Protecting Guests Who Rely on You
Sleeping accommodation and places of assembly
Hospitality premises bring together some of the most challenging fire risks: guests who are asleep or have been drinking, people who do not know the layout, busy commercial kitchens and, at night, a small number of staff responsible for a large building.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to hotels, guest houses, B&Bs and holiday lets let to paying guests, as well as pubs, restaurants and leisure venues. Government guidance on fire safety in sleeping accommodation sets out what good practice looks like.
We balance the realities of running a hospitality business with what the law requires, so your arrangements protect guests without getting in the way of a good stay.
What We Focus On
Night-time arrangements
Whether your night staffing levels, alarm arrangements and procedures can realistically get every guest out.
Guest rooms and corridors
Bedroom doors, corridor protection, detection and escape routes that guests can find easily in the dark.
Kitchens
Cooking equipment, extract ductwork cleaning, deep fat fryers and the separation of kitchens from guest areas.
Guests who need help
Arrangements for disabled guests and others who may need assistance, including general emergency evacuation plans.
Function and bar areas
Occupancy levels, exit capacity and management of events, temporary decorations and late-night trading.
Staff training
Induction, regular training and drills that reflect the staff actually on duty, including agency and seasonal staff.
Smaller Guest Accommodation
Guest houses, B&Bs, Airbnb-style lets and holiday cottages are covered by the Fire Safety Order when they are let to paying guests. Owners are sometimes surprised to find they are a responsible person with a legal duty to carry out a fire risk assessment.
We provide proportionate assessments for smaller properties, focused on the measures that genuinely matter.
Hotels and Groups
For groups with several venues, we can provide assessments in a consistent format, so you can compare sites, prioritise spending and report to your board with confidence.
Services for Hospitality
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Fire Safety Order apply to my holiday let?
Yes, if it is let to paying guests. The owner, or whoever manages the property, is the responsible person and must carry out a fire risk assessment and put suitable fire safety measures in place.
How do we evacuate guests who need help?
You will not always know in advance which guests need assistance, so you need general arrangements in place, backed up by personal plans where a guest tells you about their needs. We can help you set these up.
How often should hotel staff be trained?
Staff should be trained when they start and regularly afterwards, with drills that reflect the staffing you actually have, including at night. Your fire risk assessment should set out what is needed for your premises.
Running a hotel or hospitality venue?
Tell us about your premises and we will come back to you with a clear scope and quote.
Talk to Us About Hotel and Hospitality Fire Safety
Tell us a little about your building and what you need. A consultant will come back to you with a clear scope and quote.