Evaluation of Fire Safety Management Strategies in Selected Shopping Malls in Abuja, Nigeria

2.1 Classes of fire

As defined by Marichelvam and Maheswaran,¹⁵ fire is a heat-releasing chemical reaction that occurs as a result of the quick oxidation of a substance, creating light and other reaction products. A fire is a chemical reaction that requires three elements to form: oxygen (at least 16%), heat (required for ignition and spread of fire), and fuel. When these three components react together, they cause fire.¹⁰ According to a study done by Ref. 16, there are four phases of fire growth: ignition, growth, full development, and decay.

According to the Ref. 17, there are five classes of fire: A, B, C, D, and K. The fuel of a fire determines the class under which it falls. Class A fires, also referred to as ordinary fires, are mainly fuelled by solid materials such as wood, paper, and fabric. Class B fires occur as a result of reactions with flammable liquids such as paint, kerosene, or petroleum. Electrical Fires are regarded as Class C fires and are prevalent in buildings that use heavy electrical equipment. The use of water for extinguishing should be avoided, as it can cause electrical shocks and damage the equipment. Class D fires, also referred to as metallic fires, are not very common but require special attention because they can be difficult to extinguish. They cannot be quenched with water, as this would exacerbate the situation. Thus, dry powders were used instead. Cooking or grease fires fall under Class A K fires, similar in nature to Class A fires, but are more specific to the food industry. Being one of the most dangerous fires, special care must be taken when attempting to suppress them. From the foregoing, it can be deduced that the 21st century shopping mall is highly susceptible to at least four classes of fire owing to the variety of functions integrated in one building. Thus, the provision of adequate fire safety systems should be a key consideration in the planning and development of such buildings.¹⁷

Fire can occur as a result of diverse factors and can quickly become a destructive force in people’s lives of people.¹⁸ Alao, et al.¹⁹ noted that fire incidences in a building can be traced to two major causes; human behaviours and the characteristics of the building. Rathnayake, et al.²⁰ also highlighted that fire incidents in buildings could occur as a result of the design layout of the building, maintenance practices, and human behavior. Other familiar causes of fire include: carelessness in handling electrical components, disorderly cigarette disposal, careless wiring and reaction of kitchen fires with flammables and in some cases, arson.²¹

In order to mitigate the effect of a fire outbreak or spread, it is impertinent that fire safety management is prioritized in buildings.²² Jo et al.²³ referred to fire safety management in buildings as daily managerial actions required to ensure that a building is 100% safe from fire as a result of its fire safety procedures being readily available when needed. Sallch and Ahmad²⁴ defined fire safety management as the application of a manager of policy, standards, tools, information, and practices to the task of analyzing, evaluating, and controlling fire safety’ (pp. 364). Chen et al.²⁵ referred to fire safety management as the most crucial aspect of any building evaluation system, comprising of fire prevention, evacuation methods and application of necessary alleviation strategies.

Mubita et al.²⁶ opined that effective fire management in commercial settings involves strategic implementation of both active and passive fire protection measures. Active fire safety measures include fire prevention measures installed in buildings that require action to be carried out. Some of these active strategies include fire alarms, sprinklers, fire extinguishers as well as other suppression systems.²⁷ It is important that these measures are put in place and kept under proper conditions to ensure optimal use. Other measures, such as escape routes, designed to get occupants safely out of a building in case of a fire outbreak, must be positioned conspicuously and maintained regularly.^28,29 These signs should be securely fixed and completely visible from anywhere in the building to guide occupants from the point of incidence to the escape door through the shortest travel distance.³⁰ The escape door should be easily identifiable, wide enough to accommodate massive movement, and made of fire-resistant materials such as steel.

2.2 The Nigerian National Building Code (2006)

The Nigerian National Building Code,³¹ which is responsible for establishing standard building criteria, has significantly addressed aspects of building design and construction-related fire safety and protection. It was emphasized that materials with weak fire resistance, such as timber, should be adequately treated to substantially minimize the rate of combustion. As stated in Section 5.3.5, reinforced concrete and steel should constitute the main materials used for staircase construction, with non-combustible materials as the tread and riser finishes. Section 5.3.7 indicates that automatic sprinkler systems should be installed in buildings with a height above 22.5 m. Smoke detectors connected to an alarm system should also be provided to ensure that users are aware and kept safe in case of an emergency.³¹ The alarm system installed should have a backup in case of an unexpected breakdown so as not to depreciate the functionality of the fire alarm systems.

2.3 Passive fire prevention measures

Passive fire prevention systems do not require action, but proper installation of certain fire management components to contain fire at its point of origin. This entails the provision of adequate escape routes, leading to unobstructed exit points and the use of fire-resistant floors and walls.²⁴ Materials used to contain fire at its point of origin play a significant role in fire protection.³² These materials should have properties that control temperatures while minimizing uncontrolled absorption of heat.³³ Mroz et al.³² stated that, in the last 20 years, concrete has been one of the most commonly used fire-resistant materials for construction. The significant amount of bound water, coupled with its low thermal conductivity, makes it an effective protection barrier against fire. According to a study by Ref. 24, the exit points should be clearly visible, obstruction-free, and have an outward swing to an open space.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act³⁴ defines three components that make up a well-designed escape route: exit access, exit, and exit discharge. Every escape route has to lead to an exit, which is separated from other areas to ensure a more protected travel for occupants to the discharge, which leads to a space with a direct link to the outside, street, or muster area.³⁴ These exit points should also be situated in close proximity to each other in the instance where one is inoperable due to fire or smoke. Suleiman and Zulkarnain³⁵ stated that the distance occupants must journey to all exit points must not exceed 45 m, as the route width must remain constant from one end to another. The sufficient provision of required routes of escape has a direct implication on the functionality of the fire detection and alarm system installed in such buildings.³⁶ Hence, the implementation of both passive and active fire safety measures with the right balance is essential for the effective maintenance of any fire-safe building deemed fire safe.³³

Certain situations in shopping malls naturally increase the risk of malls to fire outbreaks. Voids are designed to ease vertical circulation, architectural elements that improve aesthetics to draw a crowd, massive influx of ever-changing customers unaware of designated fire escape routes, and the connection of various retail outlets with diverse complexities make a shopping mall highly vulnerable to tragic fire incidents.³⁷ This point is supported by Rahim et al.³⁸ who stated that the administrative functions present in malls and the high volume of ever-changing customers at all times during the day, most likely unaware of the fire protection systems put in place, increase the risk factor of shopping malls to fire incidents. This further alters the nature of possible fire threats to buildings and occupants, thereby placing a huge responsibility on all stakeholders to implement optimal fire safety management strategies in these settings.³⁷ Due to the importance of providing adequate fire safety measures in buildings, some scholars have examined various issues related to fire safety in different building types. The findings of the studies reviewed in this regard are as follows.

Rahim et al.³⁸ investigated the fire safety awareness and management in a mall. This study focused on evaluating the level of fire safety awareness and knowledge of users in a shopping mall, as well as the adequacy of fire management adhered to in the structure, limiting its scope to a mall located on the 1^st to 4^th floor of the Kompleks Tun Abdul Rahman (KOMTAR) building as a case study. The study used structured questionnaires handed out to the building occupants as well as interviews with operations personnel to collect field data. The findings showed that the level of awareness of the respondents was moderately adequate, as most of them were aware of the basic knowledge required during an emergency.

A study on fire safety management strategies in selected markets in Lusaka City by Mubita et al.²⁶ investigated the causes and resultant effects of fire accidents in selected markets in Lusaka district. A qualitative approach to data collection and analysis was adopted to obtain the opinions and perceptions of occupants. The findings showed that the majority of marketers have experienced the negative effect of fire outbreaks before, as the implementation of adequate fire safety strategies, such as fire safety training and provision of firefighting devices, are not prioritized.

Makanjuola et al.³⁹ assessed fire safety practices in public buildings in the western part of Nigeria using a qualitative approach. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and interviews. The study discovered that the majority of public buildings investigated lacked adequate firefighting devices. The few fire safety gadgets provided were not functional because of the lack of periodic maintenance. The occupants of buildings rarely receive any fire safety training and are largely unaware of basic emergency hotspots to contact in the event of an emergency.

In a review paper titled ‘Factors Contributing to Building Fire Incidents: A Review’ by Rathnayake et al., ²⁰ the study provides a comprehensive review by examining the factors involved in the occurrence of building fire incidents. The inquiry discovered that prompt fire detection, monitoring, equipment maintenance, fire training, and periodic fire drills are crucial in firefighting.

Wong and Xie⁴⁰ proposed a comprehensive fire-safety management strategy tailored to complex developments. The study suggests that an effective fire management approach constitutes a fire management team plan, emergency procedures, and maintenance strategies.

In another study titled “Fire Safety Design for Tall Buildings” by Cowland et al.,⁴¹ the susceptibility of tall buildings to fire outbreaks was examined using previous incidences in history as case studies. The authors provided a comprehensive review of the impact of performance-based design and extensive pre-design research on the construction of fire-safe high-rise structures. The study demonstrated that a holistic fire safety strategy constitutes an evacuation strategy and building performance, that is, structural performance and compartmentation.

A study on “Improving Safety Performance Through Efficient Prioritization for Fire and Evacuation Safety in Commercial Buildings” by Na et al.⁴² examined methods of improving the fire performance of aging commercial building through engineering-based examinations. This research focused on addressing the vulnerability of aging structures to fire outbreaks by improving the evacuation performance of such buildings.

The aforementioned reviews outlined various relevant studies related to fire safety in public and commercial settings, emphasizing the need for the prompt prioritization of fire safety measures. However, the majority of the studies focused on buildings that were not large commercial centers with a large number of users, particularly large-scale shopping arenas that are vulnerable to fire incidents as a result of their nature. None of the studies was conducted in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. Thus, this study was conducted to fill other areas to make valuable contributions to knowledge through the provision of empirical data on the fire safety management strategies of selected shopping malls in Abuja, Nigeria.

4.1 Fire safety measures of selected shopping malls in Abuja, Nigeria

The first objective was to examine the fire safety measures implemented in the selected shopping malls. The outcomes of the data analysis were as follows:

4.1.1 Ebeano Supermarket, Wuse 2

After a fire incident that destroyed the previous facility, Ebeano Supermarket opened a new location in 2022 at Wuse 2. The building consists of two floors: the ground floor is designated for the use of customers (general public), while the first floor, still undergoing some construction work in some areas, is strictly for the use of staff members. The outcome of the investigation in the Ebeano Supermarket shows that both active and passive fire safety measures were adopted in the facility. The results of data analysis are presented in Table 1.

The data in Table 1 indicate that the majority of the active and passive fire safety measures essential to a shopping mall were implemented in the facility. The results showed that the building was equipped with fire alarm and detection systems. Extensive fire emergency systems, including smoke detectors, sprinklers, wet risers, hose reels, and fire extinguishers, were provided, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.

Figure 1. Smoke detector on ceiling.

Figure 2. Sprinklers on ceiling.

Figure 3. Wet riser along the corridor.

Figure 4. Fire extinguisher, hose reel and indicator at the entrance.

Figure 5. Fire extinguisher near a retail store.

However, drenchers and fire buckets were not included in the structure. In addition, fire signage pointing to the location of fire exits was observed to be missing in the building. Nevertheless, the use of fire-resistant floors and walls as passive fire safety measures is noticeable throughout the building. Alternative exits that serve as fire exits, adequate walkway widths, as shown in Figure 6, and circulation space for fire trucks on the site were provided. The fire-resistant walls of the building were made of 150 mm and 225 mm thick sandcrete blocks. Reinforced concrete slab floors screeded with sand/cement screed and finished with tiles served as fire-resistant floors of the building, as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 6. Walkway width for mass movement.

Figure 7. Fire-resistant floor.

Outdoor fire hydrants, hose reels, and a designated muster point were also incorporated in the development of the supermarket, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, in conformity with the best practices.

Figure 8. Outdoor fire hydrants and hose reel.

Figure 9. Designated muster point.

4.1.2 Tropic Galleria Mall, Central Business District, Abuja

The Tropic Galleria Mall Building was commissioned in 2020. The building consists of three floors: the ground floor and first floor serve as shopping areas for the general public, with various retail outlets offering both products and services. The second floor was under reconstruction because of a fire outbreak on the floor a few years ago. The data gathered in the Tropic Galleria Mall indicated that both active and passive fire safety provisions were provided in the building. Further analysis of the data indicates that necessary full-scale active fire safety measures essential in a shopping mall were conspicuously missing in the building, as presented in Table 2.

The data in Table 2 reveal that fire extinguishers, fire signage, fire alarm systems, and smoke detectors were provided to the building, as shown in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

Figure 10. Fire extinguisher positioned along a corridor.

Figure 11. Fire extinguisher positioned on the site, near the fence.

Figure 12. Fire signage and fire alarm with break glass on wall.

Figure 13. Fire alarm bell on ceiling.

Figure 14. Smoke detector on ceiling.

Fire blankets were provided to the building. However, full-scale firefighting measures, such as sprinklers, drenchers, wet or dry risers, and hose reels, were all missing from the structure. Passive fire safety measures were implemented throughout the building in fire-resistant walls, fire-resistant floors, and unobstructed escape routes within and outside the building. The escape doors of the building were glass doors. Sandcrete block walls of 150 and 225 mm were fire-resistant walls found in the building, as captured with Figure 15. In contrast, reinforced concrete slabs finished with tiles are fire-resistant flooring adopted in the structure, as shown in Figure 16.

Figure 15. Fire extinguisher hung on fire-resistant block wall.

Figure 16. Fire-resistant floor.

4.2 The most common active fire safety measures of the shopping malls

The second objective of this study was to determine the most common fire safety measures for shopping malls. Based on the results displayed in Tables 1 and 2, the most common active fire safety measures implemented in shopping malls are hand appliances that include fire extinguishers ( Figures 4, 5, 9, 10, and 15). Others are fire alarm systems comprising fire alarms ( Figures 11 and 12), smoke detectors ( Figures 1 and 13), automatic notification systems, and emergency public announcement devices. These common active fire safety measures are usually suitable for combating small-scale fire incidents. Full-scale active fire safety devices, such as sprinklers, hose reels, dry or wet risers, and drenchers, are not common in shopping malls.

4.3 Adequacy of fire safety measures of the shopping malls

The third objective was to investigate the adequacy of fire safety measures implemented in the selected shopping malls. The results of the investigation in this regard are as follows:

4.3.1 Ebeano Supermarket, Wuse 2

The results of the investigation conducted in the Ebeano Supermarket showed that the majority of the fire safety measures needed in the building were provided. Of the 15 active fire safety strategies expected in such a building, nine were identified as present, as presented in Table 1 and examined in Section 4.1.1. These include fire extinguishers, dry risers, fire blankets, sprinklers, outdoor fire hydrants, fire alarms, smoke detectors, automatic notification systems, and emergency public announcement systems. Active fire safety measures are deemed to be reasonably adequate, as the majority of the crucial firefighting devices such as sprinklers, fire extinguishers, dry risers, and fire alarm systems were adequately provided. This implies that the building is reasonably equipped to combat both small- and large-scale fire outbreaks. Nevertheless, provisions have not been made for fire buckets and drenchers. The absence of drenchers in buildings make them susceptible to the effects of fires from adjacent close-by buildings or situations.

The measures implemented to ensure passive fire safety were also found to be reasonably adequate. Eleven passive fire safety strategies were investigated, and only four were found to be missing, as listed in Table 1. The passive fire safety discovered to be missing or inadequate is the use of fire signage, proper waste management systems, and adequate width for mass movement. Passive fire safety measures in buildings include fire-resistant walls and doors, escape routes, emergency elevators, emergency lighting, muster points, and well-ventilated fire-resistant waste storage.

Being a building on two floors, the absence of an emergency elevator in the case of a power outage in a fire incident could pose problems for users who are stuck on the upper floor. In addition, the waste management process adopted by the building is poor, as the waste is dumped outside the building, and there is no properly managed waste area, as shown in Figure 17. Unsegregated waste can serve as an additional fuel for a fire in the event of an outbreak in a building.

Figure 17. Improper waste disposal system.

However, fire-resistant floors, doors, and walls are used throughout the building. The fire exit doors provided are single-leaf, single-swing, and steel doors that also serve as service and alternative exits. It is important to note that though provision was made for a fire exit, the steps leading to the exit door was poorly and inadequately provided. There is no clear horizontal floor surface of at least 1200 mm after the steps before reaching the door from outside the building to provide users with adequate manoeuvring space in front of the door, as shown in Figure 18. Such a space is needed for users entering or exiting the building from the exit doors to safely manoeuvre to use the door. This makes the door unsafe to use, particularly in the case of an emergency situation where occupants rush to exit the building in panic mood.

Figure 18. Escape fire door with inadequate landing.

In addition, the fire escape door provided is 900 mm in width, making its size inadequate to accommodate mass movement and physically challenged individuals using wheelchairs in case of an emergency. Additionally, the escape door was situated at a hidden corner in the mall. The absence of fire signage to direct users reduces the efficiency and adequacy of the door as a fire-escape door.

However, non-slip vitrified tiles used as floor finishes over reinforced concrete fire-resistant floors used in structures are considered appropriate for ensuring safety during escape, as highlighted by Ref. 44. In addition, outside escape routes (walkways) are adequate to accommodate mass movement in the case of an emergency. Adequate circulation spaces outside the building to accommodate the easy manoeuvring of fire trucks in case of a fire occurrence were also provided, with an alternative gate at the rear end of the site for service and the use of fire trucks, if needed, as shown in Figure 19.

Figure 19. Alternative service gate for trucks.

A designated muster point was also provided at a site outside the building. It is situated at a reasonable distance from the structure to ensure that users are kept safe from the place of incidence while taking a roll call. Generally, the adequacy of the fire safety management strategies of the Ebeano Supermarket building is reasonably satisfactory, although there is room for improvement in a few areas, such as the provision of fire buckets, drenchers, fire signage, adequate fire exit door size with a clear approach foreground, and proper waste management system.

4.3.2 Tropic Galleria Mall, Central Business District

The results from Tropic Galleria Mall presented in Table 2 and examined in Section 4.1.2, show that key fire safety measures required in such a structure were absent or inadequate, particularly full-scale fire safety devices needed to combat large-scale fire outbreaks. Of the 15 active fire safety measures expected in such a structure, only five were provided, as shown in Table 2. They include fire extinguishers and fire alarm systems such as fire alarms, smoke detectors, automatic notification systems, and emergency public announcement systems. These provisions are grossly inadequate as essential firefighting devices such as fire buckets, fire blankets, wet or dry risers, hose reels, sprinklers, drenchers, and outdoor fire hydrants were conspicuously missing in the building. Although smoke detectors were available in the building, they were inadequate because only three were found in the structure. An example of one of the three smoke detectors is shown in Figure 14.

The building is equipped with fire signage and alarm system with break glass, as shown in Figure 12, and fire signage to direct users to the point of exits is not provided in the building. This could lead to confusion in the case of panic evacuation, as the exit doors are not conspicuously visible to shoppers who are unfamiliar with the building. This shows that while it might be possible to mitigate the spread of small-scale fires to a reasonable extent in the structure, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to do so for large-scale fire outbreaks because of the absence of major active fire safety devices found to be missing or inadequate in the building.

Reasonable provisions were made for passive fire safety strategies, as shown in Table 2. Measures such as fire-resistant floors and walls, escape routes, fire exit doors, fire signage, muster points, and sizeable walkways/manoeuvring spaces were provided. Active devices, such as fire extinguishers, were also provided both inside and outside the building, as shown in Figures 10, 11, and 15. Although reasonable satisfactory provisions were observed to have been made for fire-resistant walls, several of the walls were found to be cladded with fire-prone elements, such as plastic leaves and wood, purely for aesthetic purposes. Such materials can serve as fuel in the case of a fire incident, thereby escalating small-scale fires to large-scale fires within a short period. To compound this scenario, some of these inflammable materials are situated close to the electrical power outlets, thereby increasing the risk involved in their incorporation into the building, as shown in Figures 20 and 21.

Figure 20. Plastic decorative leaves around AC unit.

Figure 21. Plastic leaves around electric sockets.

In addition, the electrical control panel is cased with a box made entirely of wood, a highly inflammable material, as opposed to steel, as shown in Figure 22.

Figure 22. Control panel cased in a wooden box.

It is further observed that the elevator provided in the building is solely powered by electricity and would be inadequate in the case of a fire outbreak that usually leads to a power outage. The muster point of the building where a roll call can be taken in the event of a fire outbreak to ascertain whether everyone is safely out of the building is situated at the entrance gate to the site, as shown in Figure 23. It is located at a reasonable distance from the building to keep users safe from harm in the event of a fire.

Figure 23. Designated muster point.

The results on the adequacy of the fire safety measures of the Tropic Galleria Mall show that although passive fire safety measures were fairly provided, the active fire safety devices were grossly inadequate. To compound the problem, the fire extinguishers that were found in the building were sparsely provided at far distances from each other, in addition to not sighted in conspicuous locations for users of the building to easily locate them in case of an emergency. This implies that the fire safety management strategies of malls are largely inadequate, especially for combating large-scale fire outbreaks.

4.4 Discussion

The first objective of this study is to examine the fire safety measures implemented in selected shopping malls. The results presented in Tables 1 and 2 show that the fire safety strategies of the buildings exhibited various levels of inadequacies, with active measures having a lower performance rating than passive measures. The result obtained from the Tropic Galleria Mall was far lower than that from the Ebeano Supermarket. Most of the active measures found to have been satisfactorily provided in the Ebeano Supermarket were found to be missing in the Tropic Galleria Mall. These include dry risers, fire blankets, sprinklers, and outdoor fire hydrants.

However, both buildings performed similarly in the implementation of passive fire safety measures, which were reasonably provided. Nevertheless, the Ebeano Supermarket again has a better rating than Tropic Galleria Mall in this regard. It can be deduced that the shopping malls were designed and constructed with fire safety considerations in mind, although significantly inadequate scenarios were observed, as previously highlighted. This finding indicates that although both facilities incorporated passive fire safety measures from the design to the construction stage, there were discrepancies in the level of compliance to fire safety standards. This also shows that Tropic Galleria Mall poses greater vulnerability in the event of a fire-related hazard. A study conducted by Agyekum et al.⁴⁵ on Fire Safety Preparedness in the Central Business District of Kumasi, Ghana, revealed a similar trend where essential active fire safety measures are often missing or non-functional. This aligns with the findings of the current study, reiterating that the absence or inadequate implementation of active fire safety measures poses a significant risk in the case of a fire outbreak in commercial spaces.

The second objective was to determine the most common fire safety measures provided by shopping malls. According to the findings, fire extinguishers and fire alarm systems, such as fire alarms, smoke detectors, automatic notification systems, and emergency public announcement devices, are the most common active fire safety measures uncovered in shopping malls. Full-scale fire safety devices such as sprinklers, drenchers, hose reels, and wet or dry risers are not common in establishments. This shows that supermarkets are only commonly equipped with active fire safety appliances that are suitable for extinguishing small-scale fires. When a large-scale fire occurs, active fire safety appliances that are fit for bringing such a fire under control before it causes significant damage are not common. In addition, some of the adopted active measures were inadequately implemented. For instance, some fire extinguishers are not situated in conspicuous locations for easy accessibility, as advanced by Ref. 46. This also conforms to the findings of Ref. 47 that active fire safety measures in commercial buildings are inadequately provided.

In evaluating the adequacy of the existing fire safety measures adopted in the selected shopping malls, in line with the third objective, the results showed that the passive measures implemented in the structures were moderately adequate to ensure fire safety. However, active measures are grossly inadequate. The Nigerian National Building Code³¹ stipulates that all public buildings should have public notification systems, sprinklers, and smoke detectors at all levels in the building. Juxtaposing the Ebeano Supermarket and Tropic Galleria, the former adhered more to these requirements than the latter did. Although Tropic Galleria adhered to a few of the guidelines in providing fire extinguishers and fire alarm systems, the level of adherence was significantly low, as full-scale active fire safety appliances are generally not provided in the structure. This is consistent with the findings of Dankani et al.⁴⁸ that there is a dismal implementation of fire safety devices in certain building types in Nigeria.

The general implication of the findings of this study is that the fire safety measures implemented in shopping malls are not adequate for ensuring the safety of users and properties in the building in the event of a major fire outbreak. The differential level of adherence in both buildings reveals that priority was not given to fully conform to provisions that meet the requirements of established fire safety regulations. It also depicts some level of negligence on the part of fire safety regulatory bodies and enforcers to ensure that every public structure conforms to the laid down fire safety guidelines and procedures.

Consequently, shopping malls cannot fully guarantee the safety and protection of lives and property in the event of a fire outbreak, especially large-scale fire incidents. Thus, it is highly necessary that more fire safety measures be implemented and fire safety management be prioritized in shopping malls, with the aim of safeguarding lives, as well as protecting properties and buildings.