Shopping Centres

EVs and hybrids are now a normal part of shopping centre life — parked close together, charging on-site, and moving through busy customer areas. That changes the risk profile for centre operators: lithium-ion battery thermal runaway events can generate significant heat and smoke, extremely high temperatures, and do not behave like traditional vehicle fires. Fire Cloak™ provides a high-performance solution to isolate and contain a suspected EV incident, helping protect the public, tenants and business continuity.

Trusted by shopping centre operators, retail parks and property management organisations to support EV fire preparedness across public car parks, service yards, loading bays and EV charging areas.

Shopping centres combine high footfall with high vehicle density. EVs are often parked in tight rows, beneath retail units, next to pedestrian routes, and in enclosed or semi-enclosed car parks where smoke management and access can become difficult quickly.

If a battery incident escalates into thermal runaway, it can burn for a prolonged period, with the risk of re-ignition. In underground or multi-storey car parks, heat and smoke can spread fast — affecting evacuation, putting security and facilities teams under pressure, and creating a real risk to life, building structure and nearby vehicles.

As EV use increases, operators need a fast way to isolate a suspected vehicle early and keep the situation contained, reducing risk to the public and limiting disruption.

In shopping centre environments, EV containment must meet public safety obligations, fire safety legislation and insurer requirements — while remaining straightforward for security, facilities and emergency response teams to use.

A controlled response typically depends on:

• Containment equipment positioned on the right car park levels and near charging points
• A deployment method that works in public-facing, confined and sometimes low-clearance spaces
• Clear alignment with existing fire alarm systems, evacuation plans and incident response procedures
• Robust, clearly marked storage, so equipment is protected and instantly accessible
• Independent testing/certification that provides confidence
• Simplicity, so trained teams can act decisively while emergency services are mobilised

Fire Cloak™ EV Fire Blankets are engineered and manufactured in the UK and designed for environments where people and property sit close to electric vehicles — including underground car parks, multi-storey decks, surface parking, service yards and loading areas.

Fire Cloak™ is independently tested and certified to DIN SPEC 91489:2024-11, with additional testing aligned to relevant ISO and BSI standards. For shopping centres, it provides a proven, verified containment option that can be stored on site and deployed by trained teams to help isolate an incident quickly in public or enclosed parking environments.

Shopping centres typically position EV containment capability where vehicles are parked close to the public, at charging points or where spaces are less easy to access. Common use cases include:

• Public car parks (surface, multi-storey or underground): high vehicle density, often close to entrances, lifts and pedestrian routes.
• EV charging bays: dedicated charging zones within car parks and mixed-use charging areas.
• Staff parking areas: longer dwell times and increasing EV uptake.
• Service yards and loading bays: back-of-house vehicle areas where access routes and fire safety procedures differ from public spaces.
• Mixed-use destinations: where retail sits alongside leisure, food and events — increasing footfall and the need for clear incident control.
• Property / FM response hubs: locations where security and facilities teams can access equipment quickly as part of site response procedures.

In shopping centres, incidents may happen in public areas, so speed, clarity and access to equipment matter. Fire Cloak™ can be supplied in storage boxes and easily positioned at strategic locations so that trained teams can respond without delay.

A typical deployment can be carried out quickly by trained personnel and Emergency Services:

1. Retrieve the blanket from its designated storage location
2. Secure the area and prepare deployment in line with site evacuation and fire safety procedures
3. Deploy the blanket over the vehicle to isolate it and help limit fire, heat and smoke spread
4. Continue response actions in coordination with emergency services and existing fire safety protocols

Fire Cloak™ is trusted by shopping centre operators, commercial property owners and facilities management organisations in the UK and internationally — including the Trafford Centre, the Victoria Centre, Braehead Shopping Centre and the Dubai Mall — to support EV fire preparedness in public parking and retail environments.

If you have a specific question about Fire Cloak™ for shopping centre applications that isn’t answered here, please get in touch with our team for tailored advice.

If you operate a shopping centre, retail park or mixed-use destination with public parking or EV charging facilities, Fire Cloak™ can support your EV fire preparedness with a practical, easy-to-deploy containment solution that integrates seamlessly into existing fire safety and emergency response plans.