Pacific Place Mall – 1 Pacific Place, Queensway

The Pacific Place Mall is one of Hong Kong’s impressive modern design retail complexes that give shoppers a sense of freedom due to the open nature of the central atria style penetration through all levels. The shopping complex contains various indulging fashion brands, six (6) cinema theatres, music and visual stores, book stores and a collection of quality restaurants. Surrounding the Pacific Place Mall are four (4) five-star hotels, apartments, office space and a Garden Court. Shoppers are able to access the garden court from the Pacific Place Mall via a 96m long link bridge.

Scientific Fire Services Pty was engaged to provide an innovative alternative Fire Safety solution for the Pacific Place Mall without compromising the architectural vision and design specifications. Some of the design issues that formed the basis of the fire safety engineering approach included the following:

• Rationalisation of fire separation
• Use of reduced fire rating separation between the basement car parking facility and the remainder of the building
• Deletion of Façade separation, including spandrel and horizontal separation
• Deletion of fixed barriers around the atrium voids
• Oversized fire shutters
• Rationalisation of fire compartmentation volumes within the Pacific Place Garden Court
• Occupant egress provisions adopted throughout the Pacific Place Garden Court

An extensive Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling in order to demonstrate that the smoke hazard management system provides adequate level performance was compatible with the life safety goals established by the design team.

Detailed computer occupant movement simulations were conducted (utilising Simulex 3.0) for the entire Pacific Place Mall to determine if effectiveness of the occupant egress design and to ensure acceptable levels of occupant life safety was achieved.