George S. Lu, P.E.

I would agree with Mr. Sutton. Taking into consideration the ASET factors, one would easily arrive to a conclusion 2.5 minutes is too short. It is not possible to affirm a reasonable time as factors such as number of floors, occupant load, number of stairwells, and their corresponding width, all of which play a role in determining evacuation time. To say there is a standard time would be harsh. I would think the local jurisdiction needs to agree on a reasonable time, and the engineers/architects then need to design the structure to meet this requirement.