Hochiki Europe (UK) Ltd

Set in 10 acres of breath-taking headland, steeped in magical history, with sensational views of the North Cornish coast, sits one of Cornwall's best-kept secrets, The Atlantic Hotel. The hotel is located just a short stroll to the centre of Newquay, and minutes from some of the UK’s finest surf beaches, including the world-famous surf mecca Fistral Beach. This AA four-star hotel was once home to the world's biggest band The Beatles whilst they filmed their now-iconic movie The Magical Mystery Tour in 1967.Opening 125 years ago The Atlantic Hotel has retained many of its original features such as the glamourous marbled entrance to its historic sweeping staircase and chandeliers. Another original feature is that the original building is built of granite, meaning traditional fire cable installation would be almost impossible. Luckily for the hotel, life safety installers Action Fire Southwest had a magic trick up their sleeve, Hochiki’s hybrid wireless range of devices - Ekho, to ensure this iconic building was safe for its staff and guests.Recognising the existing life safety system needed a complete upgrade, Andrew Berry owner of Action Fire Southwest said“This project was a big one, we had close to 200 devices to install, and with the size of the building and the fact that the hotel was made of granite meant that cabling was going to be tricky so we knew we needed to use wireless devices. Wireless is quicker to install minimising the impact on the hotel, we knew that Hochiki’s Ekho devices were the best for the job because they are incredibly quick and easy to install.”With over 100,000 people visiting Newquay during the summer months, getting this installation completed on time was crucial for the hotel to not miss its peak trading season. The project was scheduled to start in February and was completed in just a few short weeks.Hochiki Systems Sales Manager, Martin Green consulted on this project and visited the hotel alongside the team at Action Fire Southwest to carry out detailed surveys.“The last two years have been incredibly hard for the hotel industry, so I wanted to make sure for the end client we got this job done efficiently with minimal impact on their business and guests. After the initial site visit and carrying out the project survey we knew our wireless Ekho devices would be the perfect solution. They were each fitted in minutes within the individual hotel spaces and bedrooms with no on-site programming required, as this had been carried out way in advance off-site. So, it really was as simple as getting the device out of its box, attaching it in place and the system was good to go”.Andrew Berry adds“There were a few hotel guests during the install, but we were able to work around them and get the job done quickly – this was one of the main concerns for the hotel, that those guests were not to be disrupted and there was to be zero impact on peak trading. Working with Hochiki devices meant we were able to achieve this”.Voice Command Evacuation SystemIn many public buildings, there may be dozens of different types of audible warning devices; fire alarm systems, emergency exit alarms, lifts/elevators, intrusion alarm systems, and each can have their own audible warning device.With so many different types of audible devices, it can be confusing to the occupants when an alarm sound – especially for hotel guests who might be fast asleep in their rooms. Is it a real fire alarm or a false alarm? To counter these conflicting responses, voice sounders are now an established and effective solution. Research has shown that voice alarm messages result in quicker reaction times than when sirens or bells are used, in fact 75% of people react in a timely manner to voice messages. This has resulted in VA Systems becoming more commonplace as the primary means of evacuation in public buildings.As part of the install at The Atlantic Hotel, staff training was provided on how the new system and devices operated, and what to expect when an alarm sounded.“The Ekho devices we prescribed have an additional feature of voice messaging, which can be critical during an emergency in a hotel as people tend to respond quickly when they hear a voice command to exit the building. The hotel management were very keen to take up this additional voice functionality built into Ekho, so they now have a fully functioning, voice evacuation system".Following the completion of the installation and commissioning process, along with the device training, the team from Action Fire Southwest now visit the site on a six-monthly basis for ongoing maintenance as well as to update new staff on the system and devices. Andrew Berry says he would happily recommend Hochiki on future customer projects.“I have worked with Hochiki since 2011, and have a great relationship with my account manager, I trust Hochiki to consult on the best for every project. The tech support team, on the rare occasion I need them, are second to none. I would happily say 9 times out of 10, Hochiki are my go-to manufacturer. They design and build incredibly reliable and easy to install products which I know my customers can trust, and when it comes to the safety of people and assets, we never compromise on life safety device quality.”

hree kilometres from highway E75, between the cities of Stara Pazova and Nova Pazova is the brand-new Shopping Centre ‘BiG Pazova’ operated by BiG CEE. The retail estate developer holds and operates 11 active shopping centres – 10 in Serbia and 1 in Montenegro. Established in 1994, BiG is an international owner, operator, and developer of shopping centres in Israel, the United States, India, and Serbia. The new mall in Nova Pazova is situated on a plot of 57,000 square meters and provides a mix of leisure and dining for the local community and those who are travelling from further afield. With free parking for 645 cars as well as two outdoor playgrounds this is a destination location for families and friends looking for a fun day out. The fire safety therefore needs to be of the highest standard ensuring that the tens of thousands of members of the public who visit every year, the hundreds of staff members and the household brands who sell their products and services are all protected.Hochiki Europe System Partner, Unipelektra, is a trusted fire detection system and device installation company based in Serbia. The team were commissioned by Koto Ltd, a design and construction company also based in Serbia, as the fire detection specialists for the BIG project. Choosing a whole solution for fire detection, Hochiki’s market leading ESP range was installed across the mall. Srdjan Vujasevic, project lead said "I have worked with Hochiki products for almost 13 years now. I am confident in the whole solution from Hochiki Europe because of the high-quality design standards, all meeting the requirements of the investors and the construction company. The Hochiki devices are always so easy to install and maintain. They are also highly reliable, especially at reducing false alarms.”Over 600 devices including multi-sensors, call points and sounders were installed at BIG Pazova from Hochiki Europe’s globally proven ESP range. This intelligent range of addressable fire detection and alarm equipment has been designed and manufactured to the highest international standards, including LPCB, VdS and EN 54, offering a highly reliable solution. All products use Hochiki’s high integrity digital communications link ‘Enhanced Systems Protocol’ (ESP), giving the range its name.The ESP range is proven to help reduce false alarms due to a host of design features including a high-performance smoke sensor chamber, adjustable sensor sensitivity settings, sensor drift compensation and extended addressing. It is also compliant to world recognised standards such as LPCB and VdS. “The customer is happy with the level of protection Hochiki products have been able to provide. Hochiki always provide the best solutions for our customers, they work across multiple scenarios, and we trust them to work. We would highly recommend the Hochiki ESP range for future fire installation projects.”Regional Sales Manager for Hochiki Europe, Petia Simeonova commented “As a leading international company in the manufacture of fire detection systems and products, I am proud that our customers can always trust in Hochiki to cover all their project requirements. The project at BIG was complex, but our fire detection products have helped ensure that both the businesses and the public who use this shopping mall are always kept safe.”

In the heart of Franciacorta, at the top of the hill overlooking Bornato, sits the historic headquarters of the Società Agricola Monte Rossa srl. Owned by the Rabotti family since 1972, the Winery is famous for its fine wines that can satisfy even the most demanding palates. Producing 500,000 bottles per year and with 70 hectares of managed vineyards, Monte Rossa is considered a leader for the quality level of the Franciacorta wines it produces.Last May, the new Winery by Monte Rossa was inaugurated - just a few kilometres from the historical headquarters. This was an ambitious project, using the latest in wine making technology, that also included an innovative fire detection system designed with the support of the installation company Eurodue srl of Brescia, a leading distributor of fire-fighting equipment and Hochiki dealer.Just like many other wineries in Italy, and indeed around the world, Monte Rossa is made up of different buildings for processing, storage, and packaging, which are mostly made of reinforced concrete and masonry. In terms of fire, the room that is the most at risk is the storage and packaging areas, since copious quantities of combustible materials are often stored in this room. In the wine industry, substances (such as nitrogen) contained in pressure vessels (cylinders) are commonly used, so particular care must be taken when using them, and the produces must ensure the room can be sealed in an emergency, to avoid explosions and fires.The new fire detection system was to cover an area of 20,000Sqm, divided across four levels with indoor and outdoor areas. The automatic and manual fire detection systems were installed in offices, laboratory, vinification areas, the Barrique cellar, the “sur lattes” bottle ageing rooms and the disgorging and bottling areas. The new Hochiki fire detection system also controls the fire doors of the compartmentalised processing and production areas of the building.Products chosen to protect the building, contents, staff and visitors include Hochiki’s SCI Sensors which are part of the ESP (Intelligent Range) which are trusted worldwide to reduce false alarms and allow systems to be tailored to achieve optimum performance.Ezio Danese, Project Manager at Hochiki Italia explained:'The UNI 9795 standard requires the installation of a short-circuit isolator for each zone in a building. SCI detectors with integrated isolator and various installed devices such as call points and I/O modules with double isolator ensure that the system complies with the regulatory requirements, without having to install additional isolators. This is definitely an advantage for the installer."Visual Alarm Devices (VADs) were also installed. These were a key component to the install because they provide a visual indication of an alarm condition, essential for areas where the public might be visiting, or in areas where staff might be wearing ear defenders.Filippo Piubeni, co-owner of Eurodue srl, commented:"It is always a pleasure to be able to complete such an important fire detection system project. We are proud to have made secure a site such as the Monte Rossa Winery, which is not only technologically advanced but equally linked to the winemaking tradition of the Franciacorta region. This top-quality system will provide the best possible protection for staff and the facility's many visitors. The system was installed by the company Bignetti Salvato and carefully programmed by FYS srl di Gregorelli Francesco, Hochiki's Technical Assistance Centre, which was able to optimise the various operational requirements in accordance with the project and current regulations.The Hochiki fire detection system installed at Monte Rossa is a feather in our company's cap for the foreseeable future."

amed for its luxury shopping and extraordinary architecture, the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is home to over 3.3 million people, and the world's longest driverless single metro line - the Dubai metro.Designed to take up to 13,380 passengers an hour on its green line, and 11,675 passengers an hour on its red line at peak time, the Dubai Metro is almost 75 km long and operated by RTA and Serco. Under contract to the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority, the network is run by a team of 2000 staff with 57 trains running at peak times.  Dafoos Fire and Security were commissioned to run the fire detection installation project on the entirety of the Dubai Metro. Trusted as a market leader in the Fire Protection Industry in the United Arab Emirates, Dafoos specialises in providing end-to-end design, erection and commissioning and maintenance of both active and passive Fire Protection Systems, and partners with some of the best OEMs in the world, including Hochiki. With tens of thousands of passengers using the network daily and the system itself operating in a hot and sandy environment, any false alarm could potentially cause mass disruption and cost the operator financially, especially during peak service times. The company's Marketing Director, Vijay Chandran said about the project: “it was especially important as part of the life safety system design process to negate false alarms. Hochiki fire detection devices were chosen as they have a reputation for being the best in the market for their quality and their reliability when it comes to false alarm reduction. Our selection of Hochiki was confidently backed by the operators RTA and Serco”  The Hochiki sensors were to be installed inside the metro and tram coaches. This is considered an extremely sensitive area with thousands of people transiting at a time, thus posing a higher chance of triggering false alarms. Any fire alarm trigger was programmed to send a command to the central station, and this would halt the operations within the entire network until the problem is rectified. The Hochiki technical team also worked closely with the Dafoos team to negate the challenge of frequent dust build up in the chambers. It was advised that periodic maintenance of the sensors was moved from every 6 months to every two instead, which is customary practice for commercial buildings in the region.  “Hochiki Smoke Sensors have been installed across the entire Dubai Metro and tram coaches; they have been functioning with minimal issues for the last three years. Periodic maintenance has been conducted in conjunction with Hochiki’s technical team recommendation. Our team would not hesitate to recommend Hochiki life safety systems and products to be used in other projects within the transport industry”.

Based in Norfolk, the Fred Nicholson school meets the educational needs of 162 pupils who have Educational Health and Care Plans identifying learning difficulties and a range of associated complex needs, including some children who receive specialist Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) provision. Offering a personalised curriculum with high staff to pupil ratios, the school offers national curriculum and learning experiences that are relevant to their pupils needs which enables them to achieve. The school also offers residential provision to help further the life skills of certain pupils. Following scheduled servicing, the need to update the existing conventional and 2-wire systems was identified, and the school underwent an upgrade to an addressable life safety system. TP Fire & Security was enlisted to help with the design and installation of the new system, and Hochiki, the leading manufacturer of life safety products, was chosen for its reliability and ease of installation of its various product ranges. Across the school L2 safety coverage was required, whereas ‘live-in’ areas such as dormitories required complete L1 coverage (much the same as a hospital or hotel) which included automatic fire detection. Hochiki’s ESP addressable range was installed, due to its quality, reliability and diverse range of intelligent products including; high performance sensors, flexible input and output modules and an assortment of ancillaries, perfect for a school environment where the fire detection system needs to have a bespoke and flexible design. Hochiki’s Ekho hybrid-wireless fire detection range was also installed and would interface with the main panel via a loop-powered translator module, for the schools mobile and outdoor classes. As an educational setting with children with learning difficulties and ASC, it was extremely important to the school to keep disruption to an absolute minimum to avoid distressing the pupils. The flexibility and ease of installation of the Hochiki products was key to the success of the project as explained by Kevin Harris, Technical Design Manager: “A big plus with Hochiki products is how simple they are to install – it’s why they’ve become our go-to supplier for the past 20 years. Many other manufacturers only offer hardwire solutions, and for locations such as schools and care homes, keeping the installation simple and reducing on-site time is a huge win as this helps ultimately to reduce the disruption to both staff, and the day-to-day occupants”.

Installers JTI Brandbeveiliging were contracted to help make safety a number one priority at a leading food manufacturer in The Netherlands. They achieved this by choosing Hochiki Europe’s market leading fire detection system, Latitude, alongside weatherproof devices from the ESP range. This comprehensive solution ensures the highest level of fire protection throughout the facility, giving the food manufacturer peace of mind and allowing them to focus on what they do best: producing delicious food. Kervo is a specialist in high quality cultivation and processing of fruit in the Netherlands. Since 1980 Morello cherries have been grown in the Vossen family’s orchards in Roggel, The Netherlands. The family were one of the first growers in the region to use mechanical harvesting in the 80’s, fast forward 43 years later and Kervo now runs operations across Europe and the UK and is proud of its reputation for offering the finest quality fruit to bakeries and fresh food processors. JTI Brandbeveiliging was founded in 2009 and is trusted by its customers for advice, installations, repairs and maintenance of fire protection systems across the region. The team, led by Luciën van Eldijk was commissioned in 2022 to design and fit the fire safety system that would be integrated into Kervo's new manufacturing plant in Neer. One of the complexities of this project was that during food production, and particularly during the cleaning processes, significant amounts of steam is generated leading to false alarms. Lucien explains how he and the team navigated this issue: “In food production sites like this it is essential for the machinery to remain clean throughout the entire process. This means there is a lot of steam and water present, which unfortunately, can trigger false alarms. We needed to install devices that could negate this issue, Hochiki’s weatherproof call points, sounders and sensors were the perfect solution. They worked seamlessly with the Latitude fire safety system from Hochiki.” Latitude, which is BOSEC approved, a requirement for fire detection devices and systems in The Netherlands, has a powerful network-wide cause and effect capability. The system has capacity to support 5000 entries, with up to 20,000 inputs and 20,000 outputs across the network. The new building at Kervo is a huge facility, at over 40 metres in height it required over 2.5km of cabling and hundreds of fire detection devices to help make the building secure, making the Latitude system the best solution. “Due to the nature of this project, there have been some technical aspects where we have needed to seek advice, but the team at Hochiki have been very helpful in working with us to create the best solution for our customer. We choose Hochiki products and systems because they are reliable, they are easy to install, and most importantly meet the high standards and regulations required by the laws of The Netherlands – we would recommend Hochiki products for this reason.” Hochiki’s analogue addressable range (ESP intelligent) together with the Latitude system are EN54 Part 13 certified and with the BOSEC certification also in place, they provide the best complete and compliant fire detection system for businesses across the Belgium region as well as bordering countries such as Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Germany.

Livingstone Academy Bournemouth is a brand-new all-through school that combines excellent education with an innovative skills development programme, ensuring students from the ages of four to 18 have the skills and qualifications they need to succeed in modern life.The school has over 1800 occupants including students and staff and covers four stories of brand-new purpose-built facilities alongside historical buildings. This unique setting also includes a magistrates and coroners court, which will be preserved as part of the school site and used by the students for lectures and staging parliament style debates.Preserving this incredible educational facility as well as ensuring the safety of the next generation was of the upmost importance to the facilities management team. With a proven track record of over 40 years in design and build contracting, J&B Hopkins Ltd were the M&E contractor who engaged with Southern Fire Alarms as the fire installation team.With the opening of the school imminent, there were strict deadlines to be met so the team at Southern Fire Alarms wanted to install a system that was quick and easy to fit, as well as simple to maintain. They opted for Hochiki Europe’s ESP range of products, and in fact over 400 devices were installed at this state-of-the-art educational facility.Hochiki Europe's ESP product range offers many benefits that ensure optimal protection and peace of mind, particularly in school settings. Its cutting-edge technology guarantees swift and precise detection of potential threats, enhancing response times and minimising damage. The ESP range boasts unparalleled reliability, reducing false alarms and ensuring accurate alerts in critical situations. Moreover, these products are intelligently designed for easy integration with existing systems, making upgrades seamless and cost-effective – something which appealed to the project managers for this install.We caught up with Naomi Fell, the contract manager at Southern Fire Alarms to find out more “We’ve worked with Hochiki products for several years across multiple projects and industries. We chose Hochiki almost every time because they know how to design and manufacture reliable and easy to fit devices.At Livingstone, as well as standard smoke detectors we also fitted multi-sensors. We needed to ensure the risk of false alarms was completely reduced; with almost 2000 people here you can imagine at full capacity what chaos a false alarm might cause. We chose the ACD Multi-Sensors from the ESP range because they are fully EN54 accredited and work across three sensing elements, heat, smoke and CO – all vital in a school environment. These were fitted across areas that had a high risk of false alarm, areas such as food technology and science laboratories.Our fit-out team also really liked the fact that there’s a common mounting base for all the ESP devices, when compared to the rest of the market, Hochiki devices really are some of the simplest to fit, but they aren't comprised on quality.Despite an industry-wide shortage in components, our contact, Cathy at Hochiki, was invaluable in helping us to solve any supply chain issues, she was on the ball and her communication was brilliant.”After opening in September 2023, everyone at Hochiki would like to wish the students and staff at Livingstone good luck in their first academic year and beyond.

Metron energy applications was founded in Greece in 1997 to offer integrated fabrication and construction solutions in the Oil and Gas Industry. Ever since, the Company has grown rapidly to national and international prominence, expanding its activities to other fields, such as power, aviation, water, marine and food industries, and is involved in projects in more than 45 countries worldwide.Formula Techniki S.A. were commissioned to install a new fire detection system at the new petroleum products storage and distribution terminal in Tema, Ghana as a sub-contractor of Metron Energy Applications. Having worked with Hochiki Europe on previous projects, and as an expert in the manufacturing of fire detection for hazardous areas, the global leader was the natural choice for this project. As this was a hazardous environment, Hochiki’s SIL-2 detection range of smoke sensors, sounders, modules and call points were chosen. This specialist fire detection range not only meets but exceeds the stringent safety standards required, making it a game-changer in the realm of fire safety.SIL is an acronym for Safety Integrity Level, and is a system used to quantify and qualify the requirements for Safety Instrumented Systems. The International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC) introduced the industry standards to assist operators with quantifying the safety performance requirements for hazardous operations. These standards have been widely adopted in the hydrocarbon, oil, and gas industries as a means of improving safety and availability of Safety Instrumented Systems.Angelos Angelikas, Formula Techniki’s project manager on the project said “The main challenge for us was that we are based in Greece, and this project was taking place in Ghana, almost 7,000km away. We were chosen due to our expertise in working in challenging hazardous environments such as this. We had a strict time schedule to stick to, so communication between us, our client, and the team at Hochiki was vital. The Hochiki technical team were a great help when it came to the technical installation, particularly as the fire detection system of the building we were working in needed to connect with the main fire detection of the whole complex. We would absolutely recommend Hochiki and their range of SIL products for customers operating in these industries.”

In 1982, Novalegno began its journey in wood processing, ultimately establishing a sawmill in the picturesque Cadore (BL) area. Over the years, this company has evolved, expanding its operations and capabilities. By 1993, Novalegno ventured into the production of finger-jointed semi-finished wood products, setting up a factory in Ampezzo (UD). Not content with these accomplishments, the company continued its growth, culminating in the opening of a new plant in the industrial precinct of Amaro in October 2021. Today, Novalegno operates within an impressive 13,000 square meters of covered space, ensuring consistent climate control during wood processing, along with an additional 12,000 square meters of storage and handling space for planks. The Amaro plant specialises in the production of jointed semi-finished wood products used in crafting doors, frames, profiles, and windows.With the presence of dust, sawdust, and highly flammable materials in the production environment, the need for a dependable, high-quality fire detection system became paramount. Novalegno was determined to safeguard its facilities and the valuable resources within.Novalegno's operations posed a unique challenge due to the presence of dust, sawdust, and flammable materials. To safeguard their facilities and personnel, the company needed a robust and adaptable fire detection system capable of addressing the specific needs of their production site.To meet these challenges head-on, Novalegno entrusted the installation company DFL srl with the responsibility of overseeing the project. The scope of protection encompassed various areas, including offices, warehouses, production zones, wood chip storage, briquette storage, and wood grinding mills.In collaboration with Security Planet, a leading distributor of safety and security systems, the technical team at Novalegno opted for Hochiki's cutting-edge fire protection technology. Hochiki's comprehensive range of solutions perfectly matched the diverse requirements of Novalegno's facilities.The result of this collaboration is a high-performance fire safety system that utilizes a range of cutting-edge technologies:Aspirating System: Novalegno implemented an aspirating system to ensure early detection of potential fire hazards.ESP Detectors: Hochiki's advanced ESP detectors were deployed to provide reliable and accurate fire detection.Beam Detection: Beam detection technology with detectors installed at heights of 9-10 meters added an extra layer of protection.Woodchip Stock Area Enhancement: Recognising the unique challenges of the woodchip storage area, an aspirating pipe was installed to facilitate maintenance, a task that would have otherwise been cumbersome.Custom Activation: Thanks to the functionality offered by the Latitude control panel, Novalegno was able to create tailored activations for smoke/heat evacuators located on the structure's rooftop, all easily managed through a remote panel's touch screen.Alberto Frare of Security Planet commented, “We suggested to our customer to consider installing an Hochiki system, which we were certain would perfectly meet all the requirements of this production site and would guarantee maximum reliability. We are very pleased that the project was completed with satisfaction for both the installer and the end user.” The collaboration between Novalegno, DFL srl, Security Planet, and Hochiki has resulted in a state-of-the-art fire protection system that ensures the safety of personnel, resources, and the facility itself. Novalegno now enjoys peace of mind, knowing that they are well-prepared to mitigate fire risks in their demanding production environment.In choosing Hochiki's fire protection technology, Novalegno srl has demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of safety, securing a bright and prosperous future for their wood processing operations.

Outpost Al Barari, a luxurious desert retreat nestled in the remote expanse of Qatar, presented a unique challenge for fire safety. The resort’s vast, ever-changing layout, coupled with the harsh desert environment, rendered traditional wired fire alarm systems impractical. To safeguard guests and staff in this extraordinary location, Fire Cloud Qatar implemented a groundbreaking solution: the Hochiki Europe’s Ekho hybrid wireless fire detection system. Here we explore how this innovative technology overcame significant hurdles to deliver unparalleled fire protection in this challenging environment.Outpost Al Barari is a luxurious resort nestled in the heart of Qatar's breathtaking desert landscape. Surrounded by towering sand dunes and the vast expanse of the Inland Sea nature reserve, it offers a unique escape from the bustling world. A haven for those seeking a truly authentic desert adventure combined with world-class hospitality, The Outpost describes itself as a place where guests can disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with nature. Whilst guests are enshrined in luxury, the surrounding harsh desert climate can cause significant shifts in sand dunes, potentially affecting the layout of the resort. It is for this reason the resort uses temporary structures to minimise its own impact on the surrounding natural environment. This however, presented a formidable challenge for traditional fire alarm systems; to address this, the management sought the expertise of Fire Cloud Qatar, a leading fire safety solutions provider in the region.A fire alarm system was urgently needed that could be rapidly deployed without extensive cabling, withstand the harsh desert environment, and adapt to the outpost’s changing layout. Traditional wired systems were deemed unsuitable, emphasising the need for a wireless solution. Fire Cloud Qatar recommended the Hochiki’s Ekho hybrid wireless fire alarm system as the ideal solution. The system’s advanced wireless technology offered the necessary flexibility, reliability, and ease of installation.Key features of Ekho include a self-configuring mesh network which enables seamless communication between the fire control panel and all of the wireless field devices, without any physical cabling. This allows for easy expansion and reconfiguration to match the outpost’s complex and changing layout. The wireless nature of the devices expedited installation, minimising disruption to hotel operations.The full system was up and running in just four simple steps:1 - Site Survey and Assessment: Fire Cloud Qatar conducted a thorough site survey utilising Ekho’s Survey Kit, to determine optimal placement of the wireless fire detection devices and control units in regard to radio signal strength. Hochiki’s Ekho system’s flexibility allowed for strategic deployment to ensure comprehensive coverage.  2 - Installation:The Ekho wireless devices were swiftly installed by Fire Cloud Qatar’s skilled technicians and the absence of cabling significantly simplified and accelerated the process.  3 - System Configuration and Testing:Fire Cloud Qatar meticulously configured the system to ensure optimal performance and communication within the wireless mesh network. Rigorous testing validated the system’s reliability and responsiveness.  4 - Training and Handover:Fire Cloud Qatar provided comprehensive training of the Hochiki system to outpost personnel, covering system operation, emergency procedures, and maintenance. The system was then handed over to the outpost management with ongoing support from Fire Cloud Qatar. Guests can now relax knowing that Hochiki’s Ekho system has significantly improved fire safety at Outpost Al Barari, providing reliable detection and alarm coverage across the site. Staff can go about their day offering a five-star service, knowing that however this luxury resort evolves, the fire detection system can adapt to its ever-changing layout, ensuring continuous protection. The successful installation of the Hochiki Ekho wireless fire alarm system by Fire Cloud Qatar at Outpost Al Barari underscores the effectiveness of wireless technology in overcoming challenges posed by traditional wired systems. The system’s adaptability, reliability, and ease of installation proved to be the ideal solution for this unique and demanding environment. This customer story highlights the power of innovative fire safety solutions in addressing the specific needs of challenging sites like Outpost Al Barari.

Starting life as a fort in 1125, the building, which now houses the Museum of the River Po, was first built by the people of Modena, then conquered by the people of Mantua, who finished the construction. Over the next 500 years it was transformed from a fort to a grand residence, it survived a siege from Napoleonic troops in the late 1700s and remained under French rule until 1814. Following the Congress of Vienna, the building remained in Austrian hands where tall Venetian-style fireplaces and the courtyard was added, with a beautiful well in the centre, surrounded by a portico with columns and capitals.The building now hosts the Museum of the River Po which was founded by the city in 1983. The Museum tells the story of the river, the flora and fauna that inhabited it and how the local people used it and is recognised as a building of regional importance.The museum is made up of a main reception hall with rooms scattered across several floors. Due to regional interest in the building and the artifacts and collections which are houses within its walls, the life safety system needed to be of the highest quality.The Municipality of Borgo Mantovano, the property owners, requested an update of the old fire protection system, whilst respecting strict architectural requirements, typical of historic buildings, it was important that the system was discreetly designed so as not to affect the aesthetics of the building.Hochiki were drafted in to consult on the project by the installer Calanca Luca Impianti Elettrici. The project required a new system to upgrade the existing fire detection system, and so Hochiki Europe’s market leading control panel, L@titude was recommended. Combining the very latest hardware and software to produce an approved control and indication system, which is powerful and sophisticated, yet simple to use and understand.The flexibility of the Latitude platform is such that it can be re-configured to realise many other control and indication applications, with direct integration into many types of applications, including this historic building . The modular nature of the Latitude system allows all field wiring to be connected to a passive mother board enabling addition, re-configuration or replacement of all electronic hardware without the need to disconnect any field wiring.This modularity also allows each panel to be customised, perfect for the Museum application. Hochiki’s range of ESP detectors, beam detectors and wireless detectors were also installed and provided the best and most reliable coverage for this project.Alberto Ferrari, Technical Sales Manager at Hochiki Italia said:“The environmental requirements of historic buildings blend perfectly with the features of Hochiki's Latitude detection System. In the case of the museum, we opted for a wired system with beam detectors and SCI detectors, and where there was difficulty in laying cables our hybrid wireless devices meant we were able to guarantee the same reliability as a fully wired system. The innovative technology within the Latitude panel allows it to manage the two systems simultaneously and on the same loop.”Luca Calanca, project manager and owner of the installation company, said:"Being commissioned by the Municipality of Borgo Mantovano to protect the Ducal Palace and its history was a great responsibility, and we are truly satisfied with the end result. Hochiki's system proved to be highly efficient, easy to install and reliable."

In 1959, eight dairies in the Parmigiano Reggiano area founded the CCS Consorzio Caseifici Sociali. Over the years, the has business expanded to include the production and maturing of Parmigiano Reggiano. In 1995, the Granterre Consortium was established, bringing together the entire Parmigiano Reggiano dairy chain, and then almost ten years later, in 2004, control of Parmareggio Spa was acquired. In 2019 Bonterre Spa, the holding company under which the control of Parmareggio Spa and Grandi Salumifici Italiani Spa (controlled by UNIBON) was established. Then in 2021, Agriform Sca (leader in the production of Grana Padano PDO and the main Veneto PDOs such as Asiago, Piave, Montasio and Monte Veronese) merged with Parmareggio Spa to create the first Italian company in the world of PDO cheeses and cemented this new company as the leader in the Italian food industry. In 2021, the site at Sommacampagna required an upgrade of the fire detection system. Hochiki were the appointed manufacturers to supply the life safety system and devices due to their experience and expertise in the Italian fire safety market. Within food production sites, the temperature and humidity inside the environment must be carefully controlled to comply with food hygiene laws, and because of this, these sites can be notoriously complex buildings to design and install fire safety systems for. The customer was looking for a high-performance fire detection system that would not be affected by these environmental factors, and most importantly avoid false alarms which can halt production and cost the company thousands of Euros for every minute the site is not fully operational. The installation team also needed to pay particular attention to the installation of cables and piping. As a specialist in aged cheese production, it was imperative that the delicate work of the cheese wheels and the hot marking of the upper layer of the Parmesan rind was not affected during the installation project. One of the benefits to Hochiki products to this project was the ease of install and ease of use of the devices which had minimal impact on the business. To meet the requirements of the project, the installer NET Technologies Srl chose Hochiki’s market leading system Latitude to be the brain of the life safety system. This innovative fire detection technology combines the very latest hardware and software to produce a control and indication system which is powerful and sophisticated, yet simple to use and understand via a graphical interface. Mirko Corsini, project manager at Hochiki Italia, said: "The installer chose Hochiki’s L@titude panel together with our SPC-ET beam smoke detectors, which are characterised by low power consumption at rest and incorporate a sophisticated algorithm of automatic compensation to environmental changes. The technical features of these products make them perfect for meeting the needs of this type of food processing environment. The flexibility of the ESP protocol made it possible, through the CHQ-SZM2/SCI Zone Modules, to integrate conventional detectors (SPC-ET) as if they were addressable devices, without having to use auxiliary power supplies that would have required additional cables and batteries." Detectors with short circuit isolators were installed to ensure the system complied with the requirements of UNI EN 9795, which states that a short-circuit isolator must be installed for each room/compartment. Intelligent Photoelectric Smoke detector with SCI incorporates Hochiki's newest High Performance Chamber Technology. This detector removes the need to use Ionisation Smoke Sensors in many applications. This also allows the sensor threshold level to be increased, thereby improving the signal to noise ratio, and reducing the likelihood of false alarms. Throughout the site Intelligent Loop-Powered Wall Sounder Beacons and Visual Alarm Devices were installed to ensure a fully compliant and state of the art fire safety system. Commenting on the project, Fabrizio Bergamin, Technical Coordinator at the installer company, NET Technologies srl, said: "We chose Hochiki devices and system because of the technical characteristics and reliability that this brand offers, as well as a wide range of products that fully meet market demands. Post commissioning of the project, the operating conditions envisaged in the design phase have been amply met. Over the course of the next year, there will be further implementations of the fire detection system at the Parmareggio production site, with distributed intelligence solutions or with several autonomous and networked Latitude control panels. During the project we have had to deal with several technical design studios to solve various kinds of system problems; a fundamental role, together with the products they offer, is played by the Hochiki Italia technical support. They have responded competently to regulatory and design aspects, as well as proposed solutions for particular applications".

From humble beginnings the story of the Rana pasta factory begins. In the early 60’s, in beautiful Verona, Giovanni Rana dared to take on the local mothers and grandmothers by delivering homemade tortellini direct to the doors of busy working families from the back of his little red Moto Guzzi bike. Soon his freshly filled pasta grew in popularity and the demand became so great the workforce of one had to expand. Fast forward 60 years and Giovanni’s pasta is now a household brand lovingly served on tables around the world, employing over 2000 people globally all committed to serving fresh and authentic Italian pasta. Pastificio RANA continues to invest in Italian territory and expand its production capacity. This has been helped by the recent acquisition of a new production site in Moretta, in the Province of Cuneo. CUBI Impianti Tecnologici, a leading Italian fire safety installer, was commissioned to install all the electrical systems, including life safety, within the entire building. The life safety installation project at RANA Moretta was incredibly complex with food production and cold storage areas. Therefore a wide and versatile range of fire detection products was required to keep the staff and building safe. Another requirement was to reduce false alarms in this manufacturing environment, and so the technical department of CUBI chose Hochiki systems, due to the reliability and versatility of its products. A fully networked Latitude control panel, which combines the very latest hardware and software to produce an approved control and indication system, was installed. The Latitude system is preferred by many of Hochiki’s Italian customers due the powerful and sophisticated design, yet simplicity of use by the end user. Connected to this fire alarm control panel the CUBI srl team fitted Hochiki’s analogue addressable fire detection range, ESP. Ezio Danese, Project Manager at Hochiki Italia said: “In the corridors of the cold rooms, an environment with a lot of humidity and steam, Hochiki’s ACB-EW detector was fitted. Incorporating a variable fixed temperature heat element and a ‘rate of rise’ heat element, both of which are controlled from the control panel, this device is perfect for these cold storage environments where the risk of fire is higher compared to other environments.To protect the factory’s cold room cavities aspirating systems were fitted, this was due to the difficulty of accessing this area for installation and maintenance. “In this kind of food production factory, flour silos and processing areas are also at risk, due to the machinery and chemicals used. The team opted to install Hochiki’s range of Intrinsically Safe devices which are BASEEFA to IECEx and ATEX certified. These devices only allow low currents and voltages to enter any hazardous areas, and therefore ensure the whole circuit is considered, not just the device in isolation. Hochiki’s Intrinsically Safe Circuit restricts electrical and thermal energy so that the ignition of a hazardous atmosphere (from explosive gas or dust for example) cannot occur. Similarly, in the technical production rooms, where the cooling machines are located, gas detection stations were installed to immediately detect any ammonia leakage or lack of oxygen. Should the RANA pasta factory need to be modified or expanded, the installation company has designed the system with this in mind – using Hochiki systems and devices to future proof the safety of the facility.

The Royal Free Hospital is a major teaching hospital in the Hampstead area of the London Borough of Camden. The hospital is part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, which also runs services at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital and several other sites.Established in 1828 by William Marsden, a newly qualified surgeon, after he found a penniless young woman who was in desperate need of medical care. None of the local hospitals would take her, and so sadly she died two days later. Shocked by these events Marsden set up the Royal Free Hospital on the founding principle that they would take in anyone who needed treatment – the first hospital in London to do so and the only London hospital to stay open during the 19th-century cholera epidemics.Today the hospital continues to lead improvements in healthcare and have some of the best clinical outcomes in the country.With demand for the hospital's facilities growing, a new building was proposed and in June 2021 the brand new 60million pound Pears Building was opened. A ground-breaking collaboration between the Royal Free Charity, UCL and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, this new building brings together the theory and implementation of research as well as allow the public easy access to the latest discoveries in immunology.Cornerstone Group Fire and Security Systems, who are a valued member of the Hochiki System partners network were commissioned by a major London based mechanical and electrical contractor to scope, design and install the life safety systems in this new facility, which is now one of the largest patient-focused immunology centres in Europe.The equipment installed at the site was Hochiki HFP range of devices which utilise the globally proven open protocol ESP technology. Famed for its quality and ease of installation reduction, the ESP range is adaptable to a broad range of environments and applications. From small to very large areas, the range can be utilised to fit almost any environment, and because the range benefits from false alarm reduction technology, it was particularly suited to this sensitive and complex hospital and research environment.Neil Eves, Head of System Sales at Hochiki Europe shares“There was a very extensive cause and effect requirement for this project and significant witness testing required subsequently, however it is testament to the skilful installation by Cornerstone and the quality of the product that has led to there being no unwarranted false alarms on the project to date”.Neil Thurgood, Project Manager explains“A state of the art building like this requires the very best in fire detection technology to protect the patients, staff and assets. Cornerstone have worked with Hochiki Europe for several years now so we knew their devices would be the best for this project. The system at Royal Free’s Pear Building is run off four panels and eight loops. We’ve installed Hochiki sounders, as well as heat and smoke detectors and call points.Hochiki devices are world famous for their ease of install and reliability, particularly in reducing false alarms. The system has been in for a year now and there have been no issues at all”.Cornerstone group also commented that the cost for this project was competitive;“When you are dealing with buildings such as this, which are operating to strict NHS budgets, it’s essential to work with manufacturers who understand this. Our Hochiki rep understood the brief and is among the most professional and helpful I’ve ever worked with. We also own the service contract for this building, so it's good to know the Hochiki devices that are installed are easy to maintain”.

Celebrating its centenary, the IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital is in Negrar, Verona, and thanks to the expert team and technology in place, it is considered one of Italy’s top medical facilities, and in fact at European level it is recognised as a leader in the healthcare sector.The hospital is made up of eight buildings with more than 30 medical departments, operating theatres, offices, canteens, and conference rooms. In recent years, the hospital has undergone considerable renovation and expansion and along with this the improvement and adaption of the life safety system. The update to the fire detection system is to ensure the best possible protection for the thousands of people who visit the facility every day as well as the preservation of property, patient data and vital medical equipment.The healthcare sector has a duty of care for its patients, staff and visitors as well as having to provide constant protection of its property and assets from the threat of fire. After extensive assessments and a rigorous qualifying stage by the Hospital technical team and Amperia srl, the installation company, Hochiki fire detection systems and equipment were found to offer the best solution and offered the highest quality standards for the hospital.Hochiki is a well-respected name in healthcare across Europe and famed for its reliability in Italy, particularly when it comes to reduction in false alarms. Minimising this risk was critical to the hospital who wanted to avoid unnecessary and hugely problematic evacuation situations, especially where some patients may find moving around independently difficult and, in some cases, impossible, especially for patients in critical care departments.Following consultation, 26 fire detection panels, including Syncro and Hochiki’s Latitude system, and two Vision remote panels were installed in the hospital, all of which were networked.The project brief stated that it was important the systems and any devices used must be installed with minimum impact on the day to day running of the hospital. Hochiki ESP range was recommended because these devices have been specifically designed to be quick and easy to install and therefor ensured minimal disruption was achieved by the team at Amperia srl.Another priority for the project was that any fire detection system needed to be able to alert every person in the building to an emergency, including visually and hearing-impaired visitors. Hochiki’s range of VADs (visual alarm devices) were used to provide a visual indication of an alarm condition to those people who would not normally be alerted to a fire by standard audible-only devices such as sounders and bells.The final key priority was the ability for the entire system to be continuously monitoring 24 hours a day. During the consultation period between the installers and Hochiki, the fire detection system was designed to provide 24/7 monitoring. This was thanks to the I/O modules and technological fault alarm signals which were also implemented and connected to the fire control panel loop. These were then monitored by the personnel 24 hours a day thanks to two supervision systems, one for the fire detection system and one for the technological alarms.This project at the IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital was one of the largest and most complex projects that Hochiki have ever been involved in Italy involving the installation of multiple detectors, Detectors, 10 fire extinguishing systems, 14 gas detection panels and 10 aspirating panels.Davide Montoli, Product Manager at Hochiki Italia, explains:"An interesting aspect of our systems is the "Bridge" communication between different generations of fire alarm control panels. In the case of this Hospital, the possibility of connecting the new L@titude control panels to the existing network of Syncro control panels made it possible to expand the system even though many years had passed since the installation of the original control panel. In fact, Hochiki’s L@titude platform can adapt its communication protocol to ensure backward compatibility with previous generation control panels".Thanks to the expert Hochiki team working closely with both the installer and the technical team at the hospital a high-quality installation was achieved, with the best products on the market installed ensuring that fire safety for patients and staff is kept as a top priority.Loris Fornaser, Technical Manager at the installer company Amperia srl, commented:"As you can imagine the fire safety standards of this project were extremely high due to the complex environment in which a hospital operates. This led us to choose a technologically advanced life safety product that would guarantee the client excellent performance and long-term reliability. The manufacturer's technical support was always precise and Hochiki proved to be the ideal solution”.

St Pancras International is a key London interchange and the very definition of a ‘destination station’. Managed by Network Rail High Speed Ltd this buzzing regional, national and international travel hub has been part of Britain's railways heritage for the better part of 150 years.Designed by William Barlow in 1863, it gained instant fame for its “Barlow Shed” train shed arch that spans 73 metres and is over 30 metres high at its apex; at the time, the largest enclosed space in the world. The Grade 1 listed red brick Gothic landmark façade fronting the station was the result of an architectural competition in 1865 and became the Midland Grand Hotel. In 1935, the hotel was closed and the building became railway offices, renamed as the St Pancras Chambers.One of the largest transport hubs in Europe, St Pancras International now has 13 platforms, six of which are around one kilometre long and serve the international Eurostar services. The station also incorporates 47 retail outlets and designer boutiques, plus stylish Eurostar arrivals and departure lounges, and a further ten shops on the station platform level. It also boasts a daily farmers' market and, at 90 metres, the longest champagne bar in Europe. However, thanks to careful attention to detail and a sensitive understanding of the architectural importance of the National Heritage building, St Pancras International remains one of the greatest Victorian buildings in London.Recently named one of the UK's most used stations with around 50 million people visiting the station each year for travel and retail experiences, safety of staff and passengers is of the highest importance.Following a site safety upgrade, the Eurostar terminus at St Pancras International in London bristles with the latest high-performance fire detection and alarm technology, including no fewer than 5,000 Hochiki ESP – Enhanced System Protocol – analogue addressable devices, installed throughout the site. A variety of Hochiki devices were selected, each chosen for its proven ability to combat fire risks in the huge multi-activity station. They included optical smoke sensors for back office and main passenger concourse areas; multi-sensors for more challenging environments such as plant rooms and workshops; heat detectors in kitchens and toilets; audio visual devices and base sounder beacons.They are all automatically re-calibrated every 24 hours to compensate for any environmental contamination and to ensure that they continue to operate reliably at the specified sensitivity. Indeed, a key factor cited by the installer for the decision to opt for the Hochiki solution was the flexibility of the devices to be compatible with other products already installed. For example, Hochiki's ESP protocol devices are configured to share system information and event details on a highly fault-tolerant secure network.The success of the installation can be judged by the fact that the same solutions were also adopted to protect two other stations on the UK side of the London-to-Paris rail link. The Ebbsfleet International Station near Dartford in Kent, and the Stratford International Station near the City and Canary Wharf that was also central to the 2012 Olympic transport strategy, with forecasted passenger volumes of 25,000 a day to and from the Olympic Games' venues.However, technical performance was not the only consideration with which the installer had to contend“We had to take great care when installing the fire detection equipment, as it was vital to minimise any adverse aesthetic impact on the highly decorative Victorian architecture. Another major challenge was the need to install the new system in a station that was to remain open and be used daily by thousands of passengers. So, the fire safety system had to be always fully functional.”Error-free detectionThe life safety installation is managed in the station's main control room where, around the clock, a 1.2-metre LCD screen displays the entire station and its fire detection system. This provides an overview of the whole installation, or a drill-down, showing various levels of detail; if necessary, pinpointing information on any specific device. If, for example, a fire is signalled, the precise location can be viewed on screen, where devices can be interrogated. The screen can even display the best evacuation routes.With huge numbers of people converging on the station's platforms at peak travel times, and the travelling public's ever-present concerns regarding terrorist activities, ensuring the minimum disruption from false alarms was a paramount consideration. In the event of a confirmed fire, the system directly controls and monitors the station's voice evacuation system, which is audible in all the station's public areas. However, in places where high levels of ambient noise may make it difficult to hear voice alarms, such as toilets, Hochiki beacons were also fitted.Famous for helping to reduce false alarms, Hochiki's ESP protocol uses a combination of sophisticated algorithms that reduce data corruption. Additionally, with parity and checksum error detection principles applied to every set of data, unwanted external “noise”, such as EMC interference is eliminated.Hochiki optical smoke sensors are designed for both efficient detection and the virtual elimination of false alarms. The sensor's chamber incorporates uniquely angled baffles which allow air and smoke to circulate within the chamber but reduce the ambient light entering the chamber, thus improving the response of the optical elements. The sophistication of the sensing elements in the chamber enables it to also sense a wider range of fire types, so providing a more balanced response to different types of smoke particles. This is an Hochiki-developed technology that the company calls its “high-performance chamber”.The sensitivity of each device is set to match the prevailing conditions, additionally, to allow the most suitable sensing mode to be adopted for a particular environment, the multi-sensors can be set to heat only, smoke only or a combination of both sensing elements working together to determine a real fire.An Integrated SolutionThe main control panel was designed and engineered to meet High Speed 1 requirements. It incorporated 196 fire zone indicators, and several firefighters' control switches to allow the plant to be managed anywhere in the network via Hochiki loop output relays. A repeater panel, with an emergency fire telephone, was incorporated into the system for use by the fire brigade should an emergency condition occur within the main control suite.Summarising on the St Pancras International project the installer said:“Over the years we have used many different fire detection devices and we can truly say that Hochiki has time and time again proved to be the most reliable and best performing of them all”.Explaining in more detail:“The key elements that we look for in a fire system are reliability, flexibility, good quality control, high performance and false alarm management. The last thing we need on a site such as St Pancras International is unwanted false alarms. Hochiki have delivered superior product performance and hands-on technical support.”Just as Eurostar trains speeding out of the rejuvenated St Pancras International have established Britain's credentials in world-class high speed rail travel, so too has a new European benchmark for railway station fire safety been established.The Transport sector has a duty of care for its passengers and staff as well as having to provide constant protection of its property and assets from the threat of fire.

Established in 1984, and with several awards including The Queen’s Award for Enterprise, Technical Metals, based in Northern Ireland, offers anodising and surface preparation processes to a wide range of customers across the aerospace industry, defence, telecommunications, electronics, computer, pharmaceutical, street furniture, architectural, wind turbine and general engineering sectors.Specialised Fire and Security were awarded the contract to update Technical Metals existing fire detection system which required completely modernising. Established in 2013 by two experienced fire and security professionals with a combined 65 year’s industry experience, the company has grown to be one of the best known and respected independent specialist fire and security providers in Northern Ireland and have quickly earned a reputation for delivering tailored solutions for clients.Situated on an industrial park, Technical Metals consists of a group of buildings including offices, goods in, packaging and high-risk manufacturing environments with acid baths, heat and smoke and corrosive atmospheres. This presented a unique challenge for the team at Specialised Fire and Security, led by Tom Skates, who chose Hochiki Europe products to help keep this hazardous facility safe.Tom explains,“Originally, we were presented with a plan that included multi-sensors situated at high-level points in the adonising department block. However, during a site inspection we realised this would be an issue. Some of the light fixings were corroding due to the chemical fumes rising from adonising equipment below. We recommended that Hochiki flame detectors were fitted at a low level, pointing to the area above. This meant the area was secured without risk of deterioration”.Hochiki multi-sensors were then fitted throughout the rest of the building allowing for heat and smoke to be detected night or day. “This kind of manufacturing plant is naturally prone to dust and smoke, which can cause false alarms. A key requirement to this project was to reduce and even eliminate false alarms. Hochiki was chosen because they offer the most reliable products to help protect against false alarms. Multi-sensors are particularly good at this and allow for a flexible approach to fire detection. We have set up an ongoing maintenance programme with Technical Metals which means, should they need to change parts of the building, the Hochiki multi-sensors devices we have fitted can be easily switched to the most applicable detection method required. This is a future proofed project.”Products with integrated short-circuit isolators (SCIs) were also fitted. On a healthy addressable fire system, the voltage from the fire control panel is driven one way around the loop, both powering devices and carrying data. But if a fire loop cable is accidentally damaged by tools, equipment or chemicals for example, particularly if not mechanically protected by conduit, and the result of that damage is that the positive and negative conductors within the cable make contact with each other, that vital voltage level drops. This is a short-circuit and at this point this entire loop is instantly out of action, which of course puts the whole building and its occupants at risk.Hochiki’s SCI-enabled devices recognise this voltage drop and when they activate, they divert the loop voltage back along one of the conductors, maintaining the flow of power and data for the rest of the loop.At the same time, because it is programmed to recognise when it’s no longer receiving a return loop drive voltage, the fire control panel will automatically switch to driving voltage from both ends of the loop, using both conductors. In high-risk manufacturing environments such as Technical Metals, this innovative technology makes all the difference. “I’ve worked with Hochiki products for nearly all my career, and in fact when I moved to Specialised Fire and Security four years ago, it was a big tick for me that they were already recommending Hochiki kit to their customers. The reliability is second to none, the devices are innovative and easy to install, plus they are flexible to a range of applications”.The installation project at Technical Metals is a fantastic example of how Hochiki Europe’s range of products can be used in high-risk environments to help reduce the risk fire poses to people and assets.

Tecnosystemi Spa Societa Benefit, a company synonymous with environmental responsibility and cutting-edge technology, partnered with Ghin Antifurti, based in Conegliano, to install a high-performance fire protection system in both their historical headquarters and their impressive new 30,000 sq. m production hub.  This project exemplifies Tecnosystemi's commitment to safeguarding their people, assets, and the environment, while aligning with their focus on sustainability. Tecnosystemi, a leader in the manufacturing of accessories for air conditioning, air exchange, ventilation and photovoltaic systems, is dedicated to minimising their environmental impact. Their new production hub, built in 2023, embodies this philosophy. The state-of-the-art facility boasts technologies designed to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. When it came to fire safety, Tecnosystemi demanded a system would protect this building, the assets and the people working within.Understanding Tecnosystemi's needs, Ghin Antifurti, the chosen installer, recommended a Hochiki fire detection system which was renowned for its reliability and longevity. The installed Latitude system safeguards all critical areas, encompassing production zones, offices and a brand new, fully automated warehouse.The Hochiki system incorporates a range of advanced technologies to provide comprehensive fire protection. The core of the system is comprised of multiple networked Latitude panels, known for their robust performance and efficient operation. These panels seamlessly integrate with Hochiki’s ESP intelligent range of fire detection and alarm devices, offering a wider range of detection capabilities. Additionally, aspirating smoke detection systems are strategically placed to ensure even the most minute particles of smoke are identified swiftly.Michele Ghin, owner of Ghin Antifurti, said, "We proposed installing the Hochiki system because we were certain it would meet the requirements of this project; we have worked with Hochiki for a number of years and know that they manufacture quality products that are flexible to the specific needs of any type of environment."The collaboration between Tecnosystemi Spa Società Benefit, Ghin Antifurti, and Hochiki Italia exemplifies a successful partnership built on shared values. By implementing a cutting-edge fire safety system, Tecnosystemi prioritises the safety of their employees and assets while adhering to their commitment to environmental responsibility. The Hochiki system, with its emphasis on reliability, empowers Tecnosystemi to focus on achieving their ambitious sustainability goals with complete peace of mind.

The year is 1911, and the empty hull of the Titanic has moved into Belfast’s Thompson Dry Dock for its fit-out, painting and installation of the propellers. Adjacent to the dry dock sits the Pumphouse, where powerful pumps can drain the Thomson Dock of 26 imperial gallons of water in just 90 minutes, the equivalent of two swimming pools per minute. With the ship in place, the caisson gate closes, the pumps kick into life and the dock drains to reveal its beautiful Victorian architecture.Today, 112 years after the Titanic made her fateful maiden voyage, the Pumphouse has been bought back to its former glory, with every red brick and arched window lovingly restored to host Belfast’s first working distillery in almost 90 years. Opening to the public in April 2023 Titanic Distillery housed in this historic building will welcome tourists hoping to learn a little more about the heritage of Belfast's famous docks and sample some traditional Irish whiskey.Atlas World, a leading fire installation company also based in Belfast, were commissioned for this prestigious project by the consulting company who specified Hochiki products.With experience in fire security projects in both modern and listed buildings, including Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, Queens University, Belfast MET College and Lidl’s Northern Ireland Distribution HQ the team led by Gavin Nesbitt, the technical sales manager, knew this would be a complex job not only because the building was listed, but also because of the methods used during the distilling process.“Although Atlas World have been using Hochiki products for several years now, my experience has only been in the last 18 months or so. I loved how easy the products were to fit out, especially in comparison to competitors, plus the range is vast so you can pick and mix depending on the requirements of the project".The process of making whiskey is quite dangerous, with the potential for fire occurring from the release of flammable compounds such as ethanol (alcohol). Although the essence of whiskey distilling is steeped in heritage and tradition, when it comes to safety there is no room for nostalgia. It was important that Atlas World were able to use a range of products that were suitable for the use of the room, ensuring the safety of staff and visitors and of course protecting this world heritage site.“Hochiki’s ESP range was installed including multi-sensors and optical sensors. This enabled us to programme the sensitivity of the devices depending on the environment, for example steam and heat. With Hochiki’s products we could adapt the parameters to not only keep everyone safe, but also to reduce the risk of false alarms. Once that alarm goes off everyone must leave immediately because there is a high risk of explosion in this type of environment.For a distillery which is also operating as a tourist venue, false alarms are not only hugely disruptive to the operation itself but can cost the distillery a lot of money and be damaging to their reputation as a safe tourist spot. Hochiki Europe’s products have dramatically reduced the risk of false alarms for our customer.We also installed Hochiki’s range of loop powered sounders and beacons. These visual devices were critical for the parts of the building where noise levels might cover the sound of an alarm for workers using ear defenders and of course they are vital in facilities such as disabled toilets. The other bonus is they consume exceptionally low levels of electrical current and maximise the loop's capacity".A key priority for the distillery owners was to ensure that this listed building was not damaged in any way, and so the National Trust and a specialist archaeologist was recruited to ensure that any works carried out would be done so empathetically, as James Morrison, Hochiki Regional Sales Manager, explains,“We needed to ensure that all the work carried out complied with the specifications set out by the heritage experts. Aesthetically the design of Hochiki products is modern yet simple, so they can just slip into the background, do their job, all without detracting from or impacting on the surroundings. This was a feature that was also important to Titanic Distillers".As with many fire installation projects over the last few years, frustrations have been felt when projects have been delayed due to supply chain issues. Unfortunately, this project was not immune from this. However, as Nesbitt explains Hochiki were able to handle the issue. “We knew we would have some issues over call point availability, however our contact at Hochiki Europe was excellent at keeping us informed at every step and he came up with an alternative solution that worked well and meant we could still deliver the project on time.Following the project at Titanic Distillers, Hochiki are now my go-to supplier. We did use alternative manufacturers for the panels and aspirators but only because we weren’t familiar with these products from Hochiki, however going forward having now seen the standard, reliability, and ease of install I would not hesitate to recommend Hochiki Europe next time.”Titanic Distillers opened its doors to the public on the 28th April 2023 and Atlas World will manage the ongoing maintenance of the Hochiki life safety devices installed.

In Autumn 2020 Hochiki launched Ekho, a new generation of hybrid wireless fire detection and alarm equipment. EN54-25 approved and RED compliant, Ekho takes hybrid wireless fire detection to new levels of reliability, flexibility and performance and has been crucial to helping a North London Borough to improve life safety in six blocks of apartment buildings.Using the latest in radio networking technology, Ekho provides a robust ‘always on’ network of devices which automatically adapt to changing environmental conditions. It was this innovative design element that led Fire Alarms Fabrication Services (FAFS) to choose Hochiki for their latest project in a north London borough where they were installing a new life safety system in place of the Waking Watch scheme operated in several high-rise multiple dwellings. The Ekho range they say was “crucial” and offered them “an unparalleled level of reliability.”Following the Grenfell Tower disaster, Waking Watch schemes are used in buildings identified as fire risks, until dangerous cladding is removed. Due to high operational costs, building owners and local authorities are looking to life safety manufacturers and installers to help with more reliable and cost-effective alternatives.Ekho is used in these high-risk buildings, with customers such as FAFS, saying that this technology helps residents feel safer compared to relying on a team of people prone to human error, and building owners are reassured due to the self-configuring mesh network which keeps the devices connected and communicating with the fire panel 24/7.The Ekho devices were installed to provide round-the-clock monitoring in place of manual inspections, with devices installed adjacent to all windows, communal areas, corridors, stairwells, and living spaces. The devices were connected to an existing control panel via a hard-wired Translator, and with the rest of the system being completely wireless, the project was carried out with minimal disruption to residents.If needed, the Ekho system can also be easily removed after the remedial cladding work has been carried out, without damaging the building. Alternatively, the system can be permanently incorporated into the existing life safety systems. It is this flexibility that customers say is the major benefit.A key Ekho USP is that there is no need to install cables, vital in reducing disturbance during installation. This innovative feature was crucial for the team at Fire Alarms Fabrication Services, Kevin Dodge, sales Account Manager at FAFS told us“This was an incredibly complex and highly involved project, we worked closely with the team at Hochiki, they consulted on best devices for this complex project”This was a huge site, with six buildings each with 16 floors. A Waking Watch team of six patrolled the stairs, corridors, and communal areas at a cost of £10,000 per week. However, because the teams could not be in all places, at all times they might not be able to detect a fire escalating up the outside on the cladding. To add to this Waking Watch teams are not permitted to enter private apartments meaning early detection could be missed here too.Commenting on this issue, Dodge said“The Ekho range offered a wireless solution which allowed us to work around issues such as cabling inside private spaces. Ekho being wireless still allowed for early detection and most importantly detection outside of the building on cladding by installing heat sensor devices adjacent to every single window, including the windows for individual dwellings. This meant there was an early detection system in place. We also installed devices on all corridors, stair wells and communal areas and exits. Using the Hochiki technology in this way gave the residents peace of mind that the new system was ‘always on.’The Ekho range is ultra-dependable, and much more cost effective than the existing Waking Watch scheme.”Following the successful completion of the project Regional Sales Manager, Tony Obadipe said“Hochiki are passionate about protecting people, buildings, and assets. Our 100 years plus experience has given us a unique insight allowing us to not only provide what is needed now, but also predict future trends, keeping us at the forefront of cutting-edge life safety technology.We are pleased that our Ekho product range is making such an enormous difference in keeping people safe. The fact that our technology is also helping to drive huge cost efficiencies for our partners and their end users is a bonus. In the current economic climate this cost saving is essential, especially for local authorities. We are also incredibly proud of our teams that have been involved in the design, manufacturing and selling of this product, it really is protecting people’s lives".

A range of services are delivered from this newly refurbished area of the hospital, including a new urgent treatment centre, podiatry services, physiotherapy, audiology and much more. The Tower Block is also home to the Memorial Ward, where those who need to stay on the ward (and their families) will have access to accessible and comfortable spaces and facilities.Tees Fire Systems Limited is one of Hochiki Europe’s System Partners, a nationwide network of trained, professional and accredited fire alarm companies, recognised in the UK for their high levels of expertise, workmanship, customer service and quality. Having worked with Hochiki Europe for over a decade, the team at Tees Fire, led by Managing Director David Hynes, said: “We have used Hochiki Europe products for well over a decade now and having worked on several hospital installation projects over the years, each time we recommend Hochiki because they are always reliable and cost effective.”For the project at Whitby Community Hospital, Hochiki Europe's Latitude system was chosen because it has a powerful cause-and-effect capacity, ideal because hospitals often require a system which allows for phased evacuations. Because of the number of vulnerable people within a hospital, avoiding widespread panic is essential, and with a Hochiki Latitude system in place should a fire break out, the area which is immediately impacted can be evacuated, whilst simultaneously triggering warning signals to neighbouring areas. This would automatically alert nurses and doctors to a possible emergency, giving them time to prepare for an evacuation avoiding panic. “Latitude worked seamlessly with other systems too, such as the lifts and the plant room, via the building management system. This means a controlled and safe evacuation can be achieved, keeping patient safety the number one priority if an emergency should arise.”“We installed LCD touchscreen repeaters at nurses' stations using the Hochiki Latitude Vision repeaters, and trained staff how to use and understand the repeaters, using the intuitively designed interface. They are also very compact in their design compared to others on the market, at not much bigger than a tablet they don’t take up lots of room in a busy nurse's station.”The added benefit of using Hochiki Europe devices in a hospital environment is that they can be flexible depending on the use of the rooms or wards they are placed in. Using a universal, electronics-free mounting base, sensors, sounders and beacons can easily ‘clip in and clip out’ allowing for flexible fire safety design and easier device maintenance.With the installation project completed in October 2021, the team faced the challenge of working alongside other contractors during the global pandemic, meaning careful management of teams. “In one respect it was tricky because of the pandemic, but it worked in our favour because we were able to have an entire floor to ourselves to install and test the system, working our way through the building methodically.”Commenting on the successful installation Hynes said “I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Hochiki Europe, especially for healthcare estate projects. The team are knowledgeable and always ready to help should we need it, especially the technical support team. Our account manager has lots of experience in the industry and we trust him and the team to provide us with a cost effective and compliant solution.”Mick Hall, System Sales Manager at Hochiki Europe said “Tees Fire are one of our biggest independent system’s partners and have worked with Hochiki Europe for a long time, so there is a trusted relationship there. The install went so well that we have helped Tees Fire to deliver a CPD to the staff at the hospital on False Alarm Management, something that is critical to understand for the responsible person(s), especially in a healthcare environment.”Tees Fire have an ongoing relationship with the NHS property services and are currently employed by them on site to carry out ongoing maintenance of the Hochiki Europe life safety devices.