Could the mega fire at Shopping 25 de Março have been prevented with Intelligent Predictive Monitoring?

A massive fire hit Shopping 25 de Março in Brás, downtown São Paulo, on Wednesday morning (30), leaving a trail of destruction and highlighting once again the urgent need for modernization of fire prevention systems in shopping centers. The incident, which began around 6:40 a.m. on the second floor of the building, consumed approximately 200 small stores in an area of ​​18,000 square meters.

The flames spread quickly, requiring the mobilization of 29 fire engines and 76 firefighters to fight the blaze, which was only brought under control after six hours of intense work. Three people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and the mall's roof collapsed, causing incalculable losses to store owners and property owners.

The Causes of the Fire: A Troubling Pattern of Negligence

Preliminary investigations point to a combination of factors that contributed to this tragedy. Chief among them is a lack of proper documentation—the mall's Fire Department Inspection Report (AVCB) had been expired since August. Furthermore, in 2022, engineers from the Department of Property Use Control (Contru) had already determined that the mall's automatic sprinklers and fire door system were not functioning properly.

Reports from shopkeepers indicate that the mall had been without power the afternoon before the incident, although Enel denied any reports of power outages at the location. This inconsistency in information suggests possible problems with the building's electrical infrastructure, a major risk factor for fires in commercial establishments, according to G1 .

How Intelligent Predictive Monitoring Could Have Prevented Tragedy

Carlos Porto, Applications Manager at Above-Net and a specialist in fire prevention services management, is emphatic in his assessment of the incident: "As an expert, I can affirm that prevention through intelligent monitoring is the most effective way to protect lives and property. Predictive monitoring is not just a technology, but an urgent necessity for modern security in commercial establishments."

Many minor fires occur frequently in buildings and cause significant damage to property. An efficient fire-fighting system can prevent a tragedy, but it still causes significant damage, whether due to fire, smoke, water-based firefighting, or even lost profits.

Indeed, the incident at Shopping 25 de Março is a clear and extreme example of how traditional fire prevention systems, when not properly monitored, can fail at critical moments. Implementing an intelligent predictive monitoring system based on Industrial IoT could have identified and alerted to several risk factors before they turned into a tragedy:

1. Electrical Infrastructure Monitoring:
   • Continuous detection of overloads and anomalies in the electrical network
   • Identification of heating points in busbars and ducts
   • Real-time monitoring of energy consumption and demand
2. Supervision of Firefighting Systems:
   • Line and sprinkler pressure monitoring
   • Continuous checking of reservoir levels
   • Monitoring the operational status of fire pumps
3. Environmental Control:
   • Constant temperature measurement in critical areas
   • Early smoke detection
   • Real-time air quality analysis

Bridgemeter: The Ultimate Solution in Intelligent Fire Prevention

Above Above-Net has been intensely dedicated to developing solutions that can prevent tragedies like this. Marcelo Ramos, CEO and Founder of the company, explains: " Bridgemeter was developed precisely to prevent tragedies like this. Our Industrial IoT technology allows us to identify and alert you to potential risks long before they become critical incidents. It's not just about monitoring, but about predictive intelligence that saves lives."

Bridgemeter represents a revolution in fire prevention for critical infrastructure. This Industrial IoT platform offers 24/7 continuous monitoring and real-time predictive analytics, enabling early identification of potential risks before they become catastrophic.

Holistic View of Real-Time Operation

Bridgemeter is designed to integrate multiple sensors and equipment, allowing for continuous monitoring of operational conditions. This includes detecting smoke, elevated temperatures, and other indicators that could signal an impending fire. With real-time alerts, security personnel could have been proactively notified of any anomalies, enabling a rapid response.

Predictive Analysis

Using advanced algorithms, Bridgemeter performs predictive analysis and identifies trends that precede failures or incidents. This technology would allow for the prediction of risk situations before they become critical, enabling preventative interventions.

Interoperability

The Bridgemeter system allows integration with other platforms and devices already in place at the mall, such as alarm and access control systems. This interoperability would increase the effectiveness of monitoring and emergency response.

In summary, the main features of Bridgemeter that could have prevented the incident include:

• Continuous Thermal Monitoring: Strategically placed sensors monitor the temperature of power buses and environments, identifying overloads and anomalies before they reach critical levels.
• Predictive Analytics: Advanced algorithms analyze patterns and trends, identifying potential risks before they manifest.
• Proactive Real-Time Alerts: Instant notifications are sent to responsible teams when abnormal conditions are detected.
• Integrated Management: Single interface for monitoring multiple critical systems, including power, firefighting and refrigeration.
• Digital Documentation: Management of plans, diagrams, installations, certifications, licenses and preventive maintenance.

Conclusion

The fire at Shopping 25 de Março serves as a stark reminder of the need to modernize fire prevention systems in commercial establishments. Implementing intelligent predictive monitoring solutions, such as Above-Net's Bridgemeter, is not only a matter of compliance, but a vital necessity to protect lives and property.

In a scenario where continued demand increases the risk of structural fires, with increasingly high temperatures and increasingly overloaded electrical systems, the adoption of smart preventive technologies becomes imperative.

Bridgemeter represents not just a technological evolution, but a fundamental shift in how we approach critical infrastructure security, providing an additional layer of protection that could have prevented this and many other similar tragedies.