Hochiki delivers fire safety at Costa Coffee’s new flagship location

Costa Coffee has become synonymous with high-quality coffee and a warm, inviting atmosphere. With a wide range of handcrafted beverages, from classic espressos to innovative seasonal drinks, Costa Coffee offers something for everyone.

Situated in the popular Touchwood Shopping Centre, which attracts over 13 million visitors annually, the new flagship Costa outlet required a fire safety system that would meet the demands of this busy retail hub and ensure the safety of all coffee lovers who visit the premises.

The Solihull location needed a complete overhaul to accommodate Costa Coffee’s unique brief. This included the integration of a new fire detection system that would interface seamlessly with the existing building’s infrastructure, including security and sprinkler systems, and meet the company’s strict adherence policy to the Disability Discrimination Act.

JCB Fire Ltd selected Hochiki’s fire detection devices due to their innovative features and because their open protocol capability ensures compatibility with various fire alarm control panels, providing flexibility in system design. Additionally, the devices are easy to install, reducing project timelines, and also  offer ultra-reliability, in turn minimising false alarms.

Disability Discrimination Act

To meet the stringent safety requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, Hochiki’s audio and visual alarm devices have been installed. These devices are designed to enhance visibility for individuals with hearing impairments and improve the audibility of fire alarms, thereby ensuring that all occupants can be evacuated quickly and efficiently.

Hochiki’s ESP range of sensors further simplifies the installation process with electronics-free mounting bases and easy addressing. The versatile sensors offer a variety of detection options, including smoke, heat and multi-criteria detection.

Customisable settings, such as adjustable sensitivity and drift compensation, allow for tailored fire protection, which is perfect for this establishment, spread as it is over two floors.

Grant Wheeler, general manager of JCB Fire, commented: “The successful installation at the Solihull store was completed in less than a week by our client Otec Electrical Limited, demonstrating the effectiveness of our partnership with Hochiki. We were able to combine our own expertise with Hochiki’s innovative technology to ensure the safety and security of Costa Coffee’s customers and staff in this new location.”

*Further information is available online at www.hochikieurope.com