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Why Building Occupants Ignore Fire Alarms

It has been observed time and time again that building occupants are slow in responding to fire alarm signals. In fact, research shows that in some buildings, occupants tend to continue their activities and completely ignore the signal. As part of its research on fire-risk management, the Institute for Research in Construction has reviewed the literature extensively and carried out its own studies of major fires in both Canada and the United States. Based on this information, this Update will attempt to explain the behaviour of occupants during fire emergencies. A later Update will present strategies designed to improve occupants’ response to alarms and to ensure appropriate action.