Hochiki Europe, in collaboration with Italian installer ELE.CO SRL, has successfully implemented a joint fire detection and emergency lighting system at a KOKO Emporio store in the Turin region. KOKO Emporio, a prominent family and value retailer, operates numerous stores across Torino and Moncalieri, offering a variety of home, clothing, and lifestyle products to customers in the area.
The store occupies 800 square metres across both ground and basement levels. In the bustling retail environment, aisles and stock displays often obscure view of the nearest exits for shoppers, particularly those unfamiliar with the layout. Therefore, it was essential for the store to integrate a compliant fire detection system and emergency lighting to ensure safe evacuation during emergencies, such as a fire or power failure.
FIREscape+ intelligent fire detection
For this project, ELE.CO SRL selected Hochiki's FIREscape+ system, which integrates ESP intelligent fire detection with emergency lighting controlled by a single four-loop panel. Throughout the store, ALN-EN smoke sensors with adjustable sensitivity settings were installed to minimise false alarms. Additionally, EN 54-23 compliant visual alarm devices were used to make alarm signals easily visible to everyone, supported by ESP sounders for comprehensive audible alert coverage.
ALN-EN smoke sensors with adjustable sensitivity settings were installed to minimise false alarms
The basement posed a notable challenge due to its diverse environments, including retail and warehouse sections with extensive aisles and storage zones. Here, the emergency lighting system is crucial in maintaining visibility and accessibility during power outages. High-power luminaries connected to the FIREscape+ panel now illuminate this area, ensuring staff and customer safety by guiding them towards the nearest exit in case of an evacuation or power interruption.
Benefits for multi-site retail operations
Ervin Peza, the proprietor of ELE.CO SRL, noted: "Hochiki's FIREscape+ system reduced installation costs significantly compared to installing two separate systems, making it the right choice for this application. Combining fire and emergency lighting on a single panel and loop reduces cabling, which simplifies both installation and maintenance."
He further mentioned: "KOKO's new integrated fire and emergency lighting system means the store can run smoothly, day to day, with customers confident that any fire will be picked up quickly and that they can find their way to safety. Hochiki's addressable technology means the system can pinpoint the exact location of an incident and guide people along the safest route out, even if the power goes down."
The installation exemplifies the practicality of using a combined, addressable fire and emergency lighting system to address the operational needs of a busy, multi-site retail setting. This approach provides store owners with a streamlined system management solution, rather than dealing with multiple separate systems.
