Kidde Thorn secures safety at Bluewater

Citation

(1999), "Kidde Thorn secures safety at Bluewater", Facilities, Vol. 17 No. 9/10. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.1999.06917iab.005

Kidde Thorn secures safety at Bluewater

Kidde Thorn secures safety at Bluewater

Keywords: Fire safety, Shopping centres

In large multi-store retail outlets, fire safety is of maximum importance. With thousands of shoppers coming in the doors every hour, it is imperative that should an emergency occur, everybody is able to reach exits safely and have swift access to emergency equipment at all times.

As is the case in the newly opened Bluewater in Northwest Kent. This up-market development boasts 320 shops, restaurants and cafÅs, making it the largest retail and leisure development in Europe, with three major department stores, one on each corner.

It is in two of these three anchor stores that UK leading provider of fire protective equipment, Kidde Thorn, will be ensuring the safety of the shoppers at Bluewater. Marks & Spencer and House of Fraser are existing Kidde Thorn customers; therefore their new stores at Bluewater are being fitted with Kidde Thorn equipment, in extinguisher-only contracts. This is as well as a range of smaller retail outlets that Kidde Thorn is fitting out as they open, including JD Sports, Jigsaw, Costa Coffee and Frazer Hart.

"Our dedicated team of engineers worked round the clock to ensure fire safety equipment was fitted throughout the stores", commented Kidde Thorn operations manager for the area, Tony Edwards. "They were available in advance of store opening to install each shop with the appropriate equipment."

Bluewater opened mid-March.

For further information, please contact: Madeline Smith, Kidde Thorn Fire Protection Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)161 654 2200.