Landmark Mayfair office refurbishment addressed by Hochiki

Cornerstone Group was confronted with a unique challenge on this project. The prestigious building features classical architecture and over 50,000 square feet of premium open-plan office space spread across no fewer than six floors. The main aim was to upgrade the fire protection system without compromising the building’s refined aesthetics.

The client – itself a major property management company – required a solution that would be robust, reliable and unobtrusive. Working closely with the design and construction teams, Cornerstone Group turned to Hochiki Europe, a long-standing partner known for its dependable systems that blend seamlessly into high-end environments.

Cause-and-effect programming

At the core of the installation is Hochiki’s Latitude fire detection and alarm control system. Chosen for its powerful cause-and-effect programming, flexible networking and modular scalability, Latitude is well suited to the demands of a multi-level heritage building.

Indeed, the system’s ability to support complex configurations renders it ideal for a site where multiple zones, floors and room functions need to be managed with precision.

In order to deliver complete protection across the site, Cornerstone Group’s technicians selected a combination of Hochiki’s Enhanced System Protocol (ESP) addressable devices and the FIRElink aspirating detection system.

The FIRElink system is adaptable to a broad range of environments and applications. From small through to very large areas, the system is particularly useful in protecting computer rooms or Data Centres, but can be designed to fit almost any environment.

ESP detectors offer high performance with a minimal visual footprint. That’s ideal for preserving the character of the restored interiors. In those areas requiring an even more discreet solution, such as decorative ceilings or high airflow zones, FIRElink has been installed using capillary sampling pipes hidden within the building’s structure.

BMS interface

One of the key advantages of the Latitude platform is its ability to interface with wider building management systems (BMS). At 77 Grosvenor Street, this opens the door to centralised monitoring and control of fire safety in conjunction with other building systems.

Latitude’s open integration options mean that it can share status updates and alarm events in real-time with the BMS, enabling facilities teams to co-ordinate responses both quickly and efficiently. For a high-spec office environment, this not only improves safety outcomes, but also serves to support smoother day-to-day operation and building performance.

Patrick Anthony, project manager at the Cornerstone Group, explained: “We have a trusted relationship with the Hochiki team. The company’s systems and devices are reliable, help to reduce false alarms and are designed to aesthetically fade into the background. In short, exactly what this project needed. We’ve delivered complete peace of mind for the management team.”

The site at Grosvenor Street is now protected by a fully integrated and future-proof life safety system that meets modern building safety standards, while in parallel maintaining the building’s elegance.

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