Hochiki Europe has supported conservation organisation, WWF, in developing a life safety solution for its Living Planet Centre headquarters. The £20 million sustainable building, which incorporated a timber-frame structure and renewable energy technologies, required a specialist fire detection system that ensured optimum performance while being sympathetic to its unique design.
The FIRElink-400 aspirating fire detection solution from Hochiki Europe was selected for the project, on recommendation from Cheshire-based integrators, Fire Bright Solutions. The aspirating unit enclosure houses the high sensitivity smoke detection electronics and a fan which draws air through sampling holes in four connected sampling pipes. The air is filtered before passing across a laser light source; if smoke particles are detected an alarm condition will be activated. Sensitivity can be adjusted to as low as 0.0015% obscuration per metre based on a smoke particle size of just 0.0003µm. All detectors in the FIRElink range have been approved to EN 54-20:2006 Classes A, B & C by LPCB.
Configured around Hochiki Europe’s Enhanced Systems Protocol (ESP) – a robust addressable communications solution for intelligent fire detection and fully integrated systems – the entire life safety system is able to be located within ceiling voids and/or suspended floors. This ensures it remains hidden from view, minimising its impact on the aesthetics of the building without compromising on performance. A range of other Hochiki Europe smoke and multi-heat sensors, call points and base sounder beacons were also included to ensure optimum fire detection and to maximise safety.
Since it has opened to the public, the Living Planet Centre has proved immensely popular with WWF staff and visitors alike and it is being held as an exemplar of modern construction practice. WWF spokesperson, Richard Eaton, is delighted with the sound advice and skilled craftsmanship provided by Fire Bright Solutions and Hochiki Europe.
For more information, go to www.hochikieurope.com
