Adjei, K O; Abudu, H D; Nana-Addy, E and Musonda, I (2025) The motivation for occupants’ adoption of hidden emergency exits in buildings. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 32(13), pp. 133-147. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: This study investigated the adaptation of hidden emergency exits in buildings. Lives and properties are lost globally due to fewer or no emergency exits in buildings in case of a disaster. The hidden exits are an alternative means to rescue occupants if the main exit is blocked. Design/methodology/approach: Structural equation modelling was used to model the effect of system features, capability and the occupant’s motivation to adopt the hidden emergency exit. A quantitative research approach was used to find out the adaptation of a hidden emergency exit in buildings using the technology acceptance model. This study adopted a questionnaire as the data collection instrument. Purposive and convenient sampling techniques were used for selecting building occupants in the Ejisu Municipality. The population of the study comprised 31,094 dwelling units. The sample size is 379, with a response rate of 72.8%, which is 276 participants. Findings: From the findings, the design variables, which are position, identification by users and number of exits recommended and security variables, had a substantial influence on perceived ease of use. Security, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use had a significant influence on the intention to use hidden emergency exits. The hypothesis was not rejected. Practical implications: The government, through the architects’ professional body, should amend the national building regulations to incorporate the system and design features of this study. Developers should consider the system and design features in the design and construction of buildings. Originality/value: The model of the effect of system features, capabilities and occupants’ motivation to use hidden emergencies is provided. This study adds to the theories of emergency exits in buildings for safe evacuation. This study will improve safety, security and the fast evacuation of lives and properties in buildings.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | evacuation; facilities; residents; safety; service providers; tragedies |
| Index terms: | safe evacuation, municipality, questionnaire, perceived ease of use, methodology, population, motivation, structural equation modelling, perceived usefulness, technology acceptance model, architect, design and construction, sampling, adaptation, sample size, quantitative research, building regulation |
| Subjects: | safety engineering, statistical analysis, administrative law, regulatory law, research design and methodology, data collection methods, profession, data analysis and analytics, research methods, acoustic properties, demography, behavioral psychology, user focus, psychology, contractual arrangements |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Procurement, Engineering Principles, Human Resources, Design Practice, Urban Studies, Roles and Professions, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here