What type of cockloft is known to contribute to widespread fire in a strip mall?

A cockloft is an area between the ceiling of the top story and the roof of a building, and its design significantly influences fire spread. An open cockloft is characterized by a continuous space that allows smoke and heat to travel freely across the entire area, creating conditions where a fire can spread rapidly. This design is especially prevalent in strip malls, where interconnected spaces can facilitate fire movement from one unit to another due to the lack of barriers.

A breached cockloft, on the other hand, occurs when there is an interruption or opening in the structure, such as when contractors fail to seal off spaces completely. This can also allow for fire spread but may not enable the same level of widespread fire as an uninterrupted open cockloft.

The combination of an open and breached cockloft can create a particularly dangerous situation. In a strip mall, if both types of cocklofts are present, it significantly increases the likelihood of a fire spreading widely and quickly across multiple units. This is due to the fact that not only do heat and smoke move unimpeded through the open areas, but breached areas provide additional pathways between sections of the structure, enhancing fire propagation.

Thus, recognizing both open and breached cockloft conditions in a strip mall