This project investigated and evaluated the safety of fire escape stairwells in existing high-rise buildings. The aim of the analysis was to assess the effectiveness of existing structural and organizational measures for ensuring self-rescue and rescue by others in the event of a fire and to identify potential areas for optimization.

The study was based on engineering fire protection methods and considered both structural features and the behavior of people in the event of an incident. In particular, the functionality of the escape stairwells as smoke-free, safe escape routes and their robustness against various fire scenarios were analyzed.

The results showed that targeted adjustments, particularly in the areas of smoke control, access, and organizational measures, can significantly improve the safety of escape stairwells. The project thus provided a sound basis for risk-based decisions in existing buildings and for the further development of fire protection concepts in high-rise buildings.