Shopping complexes pre 1974

[AnthonyB]

Not having copies of the ancient building codes I'm wondering if anyone with a copy of CP3 would know if it said anything about Mall Smoke Control in covered shopping centres.

It's not going to affect the outcome of the FRA, but to satisfy a curiosity as to why it may have been omitted when it needs it and many contemporaries had it installed at build point.

Site built around 1971

[Northern Uproar]

I'm dealing with a similar issue: all I can find is Fire Prevention Guide No 1: Fire Precautions in Town Centre Redevelopments = now trying to dig out a copy.

The issue raised in mine is the mall (single storey, which have smoke extract, no sprinklers) have large sliding doors of fusible link/counterweights which cut off the malls. These were decommisioned a few years ago, but I'm now trying to find out where the requirement came from - to me these doors would block off the fresh air supply to the mech extract at roof level. I don't think it's a means fo escape issue, as a fusible link is not likley to go off in the malls before everyone is out, but may have been put in for compartmentation in lieu of sprinklers.

[AnthonyB]

It's not uncommon to find an un-sprinklered mall with smoke control, it's the first purpose built one (i.e. not a former street roofed over) I've found that is the other way around!

Funny thing is opening windows that would suit natural ventilation were included, but would entail someone accessing the roof and pulling a load of chains to open them so are only really used in hot summers, it's a strange omission

It's not helped by the fact the sprinklers can't meet the appropriate hazard group flow rates & there is nowhere to put a duplicate supply....

[kurnal]

Water supply from the public mains I guess?

I have vague recollections of a sprinklered shop/unsprinklered sterile mall/trickle ventilation combination which I think was in Fire Prevention Guide No 1: Fire Precautions in Town Centre Redevelopments. If anybody can locate a copy I would gladly pay for a photocopy.

Dont know which chapter of CP3 would have covered this - have you tried BSI knowledgebase?

[Phoenix]

I come across these sort of buildings quite often but I don't waste time trying to figure out how they got to be built.  They are what they are; and they should be what they should be.  It's our job to get these buildings up to, at least, a satisfactory life safety standard.  I would concentrate on that without looking for excuses for the current state.

On the other hand, if you have time, I can appreciate that you're curious.

Stu

[AnthonyB]

Don't worry, I'm not excusing it, there's a very long list of actions for the site!

As many on the site know I'm a bit of a history buff when it comes to old standards, major fires affecting legislation, etc andhow people thought.

The various old standards like CP3 etc are listed on my Barbour Index, but for reference only, no actual document. BSI site seems to have a cut off where it denies even the existence of anything before a certain date!