde i alle udgange.
Vælg plant gulv eller trapper.
Find den tid, sikkerhedsplanen tillader.
Læs tiden og den bredde, der skal til.

Typical errors

At regne en halvt åben låge med.
At bruge plant gulv, når der er trapper.
At glemme boder og hegn i udgangen.

Examples from everyday life

Koncertsal

1.500 gæster skal ud gennem 6 m fri bredde på plant gulv. Sikkerhedsplanen siger 8 minutter.

Number of people in the area: 1,500 people
Total clear width at exits: 6 m
Substrate in exit: Level floor or ramp (82 pers./m/min)
Time allowed (safety plan or fire strategy): 8 min

It means: Det tager 3 min, med 492 personer/min gennem udgangene. På 8 minutter var 2.3 m nok.

Tribune med trapper

3.000 tilskuere skal ned ad trapper med 4,8 m bredde i alt. Planen siger 8 minutter.

Number of people in the area: 3,000 people
Total clear width at exits: 4.8 m
Substrate in exit: Stairs (66 pers./m/min)
Time allowed (safety plan or fire strategy): 8 min

It means: Det tager 9.5 min, mere end 8 minutter. Der skal bruges 5.7 m fri bredde. Flow er 317 personer/min.

Rule of thumb

1 m udgang tømmer ca. 80 personer i minuttet.

How to check the answer

Bredde × rate × tid skal give personerne.