Hochiki fire detection protects Bournemouth and Poole College campus

Hochiki fire detection has been installed across Bournemouth and Poole College’s four-storey campus, protecting varied teaching environments with minimal disruption

Bournemouth and Poole College, the largest provider of further education and apprenticeships in Dorset, has upgraded fire detection across its four-storey campus with Hochiki’s ESP addressable range.

The installation was specified and delivered by SFA Fire and Security, which worked closely with the college to develop a system suited to the varied fire risks across its teaching environments.

The campus includes IT suites, kitchens, workshops and engineering bays, with catering, automotive maintenance, construction and engineering areas presenting increased potential for nuisance alarms from dust, fumes and cooking activity. IT and digital media spaces also contain significant amounts of electrical equipment.

https://internationalfireandsafetyjournal.com/The Hochiki fire detection system uses LPCB and VdS-approved heat sensors in kitchens and workshops to help distinguish genuine fire conditions from environmental factors such as cooking activity and dust.

ESP’s common mounting base was used across most devices, helping simplify installation by reducing the number of different components required on site and supporting the project schedule.

The system’s textual identifier provides staff with the precise location of an activated device, helping them respond quickly and make accurate evacuation decisions across the busy campus.

Wall-mounted visual alarm devices (VADs), certified to EN 54-23, were also installed to provide audible and visual warnings throughout the college. Wireless technology was integrated onto the ESP loop where drop beams restricted cabling access, reducing the need for extensive drilling and helping preserve the existing building structure.

Naomi Fell, Projects Director at SFA Fire and Security, said the complexity of the site presented challenges across its different rooms and storeys.

“Our extensive experience with Hochiki’s products, combined with the consistently positive feedback from our end-users, made Hochiki the clear choice for this project,” she said. “We met the college’s stringent deadlines with minimal disruption to teaching and learning.”

Ryan Baulcomb, Regional Sales Manager at Hochiki, said the installation demonstrated the companies’ long-standing partnership.

“This installation shows what that partnership can deliver on a genuinely complex site,” he said. “We’re proud that our products continue to give installers and end-users the reliability and support they expect.”

The completed Hochiki fire detection installation provides Bournemouth and Poole College with a system tailored to the different requirements of its teaching spaces, while allowing flexibility for future changes to the campus.