Obstacles Near Emergency Exits Speed Evacuation

BuzzSkyline writes "Despite fire codes that require emergency exits be clear of obstacles, some types of obstacles actually speed evacuation. The counterintuitive conclusion resulted from a series of experiments performed at a TV studio in Japan. Researchers from the University of Tokyo asked 50 volunteers to exit the studio through a narrow door. Video tapes of the experiments show that people made it out quickest when a pole was placed about 30 degrees to one side of the exit. The lead researcher believes an obstacle reduces jamming and friction among people in crowds by decreasing conflicts as the crowd presses toward the exit. A paper describing the research is scheduled to appear in the journal Physical Review E in September, but a preprint is available on the Physics Arxiv."

Comments

Re:Counterintuitive conclusions

[Mr. Freeman]

We do not fill available space. Go look at any evacuation of any building. Put a door at one side, after 10 seconds will there be anyone at the wall opposite of the door? NO!

Once the building is half empty, will anyone be moving to the side opposite of the door? NO!
When there is one person left in the building, will they randomly move about the space or will they move towards the door?

Your assertion that we're exactly like gasses is completely absurd. Remember also that you made no mention of the fact that we can move under our own power as gasses cannot.