Two challenges combine in the mall: high and large atrium volumes render the point detector dysfunctional, while dense crowds make evacuation critical. The solution is to design the volume-appropriate detection (beam) and guided voice evacuation together.
Fire risks in this environment
- Failure of smoke to reach the detector at the atrium and high ceiling (stratification)
- Intense crowd — evacuation time
- Different in-store fire loads
- Dining floor (kitchen) fires
- Commercial loss of false alarm
Regulations and standards
Within the scope of BYKHY, fire detection, audible warning and smoke evacuation are required in shopping malls. Voice evacuation components EN 54-16/24; detection design is made according to TS CEN/TS 54-14.
Recommended technologies
Shopping Mall Fire Safety — the right solution combination and the reasons behind it.
Beam Detector
Line type smoke detection in common areas with atrium and high ceilings — where the point detector is inadequate.
Related products →Addressable Detection
Exact location on store/corridor basis; manages large number of devices in one cycle.
Related products →Kitchen Hood Extinguishing
Automatic wet chemical quenching for the cooking line on the food deck.
Related products →Typical system architecture
In the atrium, opposite or reflective beam detectors are positioned at an appropriate distance from the ceiling, taking into account smoke stratification. Addressable optical/multisensor detectors are used in stores and corridors. Integrated with fire panel, voice announcement and smoke evacuation system; scenario gives floor/zone based evacuation.
Common field mistakes
- Putting a dot detector in the atrium
- Gluing the beam to the ceiling (it should stay under the smoke layer)
- Beam alignment without taking into account structural movement (expansion)
- Announcing the entire shopping mall as a single region
- Skipping the hood extinguishing on the dining floor
Frequently Asked Questions
Which detector is used in the atrium?
Beam detector. Point detectors are late or do not detect at all, as high volumes of smoke can be layered before reaching the ceiling.
Where is the beam detector installed?
It is typically positioned 0.3-0.6 m below the ceiling, not just below the ceiling, to capture smoke stratification. Structural movement and the risk of obstruction are also taken into account.
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