Fire exit signs: The use of neurological activity analysis for quantitative evaluations on their perceptiveness in a virtual environment

Emergency signs represent the easiest way to assist a person during an emergency building evacuation, such as in a fire. However, previous studies show that signs can also not be correctly perceived (because of: smoke/lighting conditions, sign positions in relation to individual's position, pictograms dimensions), consequently becoming useless. This study focuses on the effectiveness of exit signs, in terms of type and position. The related numerical quantification is founded on an objective experimental neurological method. A neurological stimulus (P300) is generated when the individual understands the meaning of the sign. It is so possible to objectively evaluate by using a neuro-headset the performance of each subject in terms of perceptual attention. The use of similar direct data overlooks errors connected to conscious or unconscious individual mediation in answers. Evacuation motion simulations are performed using a virtual reality environment because of limits in the neuro-headset use when walking. Two types of exit signs (reflective and photoluminescent) are tested considering different positions and environmental conditions (illuminated and not). The sign identification distance is retrieved and compared to results of real-world experiments. Finally, the sign effectiveness is also inquired in terms of statistical P300 presence on the analysed sample. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.