Interior Design Approach As Part of Passive Fire Safety Measures – Evaluation of the Re-Used Historical Bandabuliya Building Evacuation System

Abstract

The risks that emerge during an emergency and disasters as well as the damages caused by such risks adversely affect human lives, the buildings they live in and the interiors of such buildings. Emergency and disaster management system is a holistic process. Within this process, the Interior Architects' command in the flow of management system is significant in terms of being acquainted with when to step in and at what point of the system flow to play a part. The risks that are revealed as a result of management activities and the requirements produced afterwards designate the necessity for taking and implementing measures beforehand. At this point, how important the indoor arrangements and planning are in terms of loss of lives and safety during and after an incident rises distinctively to the surface, apart from the structural arrangements intended for prevention and mitigation. The system built should demonstrate not attenuating but strengthening and supporting approaches in terms of a secure design. A safe architecture that has been established in line with legal requirements and regulations is an integral part of a system that cannot be abstracted from interior space. In the study, Interior Space Design Approaches as Part of 'Passive Safety Measures' which are a part of the emergency management system have been characterised. The system setup discussed pursuant to fire threat has identified the fundamental approach criteria in terms of a secure indoor evacuation. The purposed design system relation has been assessed on the historical Famagusta–Bandabuliya Building that has been refunctioned.

Keywords

• emergency
• interior design; evacuation; historical buildings; fire safety design; orientation.