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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Fire Safety => Topic started by: SidM on December 04, 2008, 04:37:16 PM
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In shopping mall with individual units having their own escape at the rear in to a service corridor, is there a need to have lobby protection between the unit and the service corridor. If so, how important is it to keep the lobby area clear considering that in the mall area there is smoke extraction and possibly even sprinklers.
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BS 9999. E.3.1.4 Offers comprehensive guidance.
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Yes there is a need. The lobby is to limit the amount of smoke that enters the corridor. This is especially important where the corridor is a dead end. There is also generally 120 minutes compartmentation between the units and the service corridors.
It is very important to keep it clear as it is the escape route for persons in that unit in the event of a fire in that unit, and also in the event of a fire in a nearby/opposing unit that may mean people do not want to or can't escape into the mall.
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We have always designed such systems with lobby protection, which includes automatic detection
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You can use smoke extraction instead to keep the corridor clear
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If theres stuff in your lobby then it aint a lobby any more.
Part 10 / 9999 is a bit OTT on some of this stuff so if it's small then it may not be such an issue. Although I'm not sure how you are keeping your escape route clear if its full of stuff???