Fire Safety in Hospitality

From gastropubs to guest houses, the importance of fire safety in hospitality cannot be overlooked. We’re talking about venues that are often very busy, filled with guests, staff and other visitors. Should an emergency situation break out, failure to comply with fire safety law can be the difference between the life and death of potentially hundreds of people.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the regulations in the hospitality sector are set out clearly. We’ll be covering these rules, focusing on what businesses can do to comply with fire safety laws confidently, precautions to have in place, and who’s responsible for them.

Fire safety regulations in hospitality

The 2005 order applies to virtually all premises. Within hospitality, this includes (but is not limited to) pubs, clubs, restaurants, hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses, and self-catering properties.

Government data shows that more than 6,400 fires broke out in these types of venues across England in the four years leading up to the pandemic, when businesses were operating as normal. The main causes of the fires include flammable liquids, cooking oils/fats, careless smoking, and electrical equipment.

To avoid these risks and comply with the guidelines, hospitality businesses and premises must follow the main rules under the 2005 order. These include:

• Carrying out fire risk assessments
• Identifying any potential risks, including who may be especially at risk
• Reducing or eliminating these risks as far as is reasonably possible by putting appropriate fire safety measures in place
• Reviewing these risks regularly
• Informing staff about the identified risks
• Taking protective measures if flammable or explosive materials are used or stored
• Maintaining these measures
• Planning for emergencies, keeping a record of this and reviewing findings when necessary
• Providing staff training, information and instructions on fire safety

Who’s responsible for meeting fire safety rules?

Under the order, the ‘responsible person’ for fire safety can be anyone with control of premises, or specific areas/systems within a business. One or more people may be responsible, depending on the hospitality business or non-domestic premises.

For example, the responsible person of a restaurant could be the owner or employer. In a large hotel with a restaurant and a spa, it may be that there’s a responsible person for each part of the business – the landlord/owner may oversee one area while a facilities manager oversees another. A responsible person may also be building managers, managing agents, risk assessors, or other occupiers of a premises.

If there’s more than one responsible person, it’s important to coordinate roles and communicate efficiently. This might include writing joint procedures, regular meetings between responsible persons, and sharing the cost of fire safety measures.

How can the responsible person meet fire safety regulations?

Those responsible for fire safety in hospitality venues need to be more than decidedly cautious. We’ve outlined the main rules to meet the order above – here, we look at the practical steps that a responsible person can take to meet them.

1.      Identify hazards in your hospitality venue

The main fire hazards for hospitality venues are sources of ignition such as cooking equipment in kitchens, electronic equipment, (extractor fans, washing machines/dryers for example) and discarded cigarettes. Risks could also range from naked flames in a restaurant kitchen to log fires in a country pub. Regular cleaning, maintenance and inspections is essential to save lives and prevent extreme damage from occurring.

Cooking oils and fats can explode in reaction with liquids, creating a ‘Class F’ fire that requires very specific solutions to put out. Proper fire equipment is crucial for these risk areas – but with the likes of the MultiCHEM fire extinguisher and proper staff training, these potentially dangerous situations can be contained or stopped before they take hold.

2.     Identify people at risk

Hospitality venues are busy places with lots going on. Typically, guests are the primary concern – when it comes to fire safety, they will not be familiar with escape routes. If a premises is a hotel or other sleeping accommodation, it’s even more crucial to identify vulnerable people, such as those with mobility or hearing disabilities, who may need more support and time escaping if there’s a fire.

3.     Remove or reduce risks

From replacing highly flammable materials with less flammable ones to safe-smoking policies, there are plenty of practical steps that can reduce or remove fire risks. Once these have been evaluated, further preventative measures need to be made to provide an adequate level of fire safety. These include:

• Fire alarms and smoke detectors

Detection systems are fundamental in hospitality premises – and should be maintained and tested to ensure everyone from guests to staff have the best chance of dealing with the fire or escaping the building. Alarms must be loud enough and batteries changed yearly, while appropriate signage must always warn where and how people can raise the alarm – read our smoke alarm safety guide for more guidelines on this. The #TestItTuesday campaign was designed to raise awareness of the importance of smoke alarms and provides reminders to test smoke alarms are in good working order on a weekly basis.

• Fire extinguishers, emergency lighting and fire safety signage

Legally compliant fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, and fire safety signs should all be clearly marked and looked after in a premises. The latter is crucial for guiding guests and staff in the event of an evacuation – get familiar with fire safety signs, symbols and their meanings.

• Escape routes and fire exit doors

Making sure there are no obstructions to fire exits and escape routes can save lives. Also check for damaged fire doors and broken smoke seals, which can lead to guests or staff becoming trapped or halted during an escape. Proper emergency routes, clutter-free doorways, and fire safety signs are vital for guiding people out of a premises safely. The importance of a fire escape plan should never be underestimated and, once it’s outlined, it should be communicated to all who use the building.

4.     Record, plan, communicate

Early fire risk assessments and precautions can save lives and serious damage, but it’s also extremely important to make sure everyone within the hospitality premises or business is aware of the fire safety plan and understands actions required. Being able to react in such a way can only come from an adequate and coordinated fire safety plan, tailored to your premises. From staff to stewards to volunteers, anyone involved should receive training on fire risks, as well as the plan in the event of a fire.

5.     Review regularly

Making sure fire risk assessments are up-to-date is crucial. Every time there’s a significant change to the level of risk in the premises – for example, a new night shift starting or new cooking oils which can catch fire easily – there should be a review to service equipment and train staff. From fire alarm tests to engineer call-outs, check here for how often different assessments should be undertaken.

What happens if fire safety plans don’t meet regulations?

Flouting fire safety regulations puts lives at risk – and the penalties are extremely serious. A responsible person will be prosecuted as an individual, not as a company.

Some of the highest fines in the UK have been more than £200,000, ordered to a hotelier who pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These fire safety breaches included missing fire doors, poor fire detection systems, inadequate emergency lighting, and no fire risk assessment. The hotelier was also sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Get more information about fire safety in the hospitality industry in our resource centre. You can also sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with news affecting the industry.