Fire safety and evacuation at the hotel
Reception's role when the alarm sounds
Hotels and other accommodations set high demands on fire safety because guests sleep in a building they don't know and often react slower than at home if an alarm sounds. The Building Regulations (BR18) therefore set special requirements for escape routes, evacuation, and rescue of persons in this type of buildings.
§Escape routes and evacuation plan
According to BR18's chapter on evacuation and rescue of persons, buildings must be designed so that safe evacuation can take place in the event of fire. Emergency routes must be kept clear, clearly marked and adapted to both guests' and staff's movement possibilities. In hotel rooms, it is common to hang an evacuation plan showing the emergency route and location of fire-fighting equipment.
- 01Escape routes must always be kept clear of clutter carts and anything else that blocks
- 02Fire doors must never be blocked or held open with wedges
- 03Evacuation plans in the rooms must be up to date and visible
- 04Fire extinguishing equipment and alarm buttons must be easily accessible
§Reception's role during fire alarm
When the alarm goes off the reception is often the focal point. You must know the procedure: alert the fire brigade find out how many guests are checked in and possibly initiate evacuation of common areas. An up-to-date overview of checked-in guests from the booking system is crucial when the fire brigade arrives and asks if everyone has gotten out.
| Assignment | Why it is important |
|---|---|
| Know the meeting place during evacuation | So guests and staff gather in one safe place |
| Have an updated guest list ready | So the fire service knows how many need to be searched for |
| Could guide guests to nearest emergency exit | Guests do not know the building as staff do |
| Know the location of the DKV plan | Documentation for fire safety must be able to be presented |
§Exercises and preparation
Many hands instead of heavy machinery.
“In a fire situation it is not the panic button that saves the guests — it is the calm and overview that reception has practised beforehand.”