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This paper explores the relevant fire code requirements and outlines the development of an evaluation tool based on these codes to evaluate fire safety measures in dining properties.

Existing literature was examined to identify the combustible materials, fire causes and factors making these properties prone to fire incidents. An evaluation method, based on code regulations, for ensuring fire safety in dining properties was then developed and tested on a specific dining facility to validate its practicality.

Forty requirements, grouped into seven categories, were identified for ensuring fire safety in dining properties. The case study exposed multiple violations of fire safety, leading to corrective measures for enhancing the fire safety status of the building.

This study introduced a methodical approach for raising awareness, among property managers of dining properties, about fire incidences and their consequences. It presents an evaluation tool for assessing the compliance level with fire codes and standards.

Dining properties are facilities that offer both dine-in and take-out food services. Given the increasing number of fire incidents in dining properties worldwide, there is a substantial demand for a process to audit the adherence to fire safety codes in these properties. This study presents a systematic approach to increase public knowledge of fire events and their effects in dining properties.

The design check regarding the fire resistance of concrete slabs can be easily performed using tabulated values. These tables are based on experimental results, but the level of safety, which is obtained by this approach, is not known. On the other hand, performance-based methods are more accepted, but require a target reliability as performance criterion. Hence, there is a need for calibration of the performance-based methods using the results of the “traditional” descriptive approach.

The calibration is performed for a single span concrete slab, where the axis distance of the reinforcement is chosen according to Eurocode 2 for a defined fire rating. A “standard” compartment is selected to cover typical fields of application. The opening factor is considered as parameter to obtain the maximum peak temperatures in the compartment. A Monte Carlo simulation, in combination with a response surface method, is set up to calculate the probabilities of failure.

The results indicate that the calculated reliability index for a standard is within the range, which has been used for the derivation of safety and combination factors in the Eurocodes. It can be observed that members designed for a fire rating R90 have a significant increase in the structural safety for natural fires compared to a design for a fire rating R30.

The level of safety, which is obtained by a design based on tabulated values, is quantified for concrete slabs. The results are a necessary input for the calibration of performance-based methods and could stimulate discussions among scientists and building authorities.

Metro stations have become a crucial aspect of urban rail transportation, integrating facilities, equipment and pedestrians. Impractical physical layout designs and pedestrian psychology impact the effectiveness of an evacuation during a metro fire. Prior research on emergency evacuation has overlooked the complexity of metro stations and failed to adequately consider the physical heterogeneity of stations and pedestrian psychology. Therefore, this study aims to develop a comprehensive evacuation optimization strategy for metro stations by applying the concept of design for safety (DFS) to an emergency evacuation. This approach offers novel insights into the management of complex systems in metro stations during emergencies.

Physical and social factors affecting evacuations are identified. Moreover, the social force model (SFM) is modified by combining the fire dynamics model (FDM) and considering pedestrians' impatience and panic psychology. Based on the Nanjing South Metro Station, a multiagent-based simulation (MABS) model is developed. Finally, based on DFS, optimization strategies for metro stations are suggested.

The most effective evacuation occurs when the width of the stairs is 3 meters and the transfer corridor is 14 meters. Additionally, a luggage disposal area should be set up. The exit strategy of the fewest evacuees is better than the nearest-exit strategy, and the staff in the metro station should guide pedestrians correctly.

Previous studies rarely consider metro stations as sociotechnical systems or apply DFS to proactively reduce evacuation risks. This study provides a new perspective on the evacuation framework of metro stations, which can guide the designers and managers of metro stations.

The reemergence of immersive virtual technology (IVR) provides both opportunities and challenges for workplace learning (WPL). The purpose of this study is to explore and develop knowledge about how gamification influences the WPL experience by addressing two research questions: RQ1. What characterizes a gamified immersive safety training experience with IVR technology? and RQ2. How does gamified immersive safety training with IVR technology impact the WPL experience?

The study adopted a mixed methods approach by combining a systematic literature review with a case study on an empirical project about immersive fire safety training for train operators that are used at the Swedish train operating company SJ. The case study included data from semistructured interviews, Web survey and observation studies. The data was analyzed in two stages combining inductive and deductive data analysis for identifying themes and categories.

The findings of the study are twofold: (1) themes that conceptualize the gamified immersive safety training experience based on outputs from both the literature review and the first round of data analysis; and (2) a framework with three overarching categories that are mapped with the identified themes, and which were deduced throughout the second round of data analysis.

The originality of the findings stresses the implications of how a body of knowledge that synthesizes gamification concepts with immersive safety training, can inform the design of WPL experiences that are facilitated with IVR technology. As such, the implications of the findings are targeted toward both the advancement of the IVR discourse in the WPL field, but also toward practical considerations for design of immersive learning experiences that enrich WPL practices and culture.

The proposed use of unlatched, reverse swing flappy doors is becoming widespread in the design of residential common corridor smoke control systems. This article explores the conceptual arguments for and against the use of these systems.

This article relies on industry experience, with reference to relevant building design practices, standards and research literature, to categorise arguments. These are collated into four common areas of concern relating to compartmentation, reliability, depressurisation and modelling practices. A final comparison is made between different common corridor smoke control system types for these four areas.

The article highlights several concerns around the use of flappy door systems, including the enforced breaches in stair compartmentation, uncertainties around system reliability, the reliance on door closers as a single point of failure, the impact of day-to-day building use on the system performance and the false confidence that modelling assessments can provide in demonstrating adequacy. The article concludes in suggesting that alternative smoke control options be considered in place of flappy door systems.

Discussion on the use of flappy door smoke control systems has been ongoing within the fire engineering community for several years, but there is limited public literature available on the topic. By collating the common arguments relating to these systems into a single article, a better understanding of their benefits and pitfalls has been provided for consideration by building design and construction professionals.

The study aims to apply catastrophe theory to the analysis of accidental dwelling fire injuries in terms of age band, gender and contributory factors in order to inform fire prevention activities.

The study employed a case study in a UK Fire and Rescue service concerning analysis of the circumstances of accidental dwelling fire injuries, and the characteristics and behaviours associated with utilising frequency analysis, percentages, ratios and catastrophe theory modelling.

Overall, males were more likely to be injured in an accidental dwelling fire compared to females by a ratio of 1.68 to 1, and those in the age band 50–64 appeared to be at maximum risk. A total of 15.4% of the accidental dwelling fire injuries involved consumption of alcohol or drugs, and 5.9% involved falling asleep.

The circumstances of accidental dwelling fire injury can be analysed to identify patterns concerning when a catastrophic change relating to ordinary use of domestic objects results in an accidental dwelling fire injury.

A catastrophe theory view can aid the understanding of how ordinary use of domestic objects results in an accidental dwelling fire injury.

Since fire injuries have both a social and economic cost, understanding how such fire injuries occur can aid fire prevention through appropriately targeted fire prevention activities.

The study made use of a catastrophe theory view to analyse the circumstances under which accidental dwelling fire injuries occurred using fire injury data from a UK fire and rescue service.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate why multi-tier apparel suppliers integrate social sustainability practices into their supply chains and what barriers these suppliers encounter while embedding social sustainability practices.

This study employs a qualitative research design, drawing on data from semi-structured interviews with 46 owners and managers from 33 multi-tier apparel suppliers in Bangladesh, an important outsourcing hub for the global apparel industry. To corroborate research findings, the views of owners and managers were triangulated by further interviewing 11 key representatives of institutional actors such as third-party auditors, a donor agency, industry associations, regulatory agencies and a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The authors' findings suggest a range of divergent institutional drivers and barriers – coercive, mimetic and normative – that determine the implementation of multi-tier suppliers' social sustainability practices. The key reported drivers were buyers' requirements, external stakeholders' expectations, top management commitment and competition. Conversely, cost and resource concerns and gaps in the regulatory framework were identified as key social sustainability implementation barriers. In particular, owners and managers of second-tier and third-tier supplier firms experienced more internal barriers such as cost and resource concerns than external barriers such as gaps in values, learning and commitment (i.e. compromise for mutual benefit and non-disclosure of non-compliance) that impeded effective social sustainability implementation.

Social sustainability in supply chain management has received significant attention from academics, business practitioners, governments, NGOs and supranational organisations. However, limited attention has been paid to investigating the drivers and barriers for social sustainability implementation from a developing country's multi-tier supplier perspective. The authors' research has addressed this knowledge gap.

The evidence from the authors' study provides robust support for key assumptions of institutional theory and has useful implications for both managers and policy-makers.

The authors' study contributes to the embryonic research stream of socially sustainable multi-tier supply chain management by connecting it to the application of institutional theory in a challenging institutional context.

Property guardianship is increasingly being viewed as an alternative and, in many cases, a last resort to the unaffordable private rental market. This upsurge in the incidence of guardianship necessarily amplifies the existing legal grey areas and the inherent insecurity and precarity in the sector for guardians. Drawing on interviews with property guardians and archival research, the purpose of this study is to explore the background to the guardianship occupation model; highlight the key problems guardianship generates and, building on this, propose recommendations for reform to the regulatory landscape of guardianship. This study argues that a culture change in property guardianship is needed so that guardians can be better protected, and local authorities empowered to be more proactive in overseeing standards of guardian properties in their areas.

This study draws on qualitative semi-structured interviews with 46 property guardians and archival research.

The author argues that property guardians routinely enter the sector largely as a matter of last resort based on financial considerations or following difficult life experiences. Insecure and precarious, guardianship operates under licence agreements which provide less protection for guardians. Coupled with ambiguity around the application of existing housing legislation to guardianship and research showing non-engagement by local authorities with guardianship, this study suggests regulatory reform is urgently needed.

With traditional residential tenancies in the private rental sector increasingly unaffordable for many and guardianship becoming a viable alternative, this study argues for significant regulatory reform to the guardianship sector to ensure guardians are adequately protected under the law. This study presents a series of proposals to deliver a culture change in the sector.

This systematic literature review aims to investigate the application and integration of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies in transportation infrastructure construction projects focusing on sustainability pillars.

The study employs a systematic literature review approach, combining qualitative review and quantitative analysis of 142 academic articles published between 2011 and March 2023.

The findings reveal the dominance of Building Information Modelling (BIM) as a central tool for sustainability assessment, while other technologies such as blockchain and autonomous robotics have received limited attention. The adoption of I4.0 technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, Augmented Reality (AR), and Big Data, has been prevalent for data-driven analyses, while Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs) and 3D printing are mainly being integrated either with BIM or in synergy with Artificial Intelligence (AI). We pinpoint critical challenges including high adoption costs, technical barriers, lack of interoperability, and the absence of standardized sustainability benchmarks.

This research distinguishes itself by not only mapping the current integration of I4.0 technologies but also by advocating for standardization and a synergistic human-technology collaborative approach. It offers tailored strategic pathways for diverse types of transportation infrastructure and different project phases, aiming to significantly enhance operational efficiency and sustainability. The study sets a new agenda for leveraging cutting-edge technologies to meet ambitious future sustainability and efficiency goals, making a compelling case for rethinking how these technologies are applied in the construction sector.

The aim of this empirical study is to identify the relationship between student accommodation characteristics (SACs) and academic performance (AP). SACs, considered as the single independent variable, were divided into three further constructs: perceived location advantage (PLA), perceived facilities (PFs) and perceived safety and security (PSS). This study also intends to uncover the mediating role of perceived overall satisfaction (POS) over the direct relationships.

The study used a cross-sectional quantitative survey methodology to investigate the hypothesized relationships based on 384 sample responses (n) selected using purposive sampling techniques from six Scottish universities. The study used IBM SPSS version 29 and partial least squares-structural equation modeling version 4 for descriptive statistics and for testing the hypotheses, respectively.

Based on survey responses and the application of proper statistical measures, this study found that all three independent constructs (PLA, PFs and PSS) have a significant positive association with the dependent variable, AP. The mediator (POS) was also found to be positively correlated with AP. Furthermore, this study identified that POS can partially mediate all three direct relationships.

By extending and validating current theories such as satisfaction frameworks, student engagement models and servicescape psychology, this study can significantly advance the current state of the literature. It highlights how crucial holistic satisfaction can mediate the association between academic achievement and the features of student housing. The results provide theoretical justification for incorporating accommodations into planning and policy for education. Additionally, by emphasizing on the crucial elements that enhance students’ well-being and academic achievement, such as location, safety, aesthetics and extensive support services, the study offers significant management insights.