Fire Safety Requirements for Hotels and Guest Houses

What This Requirement Covers

Hotels, guest houses, and bed and breakfast establishments present elevated fire risks because occupants are sleeping in an unfamiliar building and may not know the escape routes. Approved Document B Volume 2 classifies these buildings as Purpose Group 3 (Other residential), and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 imposes ongoing fire safety management duties.

Key Requirements

Means of Escape

1. Maximum travel distance: 18 metres in one direction, 35 metres where two directions of travel are available
2. Every bedroom must have a direct exit to a protected corridor or stairway without passing through another room
3. Protected corridors must have 30-minute fire-resisting walls and ceilings, with FD30S fire doors to all bedrooms
4. Buildings with a floor more than 11 metres above ground require at least two protected stairways

Fire Detection

1. A fire detection and alarm system to BS 5839-1 Category L1 (full automatic detection in all areas) is the standard for hotels
2. Manual call points at all exits from each storey
3. Visual alarm devices in bedrooms for hearing-impaired guests
4. The system must be monitored 24 hours (either by on-site staff or a remote monitoring centre)

Emergency Lighting and Signage

1. Emergency lighting to BS 5266-1 in all corridors, stairways, and public areas
2. Illuminated exit signs at all fire exits and along escape routes
3. Fire action notices displayed in every bedroom

Fire Risk Assessment

1. The Responsible Person must maintain a written fire risk assessment
2. Staff must receive fire safety training, including how to raise the alarm, use extinguishers, and assist guests with evacuation
3. Fire drills must be practised at least every 6 months

Practical Compliance Tips

1. Ensure bedroom fire doors are fitted with effective self-closing devices; wedged-open fire doors are one of the most common failures in hotel inspections
2. Provide fire safety information in every bedroom, including the escape route and assembly point
3. Train night staff specifically in fire emergency procedures, as fires during sleeping hours are most dangerous
4. Consider installing sprinklers, particularly in older buildings where escape routes are complex
5. Maintain a log of all fire safety inspections, testing, and maintenance
6. Review the fire risk assessment annually and after any refurbishment or change of use