Fire Precautionary
Arrangements
Presented by
Mick Leadbetter
Fire Safety Adviser
Background
• Merry Hill covers 125
acres having 1.5 Million
Sq Mtrs of retail space on
two levels that are
continually being
developed.
• There are some 220
smaller units and 10 blue
chip anchor stores.
• Merry Hill Is Not One
Building.
• It Has 16 Major Smoke
Zones Which Can Be
Evacuated In Isolation or
Simultaneously.
• For Example, There Could
Be A Fire In Marks and
Spencers, But Because of
The Fire Shutters and
various Smoke Control
Systems in Place,
Customers Could Still
Shop Safely In Adjacent
Stores.
Why Such Facilities?
• Building Regulations ADB2000.
• Requirements of British Standard 5588, Part
10, 1991 (Code of Practice for Shopping
Centres).
• N.B. Previously the Town Centre Redevelopment Guide was used for this type of
premises.
• British Standard 5588, Part 11, 1997 (Code of
Practice for Shops, Offices, Industrial Storage
and other similar buildings.
• Fire Precautions (Workplace) (Amendment)
Regulations (1999).
Legislation
• Merry Hill, Landlord areas and various stores
have a current Fire Certificate in place further
A Fire Risk Assessment under the Amended
Workplace Regulations has been carried out
To both Landlord and Tenant Areas.
• Some 30 Landlord Fire Exits are in place,
also except for small kiosks all retail shops
have alternative Means of Escape Facilities
via back of house escape corridors which
given the 20 Million customer visits per year it
is imperative are maintained.
• Merry Hill Landlords Fire Risk Assessment
was the first of such a size to be completed in
the West Midlands Fire Service area and was
used as a benchmark for other premises.
Future Legislation
• Government proposes that the Fire Service
will no longer issue Fire Certificates.
• Building Managers will need to carry out
comprehensive Fire Risk Assessments
considering amongst other things Means of
escape, Fire Alarm, Sprinklers,
Smoke,Shutters, training etc.
• Plans may need to be included.
• On completion formal Fire Authority validation
may be required.
• ARE YOU READY FOR THIS CHANGE!
Fire Alarm System
• Analogue addressable system covering all areas within the
covered mall areas.
• Linked to the permanently manned Control Room.
• Bell alarms within shop units and voice alarm within the
Landlord’s areas.
• Way finding beacons are included to facilitate rapid fire
service identification.
• Smoke and heat detection is incorporated within the main
system, also beam detectors are provided within the mall
environment.
• An Agreed Fire Procedure Whereby Security Have 90
Seconds to Investigate Any Fire Alarm Before The Fire
Brigade Are Called. Do you have auto dial? If so this is
negated. What can you do to prevent a false alarm?
• A Double Knock i.e. Smoke Detector, Sprinkler Activation,
etc, Brings About An Immediate Call To The Fire Service by
Merry Hill Control Room.
Sprinkler System
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Ordinary Hazard Group 3 (Life Safety).
Wet, Dry and Alternate. (Usually wet)
23 Valve Sets.
Twin Compartment Water Tanks with a Separate
Tank For Phase 2.
Electric, Diesel and Jockey Pumps(2 Locations).
Fire Brigade Inlet.
Sprinkler Head Rating 68°c Within Shop Units.
Sprinkler Heads Rated at 141 °c Within The Mall
Environment. To avoid premature operation by hot
smoke
Sprinkler Lock Off and Flow Switches are
Incorporated Raising Alarm Directly to the Control
Room.
Smoke Control Systems
• Natural Smoke Ventilators Are Provided In
The Ridge Of The Mall Roof.
• Major Stores usually have Either a Powered,
Natural or mixed Smoke Venting Strategy.
• Secure Power Supplies are Necessary For
Powered Extract Systems Either Through
Dual Circuitry Or Back-up Generators. Are
they maintained?
Fire Shutters
• Fire Shutters Are used to Separate many of
the Major Stores From The Mall Environment
Given That Their Footprint Is Too Excessive
To Vent Smoke Into The Mall.
• Shutters Rated at 2 Hours Fire Resistance.
• They Arrest at 2.5mtrs Above Finished Floor
Level For 5 Minutes To Facilitate Evacuation.
• Audible and Visual Alarms Are Incorporated.
• Manual Override Facility is Also Incorporated.
• If you have them are they maintained?
Water Supplies
• Fire Hydrant Ring Main
Encompasses The
Whole Site.
• Water Supplies Are
Supplied From Four
Separate Main Sources.
• Dry Riser Facility (10)
Including Roof Provision
Are Provided Around
The Covered Complex.
• To facilitate fire fighting
and avoid hose on stairs,
mall etc
Other Active Fire Systems
• Escape Lighting Throughout
(Maintained and Non-Maintained). Do
you usually have a full duration test.
• Independent Power Pack or Inverters In
Light Fittings Are Utilised.
• Generator Facility Within some larger
Stores.
• Permanently Manned Control Room
and Permanent Security Presence,
Variable to Reflect Footfall.