ABSTRACT
Shopping malls are fundamentally large complexbuildings occupied by considerable numbers of thegeneral public and shop staff. These buildings mustbe planned to be safe and in the event of an emergencyor fire, allow for fast and safe evacuation fromthe building by all its occupants. In the design ofthe practical issues, fire safety is one of the mostimportant and complex considerations. Fire safetyrequirements will be more onerous for enclosed andcovered shopping malls than for open street basedschemes. Shopping malls are characterized with various combustible materials from the merchant they sell, and as such the aim of the research is to assess the fire safety measures in shopping malls and how they are incorporated in shopping mall design. Interview and a checklist survey were used for data collection in this research. For the purpose of this research, four case studies were carried out both locally and internationally which are; Silverbird Galleria, Abuja, Ceddi Plaza, Abuja, Willow Shopping Mall, Townsville, Australia, and Bullring Shopping Mall, Birmingham. The findings from the case studies carried out shows that fire safety is prerequisite for any shopping mall design. The finding also shows that both passive and active fire safety measures should be employed in shopping mall design. The interview reveals that regular routine check of fire safety element is paramount. Some of the recommendations include; building in compliance with National Building Code (NBC) and providing a simple evacuation plan in each floor of the building.
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Shopping is an important and essential routine of urban life. Day by day the need for organized shopping mall is gaining importance in our society. These buildings must be safe and, in the event of an emergency or fire disaster, allow for fast and safe evacuation from the building by all its occupants (Peter, 2006). In the design of the practical issues, fire safety is one of the most important and complex considerations. Shopping malls; like any retail centre, face substantial public liability for a whole host of risks, from accidents and trips to the risk of fire. From a fire protection perspective, shopping malls are generally the most complicated of retail structures, requiring a fire alarm system sufficiently enough to provide communication between active systems such as zoned sprinklers, smoke control provision, secondary power supplies, emergency lighting and manned control centers (David, 2006).
In Nigeria, the comparative advantages of location, administrative, economic and other functional factors have contributed towards a substantial increase in shopping activities. Rising on the back of demographics, rapid urbanization, changing shopping culture and a growing middle class the expansion sweeping through the retail market in Nigeria is getting bigger as the market anticipate about 200,000 sqm of real estate space (Caroline, 2014). The growth in the Nigerian retail market is a direct reflection of the growing sophistication of the Nigerian middle class, whose shopping preference has shifted from the traditional shopping in the open market, to a more organized and convenient shopping experience offered by retail malls (Odinaka, 2014). In order to achieve a convenient shopping experience, there is need for the shoppers to feel safe in case of fire accident. This can be achieved only by providing both active and passive fire safety measures in the shopping mall.
1.2 Problem Statement
Although adequate safety and security including fire safety measures are prerequisites for enjoying a hazard free shopping environment; collectively they remain the most neglected issue in the context of total urban development (Martin & Andrew, 2005).
Shopping malls are associated with a variety of combustible materials from the merchandise they sell and the building materials themselves (Peter, 2006). As public facility, every shopping mall needs to be safe for human use. Fire safety measures must be considered right from the preliminary shopping mall design stage to finish. In Nigeria, shopping malls rely on fire fighters to extinguish fire rather than extinguishing from the fire safety instruments in the shopping mall. This trend has been a problem to the society and as such, the need for providing both active and passive fire control instrumentsin the shopping mall becomes prerequisite (Odinaka, 2014).
1.3 Justification of the Study
The study will seek to identify the key issues that can be used by scholars and designers in designing a safe shopping environment through the use of fire safety measures. This will serve as guide towards achieving comfortable and hazard free shopping environment in the Northern part of Nigeria. This research will also aid in increasing the shopping activities in shopping malls than in open air market because of adequate safety that will be achieved
1.4 Aim and Objectives
The aim of this research is to assess the fire safety measures in shopping malls and how they are being used in shopping malls in case of emergency with the view of applying these findings in the design of shopping mall. The objectives are;
- To investigate the causes of fire outbreaks in shopping malls
- To determine the suitable measures taken in tackling the problems
- To establish the best fire control and evacuation schemes by proposing shopping mall with such characteristics.
1.5 Research Questions
- What are the causes of fire outbreaks in shopping malls and how it affects the building and the users?
- What fire prevention measures are required in shopping malls?
- What are the fire control and evacuation strategies in shopping malls?
1.6 Scope of Study
This research is restricted to findings of fire safety measures in shopping malls, especially in Abuja. There by assisting architects and other designers in providing the best passive and active fire safety measures that could be used in protecting lives and properties.
