Hotel fire safety is a necessity. As a property manager or hotel owner, you want to keep your guests safe. But, with changing code requirements, a range of fire protection technologies, and a number of fire sprinklers, fire alarms, intercom systems, fire extinguishers, and more to keep track of, it can be tough to remember every aspect of your hotel fire safety requirements.
Whether you’re trying to figure out when to have your sprinkler system inspected, or what kind of fire extinguishers you need, this article on hotel fire safety requirements will provide you with the information you need to know to keep your hotel safe.
Basic Hotel Fire Safety Best Practices
While hotel fire safety requirements can differ depending on your hotel’s location, the size of your building, and the amenities you offer, there are a few basic hotel fire safety best practices that every hotel needs to follow. Some of these basics include:
- Ensuring hallways, doors, and stairwells are kept clear of obstructions
- Evacuation plan. Your hotel evacuation plan should be established and posted throughout the building. Learn how to develop an effective fire evacuation plan.
- Employee fire safety training. Employees should be trained on emergency response protocol. Fire drills should be practiced regularly and according to your local code requirements.
- Hotel has an established fire response team on call. Staff is familiar with contact information for the fire response team and knows who to call in the event of a fire.
Every hotel should have an evacuation plan, train staff on fire safety protocol, and work to maintain fire safety best practices, like keeping hallways, doors, and stairwells clear. The more educated and prepared your staff are for emergency response, the better you’ll be able to not just respond to an emergency, but prevent a fire hazard from occurring in the first place.
Hotel Fire Safety Requirements: Fire Prevention and Protection Systems
In addition to following hotel fire safety best practices, every hotel must implement a range of fire prevention and protection systems. Again, the specific products you choose and implement will depend on your hotel, but every hotel must have fire protection systems like fire sprinklers, fire extinguishers, and more in place. Let’s take a closer look at some of the tools and technology required for proper hotel fire safety. Common hotel safety requirements include:
- Self-closing doors in stairwells
- Fire alarms and smoke detectors in every room
- Exits and Exit signs
- Emergency lights
- Manual alarm systems
In addition to some of these simpler features, your hotel will require building-wide fire prevention technology. Larger-scale fire protection and prevention tools like fire extinguishers and fire sprinkler systems must be regularly tested and serviced to ensure they are able to function properly in the event of a fire. Here are the basic guidelines for these systems in regards to hotel fire safety:
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Every hotel requires portable fire extinguishers. The type of fire extinguisher your building needs will depend on the fire hazards present. For example, you’ll require kitchen-specific fire extinguishers for restaurant areas and a different fire extinguisher class for places like hallways and meeting rooms. Use this guide to choose the right fire extinguisher for each location in your hotel.
In addition to choosing the right fire extinguishers for your hotel, you’ll also need to ensure they are installed properly. Portable fire extinguishers should be correctly placed in either a wall cabinet or hung on the wall to ensure they are easily accessible in the event of a fire. Fire extinguishers should not be set on the floor.
Fire extinguisher training for employees
It is important to ensure that employees receive periodic hands-on fire extinguisher training. Basic training ensures that employees know how to properly use fire extinguishers, and can respond appropriately to a fire hazard, helping to keep your guests safe.
Fire extinguisher testing, inspection, and maintenance.
Your hotel must follow regular fire extinguisher testing, inspection, and maintenance requirements. If your fire extinguishers are not properly maintained, you are potentially putting your staff and your guests in danger. For a full list of code requirements for fire extinguisher testing, inspection, and maintenance, see Vanguard’s Code Requirements Guide, and check out this blog to determine when to replace your commercial fire extinguishers.
Hotel Fire Sprinkler System
Hotels are also required to implement a fire sprinkler system. Fire sprinkler systems are remarkably effective at suppressing hotel fires. They’re designed to activate as soon as a fire starts, and they work to stop a fire before it grows out of control, providing the time your guests need to evacuate the building safely, while also working to contain any damage to your building.
But, fire sprinkler systems only work if they are implemented properly, and regularly tested and serviced. Your hotel fire sprinkler system should be:
- Installed with sprinklers in every room
- Installed in compliance with NFPA standards
- Regularly maintained by qualified technicians
If you’re new to hotel fire safety, this blog helps explain the different types of fire sprinkler systems. Depending on the type of fire sprinkler system installed in your hotel, you’ll need to meet certain testing, inspection, and maintenance requirements. To help keep you on the right schedule, here’s a guide to How Often to Have Your Fire Sprinkler System Tested.
Special Hazard and Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems
The final component of your hotel fire safety system that we’ll discuss today is any special hazard or kitchen fire suppression system.
Most hotel fire sprinkler systems are wet systems, which means they use water to cool and prevent the spread of fire. But, if your hotel has a restaurant, kitchen, or any other special hazard, you’ll also need a special hazard or kitchen fire suppression system.
These fire suppression systems are designed to combat the unique fire hazards presented by things like kitchen or grease fires. They are another essential component of your hotel fire safety plan, and require different testing, inspection, and maintenance schedules.
You can learn more about restaurant fire suppression systems here, or refer to Vanguard’s Code Requirements Guide for more information about how often to have your special hazard fire protection system inspected and serviced.
There’s a lot that goes into an effective hotel fire safety plan, but every precaution and fire safety requirement is essential to ensuring you’re providing a safe, comfortable environment for all of your guests. If you’re new to hotel fire safety, and just aren’t sure where to start when it comes to scheduling regular inspections and maintenance, the Vanguard Fire & Security team is here to help walk you through it. From installing your fire sprinkler system to fire extinguisher training and more, we are your go-to resource for hotel fire safety. Get in touch with our team online, or give us a call today at 888-444-8719 for more information.