HUMAN WAYFINDING ABILITIES TO REACH AN AREA OF REFUGE IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

In Italy, building codes don’t require the presence of these specific spaces inside assembly buildings: only tourist and hotel accommodations are obliged to have them. In addition, neither specific information, nor prescriptions regarding their design are given (see Figures 1 and 2). This is an important consideration because it highlights the fact that designers and building tenants are probably not aware of the importance of areas of refuge. As a consequence, the occupants may not be familiar with their presence inside the building because they have never been trained or instructed to use them. Even in the case AR are present in a building, it could be difficult for people to notice them because these facilities have to be located in places that don’t interfere with evacuation routes and, consequently, they may not be immediately visible to people.