Blog | Hochiki Europe

Redefining Escape: What the UK’s Second Staircase Mandate Means for Global Fire Safety Design

Admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 08:00:00 GMT

England’s decision to mandate second staircases in all new residential buildings over 18 metres represents one of the most significant shifts in high rise fire safety design in a generation. More than a technical update to Approved Document B, it signals a fundamental change in how tall residential buildings are designed, occupied and managed.

Replacing Waking Watch: Fire Safety in High-Rise Flats

Admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Fire Detection System Compliance: A Building Owner's Guide to EN54

Paul Adams — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 02:30:00 GMT

EN 54 Compliance

As a building owner in the UK or Europe, ensuring your fire detection systems meet EN 54 standards isn't just about regulatory compliance—it's about implementing proven, life-saving technology that forms the backbone of modern fire safety.

The EN 54 series represents the gold standard for fire detection and alarm systems across Europe, establishing rigorous requirements that building owners must understand and implement to protect occupants and assets.

Following tragic incidents like the Grenfell Tower fire, regulatory focus has intensified on fire detection systems, with enhanced scrutiny of EN 54 compliance and stricter enforcement of inspection requirements. This comprehensive guide will help you navigate the complex landscape of EN 54-compliant fire detection systems and understand your obligations as a building owner.

The EN 54 Fire detection and fire alarm systems is a series of European standards that includes product standards and application guidelines for fire detection and fire alarm systems as well as voice alarm systems. This comprehensive framework consists of over 25 individual standards, each addressing specific components and aspects of fire detection systems.

The EN 54 series covers everything from basic smoke detectors to sophisticated voice alarm systems, ensuring interoperability and reliability across all system components. EN 54 requirements describe the minimum quality standards required for fire alarm systems, from smoke detectors and visual signs to amplifiers and loudspeakers. This standardisation ensures that safety systems operate clearly and reliably during emergencies.

For building owners, understanding EN 54 compliance means recognising that every component of your fire detection system—from individual smoke detectors to central control panels—must meet specific performance criteria established through rigorous testing protocols.

Bridge Over Troubled Water: Reducing the Risk of Water Damage to UK Business

Paul Adams — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Fire Protection, Planet Connection: How life safety devices and fire detection systems can help reduce environmental impact

Paul Adams — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 08:45:00 GMT

There is no escaping the fact that fires have a significant environmental impact. The burning of materials, especially those found in industrial premises, can release harmful pollutants into the air, water, and soil, damaging nearby ecosystems and impacting the health of nearby communities. Thankfully, efforts to prevent fires through proper safety measures, innovative technology and emergency response is helping to minimise the environmental impact of fires.

Fire Safety in Hazardous Environments | Hochiki Blog

Admin — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Emerging Fire Safety Tech for UK Data Centres | Hochiki Blog

Admin — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Data centres are the unsung heroes of our digital age. These vast warehouses of computing power underpin everything from online banking to social media, and with the recent swift uptake of A.I. across all aspects of online activities, data processing has become a critical part of the national commercial infrastructure. As our reliance on data grows, so too does the size and complexity of data centres. In the UK, a wave of new construction is underway, driven by cloud computing and the ever-increasing demand for data storage and processing.

But with great power comes great responsibility. Data centres house a dense concentration of sensitive equipment, creating a unique fire risk profile. Here, we explore emerging fire safety technologies that are helping UK data centres mitigate risk and ensure business continuity.

Hochiki Blog: Safeguarding the Past

Admin — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:00:00 GMT

True Multi-Sensors Recommended for Grade A Domestic Fire Detection Systems

Paul Adams — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 07:45:00 GMT

British Standards Definition

BS 5839 Part 6 defines a Grade A system as:

Grade A: A fire detection and fire alarm system, which incorporates CIE conforming to BS EN 54 2 and power supply equipment conforming to BS EN 54 4, and which is designed and installed in accordance with all the recommendations of BS 5839 1:2017.

There are a few differences between the BS 5839 Part 6 (residential buildings) and Part 1 (commercial buildings), including battery standby. But an often-overlooked recommendation is Section 5.2 (C) System, that states:

c) Multi‑sensor fire detectors should conform to BS EN 54‑29, BS EN 54‑30

Therefore, when the use of multi-sensor fire detectors has been determined the best solution within a Grade A system, these multi-sensors must be independently tested and approved to the latest European product standards: EN 54-29 for multi-sensor fire detectors using a combination of smoke and heat sensors, and EN 54-30 for multi-sensor fire detectors using a combination of carbon monoxide (CO) and heat sensors.

The popularity of multi-sensors has been growing within the fire industry over the last few years because of their enhanced detection capabilities and resilience against the potential causes of nuisance alarms. But it’s becoming increasingly important to ensure your multi-sensors are “true” multi-sensors, tested and accredited to the latest multi-sensors standards, whether for domestic or commercial application.

UL Listed vs EN54 Certified Fire Products | Hochiki Blog

Admin — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:00:00 GMT

All fire detection products designed to protect property and human life are by law, required to be third-party tested under strict test conditions, following a series of set test procedures to prove that they can perform as intended.

Successfully passing these certification standards indicates that the product tested can function within the field as it was designed to, detecting fire to help protect lives and property. Receiving this certification subsequently allows the manufacturer to sell their product within the marketplace.

Certification Standards

Two significant certification standards used across the globe are the US-based UL Standard and EN54, the European Standard for fire detection equipment. Both standards represent benchmarks in fire detection technology for the manufacture and design of fire detection devices and systems, as well as laying down the required performance of specific fire detection product types.