Industrial Fire Detection Solutions Company of the Your safety, our technology

In this issue of Building & Facilities News, we are delighted to welcome market-leaders Hochiki Europe as our Industrial Fire Detection Solutions Company of the Month.

The Fire Safety Event is the largest gathering of UK fire safety professionals and is back at the NEC Birmingham from the 30th April- 2nd May 2024. Hochiki Europe is our Top Exhibitor, with its impressive range of fire safety products including: Latitude, Ekho Hybrid Wireless and FIREscape Nepto.

The illustrious journey for Hochiki started over 100 years ago, when it was first established in Tokyo in 1918. Over time, it grew exponentially to become a globally-leading manufacturer of commercial and industrial fire directions solutions. In 1972, the Hochiki America Corporation was founded, followed in 1993 by the newest division: Hochiki Europe.

Hochiki Europe manufactures and distributes products to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with a strategic focus on fire detection systems, wired and wireless products and emergency lighting.

“Our Addressable Life Safety products partnered with a Latitude fire safety panel is an innovative solution for optimised fire safety management in large-scale applications. The modular plug ‘n’ play products can identify incidents instantly, providing optimised fire safety responses across hospitals, retail outlets, airports, educational establishments and high-rise buildings. What's more, our open protocol can integrate easily with existing fire safety systems, for instant operationality," explained Craig Taylor, Strategic Marketing Manager.

Following the Grenfell fire tragedy in 2017, the Hackitt Report criticised the current UK building regulations and fire safety systems as ‘not fit for purpose.’ Demanding a ‘culture change’ to drive the delivery of safe buildings now and in the future, Dame Judith Hackitt gave an impassioned call to arms.

With this in mind, Hochiki Europe is focused on driving fire safety standards forward across the industry. In addition to the robust product portfolio, the Kent-based division has launched a training academy for fire safety professionals working across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The Hochiki Training Academy provides blended online and in-person classroom based learning to operating engineers. The curriculum content consists of fire safety topics, with a large focus on Hochiki’s product range such as Latitude, EKHO Hybrid Wireless, FIREscape Nepto Emergency Lighting range and ESP range. The newly launched academy launched this Spring and already has 120 subscribers to date. Engineers will be able to familiarise themselves with the products and importantly, how to install them during practical sessions.

“Our academy is unique in that it follows an engineer throughout their career rather than the business they work for. Throughout the life career of an engineer, they may work for different companies, but they can top-up their knowledge throughout with our training courses," added Craig.

Hochiki prides itself on staying ahead of the curve and owns the world’s largest purpose-built fire test laboratory. In the fire safety sector, precision and accuracy are paramount and this allows the Group to robustly test and refine its growing premium product portfolio. This cutting-edge R&D facility has allowed the seamless development of products such as the ESP addressable range.

The Ekho Hybrid Wireless Fire Detection is a standout flexible hybrid solution and can be seamlessly integrated into existing Hochiki ESP Intelligent Hardwired Systems. The wireless Translator module is hardwired to the fire alarm control panel loop and communicates continuously with the wireless devices, with up to 10 translators per loop and up to 126 expanders/field devices on each translator. This is perfect for installations where the more traditional fire cables are not possible, such as heritage buildings or where asbestos is present.

If you’re looking for a nextlevel, compliant emergency lighting system, the FIREscape Nepto is a unique self-testing and self-monitoring system. Designed with LED luminaires and exit signs connected with 40V cabling, this system is designed to keep going even during power outages. The back-up batteries provide a vital three hours of power, complaint with British standard BS 5266 for emergency lighting requirements. Providing an emergency lighting system for all built environments, the FIREscape Nepto solution offers additional sustainability benefits. The product has been produced by fully recyclable materials and with integrated LED technology, this is designed to reduce carbon emissions.

“We are more than a fire safety solutions company. We are driving fire safety standards through our new training academy, allowing more engineers to access our product range, keeping building safer now and in the future.

“Every month we offer monthly webinars, open to all on pertinent topics such as VADs, IS Systems, Multi-Sensor testing, and False Alarm Reduction, which can all be accessed through our website at a later date.

“We have always offered next-level technical support and customer service, alongside our premium range of products. We are furthermore delighted to be launching our ‘Vision 2030’ – this is a cohesive best practice agreement across our UK, USA and Japan manufacturing sites to begin to streamline our global product range ‘Move ahead as One Hochiki’.

“Watch this space and see you all at The Fire Safety Event 2024,” concluded Shinsuke Kubo, Managing Director.

For more information on all products or to speak to an expert sales operative, see details below:T +44 (0)1634 260133info@hochikieurope.comwww.hochikieurope.com