Fire safety in Hotels and Boarding Houses

Since the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order was enacted on 1st October 2006 Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service has actively carried out its statutory duty to enforce The Order. We have strived to concentrate our resources on premises where evidence demonstrated significant risk of fire to the buildings occupants.

The serious fires in hotels in Cornwall and Lancashire in 2007 highlighted the vulnerability of individuals staying in premises that didn’t afford them suitable protection from the effects of fire. With experience of fires in hotels in Wiltshire and Swindon the decision was made to actively audit a cross section of such premises.

What has been the result of our enforcement activities?

Since 1st October 2006 144 hotels, bed and breakfast and boarding houses have been audited. Of these audits 23 were deemed to be satisfactory, 103 required some degree of work to rectify failings. 8 were had such serious failings that Enforcement or Prohibition Notices had to be served. (figures correct as of 31st December 2008)

What Common Problems Have We Found?

An analysis of the failings showed some common areas of weakness. These are as follows:

Failure to carry out the risk assessment.
Failure to provide adequate staff training.
Failure to carry out and record routine testing of Fire Alarms and Emergency Lighting.
Propping open or failure to properly maintain fire doors.

Where can I find guidance on how to comply?

Proprietors of hotels, bed and breakfasts and boarding houses are responsible for compliance with the Order.

Guidance on how to comply can be found downloaded for free from the website links below:

Fire Risk Assessment –Sleeping Accommodation

Do You Have Paying Guests?

As part of our risk management strategy we will continue to monitor the compliance of such premises through the carrying out of audits.