Hochiki Europe’s multi-sensors installed to safeguard London’s Riverside Studios

Riverside Studios is where artists and communities come together under one creative space. Originally an iron foundry, the property was transformed into a film studio in the 1930s and continued to serve in that capacity until its renovation in 2014. The location now comprises three large studio spaces which can be used as theatres or TV studios, two cinemas and an event area with surrounding bars and restaurants.

Having so many different commercial and hospitality environments in one space necessarily meant that fire safety experts from installer Cornerstone Fire Systems needed to think very carefully when it came to upgrading the fire detection products across the premises.

Neil Thurgood, project engineer at Cornerstone Fire Systems, explained: “The team worked closely with representatives from Hochiki Europe to deliver the most suitable package of fire detection products. There were a number of different elements to consider, from kitchen hazards through to the practicality of organising a large-scale emergency evacuation. We knew that this project would need products that were ultra-dependable regardless of the environment, and we also knew we might need technical expertise and support. This is something we were confident Hochiki Europe would be able to deliver.”

Multi-faceted offer

Mark Smith, UK sales manager at Hochiki Europe, was on hand to provide his expert insight. He told Fire Safety Matters: “When the brief came our way, it was clear that we needed to eliminate any possibility of false alarms, while also choosing a detection system that was flexible. We knew that our ACD-EN multi-sensors would be the perfect solution for Riverside Studios.”

He continued: “It’s through their complex detection methods that these multi-sensors are able to significantly reduce the risk of unwanted alarms. They contain smoke, heat and CO sensing elements. Also incorporated into the detector is a Suitable Moving AveRage Time (SMART) algorithm which is able to determine the legitimacy of an alarm.”

By taking samples from the environment, the ACD-EN multi-sensor constantly monitors its surroundings to adjust its sensitivity. If any transient activity is detected, the sensor automatically switches to the maximum number of samples in order to quickly determine whether the transient is the start of a real fire or a false alarm. This ensures the sensor remains as sensitive as it needs to be.

Show-ready solution

Hochiki Europe’s ACD multi-sensors boasts 24 EN-approved modes of operation, making them “the most advanced multi-sensors on the market”. At Riverside Studios, they’re able to detect multiple elements of a fire individually or simultaneously, including combinations of smoke, fixed temperature, rate of rise of heat and CO. This could prove to be particularly important for live performances where pyrotechnics are used, in which case the detectors would need to seamlessly switch between smoke and heat modes.

The ability to customise Hochiki Europe’s products was also an added bonus for both the installer and the end user. Neil Thurgood added: “Being able to fully customise the products to suit our client’s aesthetic requirements was hugely beneficial and added to the overall customer experience. In doing so, we were able to deliver the client’s vision without compromising on style or project turnaround times.”

*For more information on Hochiki Europe’s range of multi-sensor products visit: https://www.hochikieurope.com/acd