Confluence Shopping Centre
Our team performed detailed CFD simulations for the Confluence Shopping Centre in Belgium, focusing on atrium airflow, thermal distribution, and ventilation efficiency. The analysis provided critical insights to support the optimisation of HVAC systems and enhance both occupant comfort and indoor environmental performance.
THE CHALLENGE
Given the high volume and diverse movement of visitors in shopping malls, the design of a shopping centre must prioritise occupant safety. One of the primary engineering challenges in a large, enclosed environment - with a high transient population, valuable assets, extensive merchandise, kitchens, restaurants, and staff - is the risk of fire.
Effectively preventing, mitigating, and managing fire scenarios requires careful analysis of potential hazards, airflow patterns, and smoke propagation. Identifying vulnerabilities in building layout, materials, and ventilation systems is therefore critical to ensuring fire safety, rapid evacuation, and protection of both occupants and property.
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SERVICES PROVIDED
CFD Analysis
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CFD Simulation
OUR APPROACH
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Our methodology leveraged CFD analysis to evaluate a range of conditions, with particular focus on smoke and fire scenarios and the factors influencing fire development. The process began with airflow simulations to understand baseline indoor circulation across different building levels, followed by fire simulations to predict smoke propagation, temperature distribution, and airflow velocities during fire events.
We then developed a coupled thermal - airflow model to assess additional conditions, such as potential overheating during summer months, providing a comprehensive understanding of indoor environmental behavior.
Fires in shopping centres present unique challenges due to large enclosed spaces, high occupant density, and complex layouts, requiring specialized safety considerations. To address these, our CFD methodology was enhanced to identify fluid flow risks, pinpoint potential weaknesses, and evaluate mitigation strategies, taking into account factors such as the building’s orientation, wind exposure, and locations of entrances and exits.
This approach enabled a data-driven assessment of fire safety and thermal performance, supporting optimized HVAC and building design to protect occupants, property, and overall indoor comfort.
OUTCOME
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1 Country, 1 Time Zone
1 CFD Simulation Report
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Since 2020, we have supported the Confluence Shopping Centre in enhancing fire prevention and protection strategies by leveraging advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software. This approach allows for precise modeling of smoke propagation, airflow dynamics, and fire scenarios, ensuring that safety systems are both effective and optimized for the building’s complex environment.