Ensuring Safety and Continuity: Effective Evacuation Strategies for Airport Terminals

Introduction 

Fire safety engineering in airport terminals presents unique challenges that differentiate it from fire safety in conventional buildings. Airports terminals are high-traffic environments with complex security and operational requirements that require tailored evacuation strategies that balance safety, security, and business continuity. 

This article specifically explores evacuation strategies as a key aspect of fire safety engineering in airport terminals. It highlights critical considerations such as phased evacuations, security constraints, and strategies for minimising operational disruptions. By understanding these challenges, airport operators, designers and stakeholders can develop tailored evacuation strategies that ensure the safety of passengers, staff, and infrastructure while maintaining operational efficiency. 

Regulatory Framework 

Airport terminals in Australia use the performance requirements of the National Construction Code Volume One – Building Code of Australia (NCC)* as a baseline for compliance. One of the principal objectives of the NCC is life safety, including that of firefighters and adjoining property protection. However, the NCC does not explicitly mandate fire safety measures for protecting the building itself or ensuring business continuity—except to the extent necessary to facilitate safe evacuation. This means that airports often need to exceed NCC provisions to account for additional factors such as operational downtime, security risks, and passenger management. 

While the NCC forms a regulatory foundation, additional international guidelines such NFPA 415** which is tailored to airport environments must be considered to address the unique operational risks and safety objectives involved. 

Functional Challenges in Airport Terminals 

Airport terminals are complex environments that require carefully planned evacuation strategies due to their unique architectural and operational constraints. Unlike conventional buildings, terminals typically feature: 

• Large, interconnected spaces with minimal compartmentation which may facilitate fire and smoke spread.
• Restricted-access security zones, where movement may be limited by passport control, customs, or security checkpoints. Evacuating passengers through security lines may not be desirable due to operational and security concerns.
• A transient population of travellers who may be unfamiliar with exit locations or emergency procedures.
• Passenger behaviour considerations such as the tendency to retrieve baggage during an evacuation slowing egress or delay response to alarms unless directed by staff.
• Long walking distances within the terminal, where passengers may need to navigate extended concourses to reach safe egress points.

These factors mean that a traditional full building evacuation is rarely the best option. Instead, airports rely on a combination of evacuation strategies that take these constraints into account. 

Evacuation Strategies 

Fire evacuation strategies in airports are designed to balance life safety and operational continuity. These strategies can be categorised into: 

Life safety strategy (major incidents) 

For major incidents such as large fires or security threats, a full airport evacuation may be required. However, this is considered a last resort due to security constraints and logistical challenges. Airports must ensure that evacuation plans are carefully coordinated to avoid unnecessary disruption and maintain safety throughout the process. Strategies for ensuring safe and effective full evacuations include: 

• Providing adequate exits to accommodate high populations.
• Considering alternative egress routes, including airside tarmac exits where necessary.
• Minimising congestion at exits through clear wayfinding, staff assistance and phased movement. 

Business continuity strategy (minor incidents & false alarms) 

Most airport evacuations are partial, involving phased evacuations that direct travellers away from affected areas while maintaining operational zones. This approach is necessary to: 

• Avoid the complexities of evacuating a large terminal with high passenger volumes.
• Minimise security risks associated with evacuating passengers airside onto the apron.
• Reduce operational disruptions that could impact airport functionality. 

Phased evacuation: A necessary approach for airports 

Phased evacuation for both passengers and staff is typically the primary method of evacuation. Evacuation to outside airside locations, except in the case of an uncontrolled fire is avoided where possible. This strategy is based on horizontal evacuation. The main passenger areas are sub-divided into evacuation zones, which may not be physically separated but correspond to the functional layout of the terminal. These zones help ensure: 

• Manageable areas for duty staff to oversee during the early stages of an incident.
• Minimised disruption to airport operations, particularly in cases of minor fire incidents. 

In the event of an incident in an evacuation zone, occupants are moved horizontally into adjacent zones. Duty staff then prevent re-entry into the affected zone until it is deemed safe. If the fire escalates, the evacuation can be extended to additional zones, an entire floor, or the entire building, as necessary. 

Although the strategy focuses on horizontal evacuation and keeping people within the building, it remains essential that exits are sized appropriately to accommodate the terminal population in case full evacuation is required. 

Phased evacuation is highly dependent on well trained duty staff, who assess the situation, manage passenger flow, and ensure clear communication. Key stakeholders—including airport operators, security personnel, and emergency services—must predefine roles and responsibilities and implement structured response protocols. Regular training and scenario-based drills reinforce staff readiness, ensuring coordinated decision-making under pressure. To implement an effective phased evacuation, airports rely on: 

Comprehensive staff training to ensure personnel can manage crowd movement efficiently and respond dynamically to evolving situations. 

• Clear communication through PA systems and visual messaging to direct passengers in real time.
• Well-designed wayfinding and emergency signage, which must be intuitive for international travellers and positioned strategically for visibility.
• Coordination with airport security, ensuring restricted zones remain protected while allowing safe movement through designated evacuation pathways. 

Supporting fire safety systems 

Evacuation strategies in airport terminals may be supported by various fire safety systems, including: 

• Smoke management system to minimise the production and migration of smoke and contain and exhaust smoke from the fire source, which in turn is expected to maintain tenability within the terminal building.
• Smoke detection and occupant warning systems to provide early warning to passengers and staff.
• Sprinkler systems to control the size and extent of potential fires.
• Emergency lighting and signage to assist passengers in to find available exits. 

Conclusion 

Developing an effective evacuation strategy in airport terminals requires a detailed understanding of operational constraints, security considerations, and passenger movement patterns. By implementing a multi-stage evacuation process supported by performance-based design, airports can maintain operational continuity while managing fire safety appropriately. 

Jensen Hughes has extensive experience working on airports worldwide, assisting in the development of fire safety strategies that align with regulatory standards and operational needs. Our expertise in fire safety engineering enables us to create strategies that balance life safety and business continuity. Feel free to get in touch to learn more about how we can support your airport fire safety strategy. 

*National Construction Code Volume One – Building Code of Australia 2022, Australian Building Codes Board, Australia  

**NFPA 415: Standard on Airport Terminal Buildings, Fueling Ramp Drainage, and Loading Walkways, 2022 Edition, National Fire Protection Association, USA.