Human-Centered Design of a Civilian Self-Rescue Breathing Apparatus for Early-Stage Structural Fires

This study presents a human-centered design approach to the development of a civilian self-rescue breathing apparatus intended for use during early-stage structural fires. Civilian fire fatalities are predominantly caused by smoke inhalation rather than direct exposure to flames, particularly within the first minutes following fire ignition. Existing respiratory protection systems are either designed for trained firefighters or require operational complexity that exceeds the capability of untrained occupants. This research integrates ergonomic analysis, fireground behavior considerations, and system-level design constraints to propose a passive, misuse-tolerant breathing apparatus suitable for civilian use. Design requirements were derived from user capability analysis, fire toxicity characteristics, and evacuation behavior studies. The resulting device incorporates chemical oxygen generation based on potassium superoxide (KO₂) and layered smoke filtration within a compact form factor optimized for rapid deployment. Scenario-based design analysis and expert consultation during design development suggest that the proposed system offers meaningful extension of survivable escape time during early-stage fires. The findings highlight the importance of human-centered constraints in fire safety device design and contribute to the development of practical self-rescue technologies for civilian populations.