cohesion in design

The development of a fire and safety strategy for one of the country's largest shopping malls depends on more than adherence to the minimum life safety requirements of the building code.

Taking a holistic approach to fire safety a consideration of business continuance, property protection and operational efficiency is just as important, says Holmes Fire & Safety principal Martin Feeney.

When the company was invited to develop a complete fire safety plan for the Sylvia Park shopping mall, Feeney says that ensuring the safety of thousands of people in the centre's largely open design presented challenges the company needed to overcome.

"Our ability to have very large voids in what are essentially fire separations such as the open entrance areas to The Warehouse and Foodtown is a very important aspect of the design."

Holmes Fire & Safety used architectural features such as high ceilings and large skylights to control the spread of smoke in the building. To avoid compromising the overall aesthetics, smoke extraction systems are hidden behind punched metal panels.

With staff who are recognised specialists in a range of fire engineering fields, Holmes Fire & Safety provides a wealth of experience for a diverse range of projects.

"Our computer-based simulation for safe evacuation of the Sylvia Park centre is an example of how this expertise is applied. Our philosophy is to understand our clients' aims and requirements right from the start, to involve them in establishing objectives and to meet our commitments," Feeney says.

"The company always aims to maximise value for our clients by achieving optimum operation flexibility."

For further information, contact Holmes Fire & Safety, Level 1, Market Place, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland, phone (09) 308 7030, fax (09) 308 7031 or visit the website: www.holmesfire.com.

Story by: Trendsideas