Retail
Product range: FIREscape+

KOKO Superstore

KOKO Superstore, a popular home-and-fashion retail destination, needed a fire safety system to ensure fast, safe evacuation. Hochiki partnered with ELE.CO SRL to deliver FIREscape+, combining fire detection and emergency lighting in one solution

Large retail store with different items such as chairs, cooking appliances and outdoor living

KOKO’s chain of superstores supplies everything a customer needs daily, from home accessories to fashion and beauty, they provide an expansive range of products for anyone visiting their stores throughout Turin. ELE.CO partnered with Hochiki to deliver a life safety system to ensure the protection of their large-scale store.

 

Large retail store with different items such as chairs, cooking appliances and outdoor living

The superstore located in Piedmont comprises two storeys; a ground floor and a basement, making up 800 square metres of retail space. As per any busy retail space, the presence of aisles can make finding the nearest exit in an emergency difficult, especially for shoppers who may be unfamiliar with the store layout. To ensure complete customer safety, the store owner requested both a fully compliant fire detection system and an emergency lighting system; each floor not only needed to be comprehensively protected against fire, but a system was also needed to assist customers in quickly evacuating the building in the event of a fire or power outage.

To ensure these systems were installed across the store’s vast layout to the highest standards, local installers, ELE.CO proposed Hochiki’s FIREscape+ combined fire detection and emergency lighting system, incorporating ESP intelligent fire detection devices, as the main technology to meet all requirements requested.

FIREscape+ is a revolutionary system, combining a fully functional ESP fire detection and alarm system with an intelligent emergency lighting solution, ideal for any application. Fully compliant with BS 5266-1: 2025 and BS 5839-1: 2025, FIREscape+ self-tests, monitoring for any sensor battery and LED faults, which can be rapidly identified to ensure a swift response from building management teams. This keeps the system operational to ensure the system is ‘always on’ and fully functioning.

 

A particular challenge was the basement. Consisting of separate shop floor and warehousing areas, an efficient emergency lighting system was needed to keep the basement illuminated during the event of a power failure or any incident requiring immediate evacuation. The system would be crucial for navigating personnel to emergency exits through a hazardous environment, containing large quantities of boxes, lengthy aisles, heavy assets and stairways. So, the system here consisted of high-power luminaries all managed by the four-loop FIREscape+ control panel to effectively safeguard the basement and guide shoppers efficiently out of the building.

firescape+ group with panel

“Hochiki's FIREscape+ system reduced installation costs significantly compared to installing two separate systems, making it the superior choice for this type of application. By combining fire and emergency lighting on a single panel and loop, cabling is significantly reduced, streamlining both installation and maintenance. FIREscape+ ultimately cuts business downtime through less frequent installer visits and fewer products to service.”

 

Quoted Mr Ervin Peza, owner of ELE.CO SRL.

VADS group

Various ESP devices were networked onto the FIREscape+ panel to provide comprehensive fire detection. ALN-EN smoke sensors were deployed to reduce the risk of false alarms. Through the adjustable sensor threshold level, the sensors sensitivity level can match the specific demands of each environment.

 

In compliance with EN54-23 standards, VADs (visual alarm devices) were implemented within the system to ensure fire alarm activation was distinctly visible to all occupants. With proven research showing that flashing lights are five times more visible than steady lights, Hochiki’s VADs with their integrated high intensity LEDs ensured alarm activations are clearly detectable. This enhanced the overall fire security and provided swift evacuation procedures for building occupants.

ESP sounders were used in line with the VADs to provide audible alerts, thereby delivering a fully accessible fire alarm system to customers. Addressable Input/Output modules were added directly to the FIREscape+ panel’s loops, to interface to separate third-party equipment, thereby extending the capabilities of the fire alarm system, to enhance the store’s protection.

 

Commenting on the final installation, Mr Ervin Peza said:

“KOKO's new integrated fire and emergency lighting system ensures the store can run its operations smoothly, giving customers confidence that any fire will be identified quickly and that they can navigate their surroundings with ease.

With Hochiki's addressable technology, the system can pinpoint the exact location of a fire and deliver the safest evacuation route even in the event of a power failure. I would highly recommend Hochiki for any life safety system requirements. I am confident that this system will keep the store fully protected while continuing to foster a safe and welcoming environment for customers to shop.”

 

The whole project establishes how the implementation of a combined intelligent fire and emergency lighting system provides a smart, compliant and cost-effective solution that does not compromise on reliability or quality for modern retail spaces.

Learn more about Combined Fire and Emergency Lighting Systems
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