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Fire protection at Edinburgh’s Multrees Walk upgraded thanks to Hochiki
21 January 2025
LOCATED AT the heart of St James’ Quarter, a prestigious shopping destination in Edinburgh, Multrees Walk offers a curated selection of high-end brands and premium retail experiences. Recently, the popular retail centre witnessed an extension to one of its prestigious stores that’s now protected by a state-of-the-art fire detection system courtesy of Hochiki Europe.

High-end luxury retailers prioritise discreet fire detection systems in order to maintain the brand’s aesthetic appeal. These stores often feature meticulously designed interiors with clean lines and minimal distractions, in turn meaning that any visible fire detection devices must not disrupt the desired ambiance and detract from the overall shopping experience.
By opting for discreet systems, such retailers ensure that fire safety provision remains a top priority without compromising on a store’s luxurious atmosphere.
With its stunning interior design and exquisite collection of accessories and ready-to-wear items, the owners of this new store in Edinburgh demanded a fire safety solution that was both discreet and highly effective.
GB Integrated Systems (GBIS) specialises in providing fire detection and security system solutions for commercial properties. Having worked with Hochiki’s products for several years, trusting the latter’s reliability in retail environments, the company knew the global fire systems manufacturer’s ESP range would provide the ideal solution.
Project details
The project comprises over 40 analogue addressable devices and a sophisticated air sampling system, thereby ensuring the highest possible standards in fire safety system design. The air sampling system, which is seamlessly integrated into the fire detection loop, is a crucial component of the installation.
Air sampling enables precise detection in hard-to-reach areas like ceiling voids, ensuring comprehensive coverage throughout a retail environment. The Hochiki devices respond accurately to real fire conditions, while also minimising false alarms through multi-sensor technology, environmental adjustments and filtering mechanisms.
Given these features, the team at GBIS could reassure the management team at the luxury retailer that the fire alarm system could effectively differentiate between non-threatening signals and actual fire hazards, thereby improving safety, reducing false alarms and enhancing overall operational efficiency within the store.
Mike Gray, technical director at GBIS, informed Fire Safety Matters: “We chose Hochiki as the company offered a comprehensive solution for this project with a broad selection of devices, including smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual Call Points, base sounders and the air sampling system.
System interface
One key challenge was interfacing the fire alarm system with the retail centre’s Security Control Room. This complex integration required careful planning and execution to ensure that the system would respond appropriately to different fire scenarios.
In the event of a fire within the store, the system must trigger specific alarms and notifications, while a fire in the Shopping Centre would activate different alerts, minimising disruption to the store’s operations.
“Installing the Hochiki fire alarm system in this premium, high-end retail space has made for a particularly exciting project,” continued Gray, “because it brings innovative fire safety and sophisticated technology into a luxurious environment where safety and customer experience are paramount. The precision and reliability of our install aligns perfectly with the retail brand’s high standards, protecting valuable merchandise, ensuring shopper safety and minimising disruptions from false alarms.”
Gray concluded: “With hidden devices and seamless integration, the Hochiki ESP range not only safeguards the premises, but also maintains the location’s aesthetics, adding a layer of security that complements the brand’s reputation for excellence and customer care. It’s very satisfying to see the finished Hochiki install in premises of this nature.”
*Further information is available online at www.hochikieurope.com
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