Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster

The iconic Eco-Power Stadium, home to Doncaster Rovers F.C., has undergone a significant upgrade to its fire safety system. In partnership with JLA Fire and Security, the stadium has adopted Hochiki Europe’s innovative open protocol technology to ensure the safety of its 15,231-capacity crowd and staff. This strategic move has not only enhanced the stadium’s safety infrastructure but also streamlined operations and reduced maintenance costs.

The Eco-Power Stadium, formerly known as the Keepmoat Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Doncaster, England. Opened in 2007, it is home to Doncaster Rovers F.C., Doncaster R.L.F.C., and Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C. With a capacity of 15,231, the stadium is a key sporting venue in the region, hosting a variety of football, rugby league, and women's football matches. It is also a premier hospitality venue for the city of Doncaster, regularly hosting business meetings, weddings and awards ceremonies.

The old fire alarm system was installed nearly 20 years ago and operated on ‘managed protocol’ meaning it could only be worked on by the company who manufactured the system. The panel and detection had become obsolete, so replacement parts were becoming increasingly hard to source and, although still within regulations, had left the stadium facilities team dealing with multiple unfixable faults.

 An upgrade was required but the installation needed to be completed in a way which meant the stadium could remain operational throughout. Due to the nature of the site and the potential of having over 15,000 spectators (excluding matchday staff and the teams) it was imperative that the new system and devices were all fully functional with ‘in date certification’ to allow safety certificates to be issued meaning events could safely take place.

JLA Fire and Security, a leading provider of fire safety and security solutions for high-profile venues, successfully secured the contract to install a brand-new state-of-the-art fire safety system that would solve the above issues.

With both the need for an open protocol system and the ‘in date certification’ in mind, JLA chose to incorporate Hochiki Europe's cutting-edge ESP devices, which not only offered a significant upgrade to the stadium's safety infrastructure but were also JLA’s preferred product due to the fact they are easy to install and operate on an open-protocol system.

 The open protocol compatibility of the Hochiki ESP devices, such as smoke, heat and multi-sensors, ensured seamless integration with other building systems, such as the stadium’s security system, enhancing overall site efficiency. And with Hochiki's renowned ultra reliability the stadium would now see a significant reduction in false alarms, optimising system performance.

The team, led by Louis Cooper, JLA’s Installation Manager, were able to replace the old system using existing wiring having carried out continuity testing to ensure loop integrity. This combined with Hochiki’s user friendly install features, streamlined the installation process, taking just 15 working days to complete the project, keeping disruption to the stadium's operations to the absolute minimum.

“Hochiki products, in particular ESP, are our ‘go-to’ for fire safety installations, particularly for projects of this size – Hochiki make the complex, easy. They provide incredible reliability when it comes to false alarms.

We were able to complete the project during the close season. Using Hochiki allowed us to achieve this. I would 100% use Hochiki products for other stadium/concert style projects in the future.”

JLA's total care contract provides a comprehensive safety solution for the Eco-Power Stadium, meaning the facilities team there had expert installation of both fire alarm and intruder alarm systems, regular maintenance visits to ensure optimal system performance and swift response should there be any faults.

By replacing the outdated managed protocol fire alarm system with a modern open protocol solution from Hochiki Europe, JLA has significantly enhanced the stadium's fire safety capabilities.