Enhancing safety and inclusivity in high-rise building evacuation strategies: a comparative study of building safety manager and occupant perspectives

Purpose Understanding the egress considerations of fire evacuation strategies is fundamental to establishing the most effective methods for evacuation of people with and without vulnerabilities in high-rise residential buildings (HRRB). The purpose of this study is to identify the main considerations to enable the assessment and improvement of operational procedures and processes from a building safety manager (BSM) and occupant perspective. Design/methodology/approach Primary data was collected through group interviews and questionnaires with occupants and BSM of HRRB to achieve the aforementioned aim. Exploratory data from interviews from both groups was used to devise practical and effective operational strategies. The qualitative data was analysed using a systematic coding process with the use of QSR NVivo. Questionnaire data was collected via Qualtrics and was analysed using SPSS. Findings Analysis reveals a substantial gap in evacuation strategy awareness between stakeholders, with occupants remaining significantly unaware of the current evacuation protocols in their buildings, exacerbated by reluctance among private companies to invest in evacuation alert systems without mandatory legislation. Originality/value This research contributes to the disaster preparedness and response in urban settings literature, expanding the understanding of how HRRB evacuation strategies can be optimised for inclusivity and effectiveness. Practically, the findings of this research have the potential to influence policy decisions and building management practices that directly affect the safety and well-being of HRRB occupants. Overall, this study provides actionable insights for policymakers, building managers and emergency responders to enhance the preparedness and responsiveness of evacuation procedures in high-rise environments while considering the specific needs of vulnerable populations.