When residential, commercial, and leisure uses share a building, fire safety design becomes complex. We explain the approach.. Mixed Use Complexity Mixed use developments combine different occupancy types — each with different fire safety requirements, evacuation strategies, and risk profiles. Key Design Principles 1. Separation — each use treated as a separate compartment 2. Independent escape — residential escape routes must be completely separate from commercial 3. Different evacuation strategies — residential (stay put) vs commercial (simultaneous) 4. Fire service access — separate access for residential and commercial firefighting 5. Structural fire resistance — highest requirement governs shared elements Common Configurations Podium tower — commercial podium with residential tower above Stacked uses — retail/restaurant at ground, offices above, residential at top Side by side — different uses sharing a common basement/car park For mixed use fire safety design, contact us.