Conference Agenda 2026

As buildings become taller, more complex and increasingly diverse in how they are used, designing effective evacuation strategies has never been more important. While building codes, technologies and modelling tools continue to evolve, real-world emergencies often highlight the unpredictable nature of human behaviour under stress. Factors such as decision-making, mobility, communication and crowd dynamics can significantly influence how safely and efficiently occupants respond during an evacuation.

The session will examine whether current approaches to building design, fire safety and emergency planning adequately reflect how people actually behave in crisis situations. It will explore the challenges of creating evacuation strategies that are inclusive, adaptable and resilient, while considering the implications of changing building typologies, population demographics and occupant expectations. As the built environment continues to evolve, the discussion will consider how design can better support safe, effective and human-centred evacuation outcomes.