Hochiki Europe Enhances Fire Safety at Iceland’s Fjarðargata Mixed-Use Development

© Hochiki

This landmark project is a mixed-use complex that blends modern architecture with historic structures, creating an interconnected space that includes apartments, a hotel, a shopping mall, restaurants, offices, and a library. To ensure robust life safety across this diverse and expanding environment, the developers chose Hochiki Europe’s fire detection and alarm systems.

VOLT EHF’s owner and lead engineer, Sigmar Örn Arnarson, began the partnership by visiting Hochiki Europe’s headquarters. He received hands-on training at the Hochiki Training Academy and toured the manufacturing floor, which highlighted the engineering precision and quality control behind every product. This experience solidified their decision to choose Hochiki for this prestigious project.

At the heart of the system is Hochiki’s Latitude fire control panel. Its scalability and flexible configuration are ideal for large, multi-use complexes like Fjarðargata, with capacity built-in for future expansion. The system seamlessly integrates with the site’s Building Management System, providing a centralised view of all building services. Its strong false alarm reduction performance and discreet, aesthetically pleasing devices were also key factors in its selection.

The Latitude panel supports 38 languages, and Sigmar and his team provided instrumental assistance with the Icelandic translation, ensuring a user-friendly solution for the local market.

"The hands-on training at the Hochiki Academy gave us confidence going into the project," said Sigmar Örn Arnarson. "The installation went very smoothly, and the support from Hochiki Europe was five-star. It’s clear we chose the right partner."

The Hochiki solution is currently installed in the hotel and residential areas, including a full suite of ESP intelligent devices. Further plans are underway to extend protection to the rest of the complex, with the hotel’s developers requesting the inclusion of base sounder beacons for enhanced safety.