| Hotels present unique fire safety issues due to | | | | many more local and national Acts, guidance |
| their cross section of occupants and wide variety | | | | documents and Regulations. Hotels with bars and |
| of building types. Research by the Fire Protection | | | | gaming machines, for example, must comply with |
| Association (FPA) has revealed many problems | | | | fire safety issues arising from licensing authorities. |
| with hotel fire safety, particularly in alerting | | | | It is unsurprising therefore, that government |
| occupants in the event of a fire and in the | | | | research showed that awareness of current |
| provision of adequate escape routes. Many of | | | | regulations to be under 60%. Furthermore, of the |
| these problems are associated with small and | | | | businesses sampled, over half had not carried out |
| medium sized hotels rather than those forming | | | | a fire risk assessment required by law. |
| part of large chains. | | | | The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2006 |
| It is critical that, if a fire occurs, the occupants | | | | radically simplified fire safety law in the UK. This |
| are alerted at the earliest possible moment, | | | | represents an excellent opportunity for the hotel |
| especially at night when a fire is unlikely to be | | | | sector to review fire safety arrangements and |
| discovered by people moving around the hotel. | | | | meet legal, moral and commercial duties. The main |
| Research has shown serious shortfalls in the | | | | effect of the changes will be a move towards |
| provision of adequate detection and alarm | | | | greater emphasis on fire prevention in all |
| arrangements. When guests are awoken by an | | | | non-domestic premises. Fire certificates will be |
| alarm in the middle of the night, many will delay | | | | abolished and will cease to have legal status. |
| evacuation before confirming to themselves that | | | | Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety |
| there is a real fire. | | | | Order rests with the 'responsible person'. In a |
| When leaving the building, most guests will be | | | | workplace, this is the employer and any other |
| travelling along corridors and down stairs that | | | | person who may have control of any part of the |
| they will not have seen before. They may also be | | | | premises, eg the occupier or owner. In all other |
| tired, suffering from the effects of alcohol and | | | | premises the person or people in control of the |
| have young children or elderly relatives to assist. | | | | premises will be responsible. |
| The research showed that many escape routes | | | | If you are the responsible person you must carry |
| contain obstacles and that in older buildings | | | | out a fire risk assessment which must focus on |
| corridors sometimes lead to dead ends; a | | | | the safety in case of fire of all 'relevant persons'. |
| worrying safety hazard. | | | | It should pay particular attention to those at |
| In 1986, a series of recommendations | | | | special risk, such as the disabled and those with |
| 'Recommendation on fire safety in existing hotels | | | | special needs, and must include consideration of |
| (Directive 86/666/EEC)' were produced which | | | | any dangerous substance likely to be on the |
| specified minimum fire safety standards for | | | | premises. Your fire risk assessment will help you |
| existing hotels across the European Union. The | | | | identify risks that can be removed or reduced |
| recommendations aimed to reduce the risk of fire | | | | and to decide the nature and extent of the |
| and prevent the spread of flames and smoke as | | | | general fire precautions you need to take to |
| well as ensuring that occupants could be | | | | protect people against the fire risks that remain. |
| evacuated safely and that emergency services | | | | Once a fire risk assessment has been carried out, |
| could take action. | | | | the main findings must be recorded and |
| In 2001, an EC report found a serious failure in | | | | implemented. Effective ongoing risk management |
| the adoption of these fire safety | | | | must occur and needs to be supported by senior |
| recommendations by member states. This has | | | | management. FPA research highlighted serious |
| lead to various reviews and consideration of | | | | problems with lack of hotel staff training. This legal |
| enforcement arrangements. | | | | duty is reaffirmed by the RRO and can make the |
| Current UK fire safety law is contained in a wide | | | | difference between a well-organised evacuation |
| variety of documents. These include the Fire | | | | and a disaster. Staff should be given induction and |
| Precautions Act 1971 and more generally, the | | | | regular refresher training. They should be trained |
| Health and Safety at Work act 1974. The Fire | | | | in the use of fire fighting equipment and ideally, |
| Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 and | | | | certain staff should be trained to act as Fire |
| 1999 amendments contain detail guidance for all | | | | Marshals or Wardens. |
| businesses. Based on these Regulations, the | | | | Compliance makes good business sense. On |
| government produced 'Fire Safety - An | | | | average there are over 5000 fires each year in |
| employer's guide'. This guide explains to the | | | | hotels and boarding houses. The 2005 Paris hotel |
| employer, what to do to comply with the law | | | | fire, which lead to 20 deaths, did nothing for |
| relating to fire issues. It also explains how to carry | | | | enhancing public confidence in the sector. |
| out a fire risk assessment and identify the | | | | Compliance with the new law offers tangible |
| safeguards which should be present in workplace. | | | | benefits to staff and guests alike. Moreover, in an |
| Unfortunately, fire safety law is not limited to | | | | increasingly competitive market, it could mean the |
| even these documents and is scattered over | | | | difference between success and failure. |