The VEU provides the best fire protection without distracting from the unusual and beautiful curvature of the glass atrium |
The Chadstone shopping complex is the largest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere, located in Melbourne, Australia. With over 20 million visitors annually, the high-end outlet is a retail home for world-class brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, and Tiffany & Co. Chadstone has recently undergone a $600 million+ expansion, which will include over 40 new retailers, a 10-storey office building and a hotel. Part of the expansion includes a complete redevelopment of the northern part of the complex which includes a four-level glass-roofed atrium.
VESDA-E VEU with centralised detector architecture
The high ceiling of the northern expansion, as well as the unusual curvature of the glass atrium presented a fire detection challenge. Mounting locations for fire detectors were also limited and pre-determined to comply with management standards. VESDA-E VEU by Xtralis was the obvious solution due to its very early and reliable detection and extended pipe lengths to accommodate for the height of the ceiling. VEU is flexible enough to accommodate the longer pipe runs and provide detection from the pre-determined mounting locations. The extended pipe networks reduced the total number of detectors required, and VEU’s centralised detector architecture provides quick and efficient service and maintenance with no special tools required. Only four VESDA-E VEU detectors are required to protect the entire northern expansion atrium of Chadstone.
The VEU at Chadstone is also an aesthetically pleasing solution, providing the best available fire protection without distracting from the unusual and beautiful curvature of the glass atrium. The VEU detectors can be monitored and managed remotely with mobile devices and an iVESDA application, giving facilities management constant access to each detector. Chadstone is a world-class retail destination housing some of the world’s most prominent brands. With VESDA-E VEU, Chadstone selected the very best protection for its facility, clients, and customers.