Containing the Risk: Architectural Strategies for Fire Compartmentalization in Retail Complexes

Abstract

Retail complexes present significant fire safety challenges due to their large open-plan layouts, high occupant densities, and substantial combustible contents. Compartmentalization, the division of buildings into fire-resisting zones remains a fundamental passive strategy for limiting fire and smoke spread, protecting escape routes, and reducing damage. However, its effective application in retail design is often constrained by commercial preferences for spatial openness and, in many developing contexts, by weak enforcement and maintenance practices. This study examines architectural strategies for effective fire compartmentalization in retail complexes. A qualitative approach combining critical literature synthesis with comparative case study analysis of three retail facilities (Jabi Lake Mall and Ikeja City Mall Nigeria, and Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emirates) was adopted. Findings revealed that, while physical compartmentation elements are being frequently provided, their performance is often undermined by the poor maintenance, obstructed exits, and also, unregulated tenant modifications, particularly in the Nigerian cases. In contrast, there is a stronger integration of passive barriers with active systems and rigorous operational management, as demonstrated in the international case, significantly enhancing the fire containment. The study concludes that compartmentalization must be treated as a core architectural strategy rather than just a mere compliance requirement. An effective design requires early integration of fire-rated elements, a clear functional zoning of high-risk areas, robust detailing, and a coordination with means of escape and active protection systems. Priority should be given to a simple and maintainable solutions that can withstand operational realities, contributing to a more resilient and context-sensitive approaches to fire-safe retail design.