Fire protection challenge for Melbourne shopping centre

Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne, one of the largest shopping centres in the Southern Hemisphere, recently underwent a $600m expansion, including a four-level glass-roofed atrium that, while an architectural delight, posed a fire detection challenge and therefore a public safety risk.

The shopping complex draws over 20 million visitors annually and is a retail home for luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry and Tiffany & Co. Its expansion also included over 40 new retailers, a 10-storey office building and a hotel.

Part of the extension included a complete redevelopment of the northern part of the complex that houses the atrium. The high ceiling of the northern expansion, as well as the unusual curvature of the atrium ended up presenting a fire detection challenge. Mounting locations for fire detectors were also limited and predetermined to comply with management standards.

To solve this, the centre opted for the VESDA-E VEU early detection fire system from Xtralis.

The system was chosen because of its very early and reliable detection, and its extended pipe lengths to accommodate the height of the ceiling. The fact that the product also blended in with the architecture of the atrium was also a positive factor.

Xtralis said the warning system is flexible enough to accommodate the longer pipe runs and provides detection from the predetermined mounting locations. The extended pipe networks also reduced the total number of detectors required — only four were needed to protect the entire northern expansion, an area totalling 2160 m².

The product’s centralised detector architecture allows for efficient service and maintenance, while the detectors can also be monitored and managed remotely with mobile devices and an iVESDA application, giving facilities management constant access to each detector.

Xtralis has a range of safety and security solutions for retail environments. For further information, visit: www.xtralis.com/Retail.

Image courtesy of Xtralis