CASE STUDY

WOOLWICH CENTRAL, LONDON MIXED-USE

Consisting of one of Europe’s largest Tesco stores, 6 blocks of

residential properties and a multi-level car park, the Woolwich

Central development forms part of the ongoing regeneration works

in South-East London.

Recognising the complex fire safety considerations that need to

be made for large mixed-use projects, Willmott Dixon appointed

award-winning smoke ventilation system contractors Fire Design

Solutions (FDS) to provide its design and installation expertise.

Following a design and build appraisal, including CFD

(Computational Fluid Dynamics) Modelling, FDS was able to justify

the retail space’s large compartment size by specifying the use of a

smoke extraction system.

The store’s loading bay was also fitted with an engineered

mechanical smoke extraction system. By detecting carbon

monoxide levels the system provides day-to-day extraction,

meeting Approved Document F (ADF), as well as clearing smoke in

the event of fire.

In the development’s residential areas, FDS’ specialist contracting

team installed mechanical smoke ventilation and corridor

environmental systems, removing excess heat from common areas

throughout the development whilst still protecting the building’s

staircases from smoke in the event of fire.

Within the car park FDS provided full mechanical and electrical

installation of a smoke/heat detection and clearance system to

provide environmental extraction and smoke ventilation. The system

was interfaced with the development’s Building Management and

fire alarm systems.

Due to a tight schedule and project variations, FDS was set a

challenging five month deadline to carry out all works, a target

which was achieved, allowing the store to open on time.

Type of project: Mixed-use

Client: Tesco PLC

Architect: Sheppard Robson

STANDARDS THAT ARE FAR FROM STANDARD