Hochiki Europe Completes Open Protocol Fire Detection System at 334 Oxford Street

Hochiki Europe has completed a fire detection system at 334 Oxford Street, London, a mixed-use retail and office development, protecting 11 storeys and a site capacity of 7,915 occupants. Retail Technology Innovation Hub reported the completion on November 10, 2026.

Hall & Kay Fire Installs ESP System

Hall & Kay Fire installed the system, which is based on Hochiki's ESP open protocol. The installation had to be completed within a tight programme while fire protection was maintained across the building's basement, ground floor and nine upper floors.

Hochiki's electronics-free YBN-R/3 common mounting base accepts the majority of the ESP range, which helped Hall & Kay cut cabling time and stay on schedule. Where cabling would have affected the finished interior, Hochiki's hybrid wireless system was installed. It connects to the ESP loop and forms a self-configuring mesh network, routing each signal through the strongest available path.

"With the project having a specific deadline, we understood all the requirements needed to deliver a fully functional fire system on the site," says Rikki Farrah, Project Manager at Hall & Kay Fire. "Hochiki's systems simplified installation and reduced downtime, which enabled more time for testing."

The ESP open protocol allows Hochiki addressable products and a wide range of third-party devices to share the same loop, which helps keep maintenance costs down. Each device reports its precise location when activated, so building management can identify the device in alarm on any floor and respond quickly. All devices were installed in white to suit the building's interior and keep detection discreet.

Nine networked Latitude panels with graphics software monitor the whole system. Latitude is certified to EN 54-2, EN 54-4 and EN 54-13, which met the end user's requirement for full standards compliance. Its plug and play peripherals, such as relay cards and repeater panels, allow the system to be extended as the building's retail and office spaces grow.

Neil Eves, Head of Major Projects and Specifications at Hochiki Europe, says: "This prestigious building demanded the highest level of protection, and its new integrated open protocol system will ensure the building is future proofed for years to come and fully upgradable as the building's retail and office spaces expand."

Hochiki Europe's Product History

According to akta.pro company records, Hochiki Europe launched the Ekho hybrid wireless fire detection system in 2020, with EN54-25 approval and mesh networking, opening the Waking Watch replacement use case in high-rise residential buildings. The company released the L@titude intelligent addressable fire control panel with networking capabilities in 2017, establishing a modern flagship panel platform. Hochiki Europe is the Gillingham-headquartered EMEA subsidiary of Japanese life safety manufacturer Hochiki Corporation, supplying fire detection, emergency lighting and leak detection hardware across Europe, the Middle East and Africa through BAFE-accredited installation partners and direct regional offices.

Earlier Hochiki Europe Events

Hochiki Europe hosted Japan's ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki at its Gillingham headquarters on September 24, 2026, showcasing its fire detection systems and production facility, Sourcesecurity reported. The company said it would exhibit fire detection systems and emergency lighting at the Adria Security Summit 2026 in Zagreb, Croatia, on October 7-8, and present its Hochiki Training Academy, an online platform with over 2,000 users, Sourcesecurity reported. Hochiki Europe also said it would exhibit its fire detection and life safety range at Fire and Security India, held September 3-5, at booth B26, led by Senior Regional Sales Manager Sujeet Kumar Singh and Sales Manager Richard Wharram, Sourcesecurity reported.

What to Watch Next

Hochiki Europe's Latitude panels allow the system to be extended as the building's retail and office spaces grow, the company said.