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Shopping Centre Disabled Refuge System – Handpicked Solutions by Eurofyre

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Large shopping centres, also known as shopping malls, are commercial complexes that house a wide variety of retail stores, restaurants, entertainment venues and often other services like banks or gyms, all under one roof. Typically ranging over multiple floors, large shopping centres serve as one-stop destinations for consumers, offering convenience by consolidating diverse shopping and leisure activities in a single location.

Large shopping centres are often located on the outskirts of major cities or in urban centres. Notable examples include Westfield in London and the Trafford Centre in Manchester. Their primary function is to attract shoppers by offering a broad selection of goods, services, and entertainment options, promoting convenience and variety. Additionally, they contribute to the local economy by creating jobs and supporting the surrounding retail and hospitality industries.

What are the Risks?

Large shopping centres face several fire risks, such as electrical faults, cooking facilities, flammable materials, arson, and overcrowding. These risks can lead to fires that spread quickly, posing serious dangers to occupants, especially those with mobility impairments who may struggle to evacuate without assistance.

In such emergencies, Emergency Voice Communication (EVC) systems are essential to provide a direct, two-way communication link between people in refuge areas and emergency personnel. 

Disabled Refuge

A disabled refuge system is a dedicated, safe area within a building where people with mobility impairments can wait for assistance during an emergency, such as a fire. These systems typically include an intercom or communication device that allows occupants to call for help and stay in contact with rescue personnel.

They are commonly used in large buildings, such as shopping centres, hospitals, offices, and multi-storey residential buildings. These areas are usually located in protected stairwells or other fire-resistant parts of the building.

Disabled refuge systems provide a secure space for people who may not be able to use stairs or evacuate independently, ensuring their safety while they wait for evacuation assistance from emergency services.

Crisis Disabled Refuge

Crisis EVC is a reliable communication network used in emergencies, typically in large buildings. It ensures that people in need, especially those with mobility issues in disabled refuge areas, can communicate directly with emergency personnel.

Key components of Crisis EVC include:

Disabled refuge outstations
Safe areas where individuals can wait for assistance and communicate with responders.
Emergency telephones
Located in key areas, providing a direct communication line during emergencies.
Master Station
Central unit that manages all communication points and allows operators to coordinate responses.

The Crisis EVC system works by linking these communication points to a central control panel. When activated, individuals can speak directly with emergency personnel, ensuring a clear two-way communication. This allows responders to provide assistance, offer instructions, and monitor the situation until evacuation or rescue is complete.

Typical Wiring Diagram

The CRISIS disabled refuge system uses a single two-core cable to transfer both power and data to each outstation. This simplifies installation and ensures reliable communication and power to refuge points, typically arranged in a loop for redundancy and continuous operation during emergencies.

Crisis EVC Typical Wiring Diagram

Master Station Placement

The Master Station should be installed near the main entrance, where it is easily accessible and visible to the fire brigade and emergency responders upon arrival. Positioning it in a central, high-traffic area ensures quick access, allowing emergency personnel to take control of communications and monitor the situation efficiently.

Crisis Assist Standalone Master Station
Crisis Assist Network Master Station

Disabled Refuge Outstation Placement

A disabled refuge outstation should be mounted in a protected stairway or fire-resistant area, at an accessible height for wheelchair users (900mm-1200mm). It must be clearly marked and easily reachable, providing safe communication with emergency personnel while individuals wait for assistance.

Crisis Assist Type B Outstation
Crisis Assist Type B Outstation Stainless Steel
Crisis Assist Type B Outstation Label

Handpicked Products for Shopping Centres

A Crisis EVC Disabled Refuge system for a large shopping centre will typically include: 

Disabled Refuge Control Panels

Crisis EVC Standalone Master Station

The Crisis EVC Master Station is ideal for small buildings which are required to have an EVC system with a limited number of outstations. The Crisis Master Station can support up to eight lines of outstation, including type A fixed phones, type B refuge hands-free points and emergency assist call points.

Crisis EVC Network Master Station

The Crisis EVC Network Master Station also supports up to eight lines for outstations, such as type A fixed phones, type B refuge hands-free points and emergency assist call points but also has built-in networking allowing it to form one of the 64 panels on a Crisis network.

Crisis EVC Expander Panel

Crisis Expander Panels are used to extend the Crisis EVC network to a total of up to 512 outstations. The display on the front of the panel gives the current call or fault status of each line of the local panel to aid fault finding.

Disabled Refuge Outstations

Crisis Green Type B Refuge Outstation

The Crisis Type B Outstation is designed to be used by the public as a disabled refuge call point. It provides hands-free operation for those in need of assistance and has a high-contrast design incorporating a highly visible braille enhanced call button which flashes green in normal conditions, flashes red when ringing, and is solid red when a call is connected.

Crisis Stainless Steel Type B Refuge Outstation

The Crisis Stainless Steel Type B Refuge Outstation offers all the same functions and features as the Crisis Green Type B Outstation, but with a stainless steel front panel.

Crisis Combined Type A & B Outstation

The Crisis Combined Type A & B Outstation can be used as a fire telephone or a disabled refuge call point. Crisis outstations are designed for use by multi-disability users, having high-contrast signage in line with RNIB guidelines and an induction loop coil in the handset.

Crisis Type B Refuge Induction Loop Outstation

The Crisis Type B Induction Loop Outstation has an integral audio frequency induction loop (AFILS) and has been optimised to produce the horizontal field as required by BS5839-9:2011. This unit also has a high-contrast design incorporating a highly visible braille enhanced call button which flashes green in normal conditions, flashes red when ringing, and is solid red when a call is connected.

Crisis Type B Weatherproof Refuge Outstation

The Crisis Type B Weatherproof Outstation is for use in outdoor or exposed areas and is compatible with the Crisis standalone and network EVC systems. The weatherproof outstation is supplied within a compact IP65 enclosure which is externally signed. The enclosure is opened by operation of a lever lock, exposing the hands-free unit and operating instructions.

Why Choose Eurofyre?

Complete System Supplier
Eurofyre supplies all aspects of fire detection and its associated safety products, including emergency voice communication systems, and can provide expert advice and consultation.
Demonstration and Training
We offer demonstrations and expert training on a range of systems, including Crisis EVC systems, in our very own sophisticated training facility.
After-Sales Support
Eurofyre offers both on-site and telephone support to assist you in ensuring that your system is fully functional and operating at maximum efficiency. Our after-sales care and support are second to none.

For more information about Crisis EVC, or to discuss any of the other products that Eurofyre have to offer, please feel free to get in touch either by phone on +44 (0) 1329 835 024, by email to [email protected] or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.

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