Advanced’s Technical Support Engineer, Mark Taylor, examines some of the solutions available to those tasked with protecting hotels from the threat of fire. Cooking equipment, careless smoking, and electrical malfunctions are three of the leading causes of fire in hotels.
Aside from the serious threat to life and property, posed by genuine fires, failure to provide and maintain high-quality fire protection measures has other dire consequences as well.
False alarms lead to disruptions
False alarms cause disruption and annoyance to guests and staff alike, and lead to reputational damage, and wasted firefighter resources, if persistent.
Failed inspections of fire alarms can rapidly result in negative publicity and financial penalty. Badly designed, poorly installed and low-quality systems can cause engineer service charges to escalate unnecessarily and may even prompt the replacement of parts, or even entire systems.
High-quality fire protection equipment
By their nature, hotels can be complicated sites to protect, as fire and false alarm risks exist in abundance
Considering this complex set of negative outcomes, choosing, installing, and maintaining high-quality fire protection equipment is time and money very well invested.
By their nature, hotels can be complicated sites to protect, as fire and false alarm risks exist in abundance. Busy kitchens, extensive electrical installations plus regular repair and maintenance work, all increase the likelihood of fire incidents.
High rate of false alarms in hotels
Add to these, the presence of an ever-changing population of residents, who may smoke, be careless around call points and detectors, or have varying mobility, and the picture of complexity expands.
Furthermore, no two hotels will be exactly the same. Some are high-rise, purpose-built complexes with hundreds of guest rooms, vast conference and banqueting facilities, and a host of leisure, retail, and dining spaces. Others may be sprawling resorts with isolated beachfront villas or remote log cabins.
Varying fire protection challenges for different hotel types
Smaller, boutique hotels pose different challenges and further complications arise when the hotel is within a listed building or historic site, and consideration must be given to architectural features, e.g. high ceilings, complex layouts, and inaccessible areas.
So, it is clear that there is rarely scope for a ‘one size fits all’ solution. Nevertheless, there are some requirements applicable to all hotel fire protection. These include:
- False Alarm Management
The causes of false and unwanted fire alarms in hotels are many. They could stem from cigarette smoke or shower steam to the accidental triggering of manual call points, and even contractor activity.
Against a backdrop of so many possible triggers, how do hotels minimize this risk, ensure the safety of their staff and guests, avoid undue panic and disruption, as well as limit damage to profits and reputation?
High-performance fire system for comprehensive FAM
A high-performance fire system will offer comprehensive false alarm management (FAM)
A high-performance fire system will offer comprehensive false alarm management (FAM) and reduction capabilities built-in, to support the various evacuation strategies that are required in hotel settings.
FAM generally uses cause and effect programming, detection methods, and verification methods, in order to help prevent false alarms. For example, algorithms in detector heads can increasingly differentiate between false signals, such as steam or burning toast, and actual fires.
Smart and multi-sensors detectors
Panels can also allow detectors to work smarter, using double knock (operation of two detectors) or coincidence (operation of smoke and heat detection) to confirm a fire. Where multi-sensors are used, the system can be programmed to respond differently to heat and smoke, as well as varying detector sensitivities.
In addition, the timing of alarm verification and investigation delays can be fine-tuned, take account of staffing levels and area usage, for maximum safety and minimum disruption.
Fire systems with dedicated input devices
Systems can also include dedicated input devices that trained staff can operate when a false alarm is suspected, so as to allow extended investigation. In this way, incidents can be verified and confirmed, before escalating and unnecessary evacuations can be avoided.
To highlight some of the solutions to the challenges faced in hotels, Advanced has published AlarmCalm Complete False Alarm Management for Hotels. The document outlines the features of Advanced’s AlarmCalm FAM solution and its key components. It also provides an overview of the areas within hotels, where different false alarm strategies may be required, based on risk, building design and building user needs.
- Phased Evacuation
If effective cause and effect programming has been configured to account for the way different areas are used and the needs of specific individuals, the fire system will be capable of successfully facilitating phased evacuation.
By using cause and effect programming, in conjunction with the latest sounders that support recorded messages or ‘alert’, and ‘evac’ tones, the people who are most in danger from a fire can be evacuated first.
Selecting the ideal fire panel for the building
Meanwhile, the flow of others being evacuated in the building can be kept at a manageable level and safe escape routes maintained. Importantly, selecting a fire panel brand with the ability to process complicated cause and effect is crucial, in effectively managing the evacuation process in dynamic fire conditions, with fires and smoke spreading in multiple areas simultaneously.
- Clear Directional Escape Signage
When evacuation is necessary, it’s vital that escape routes are clear and simple to follow. Although modern buildings are designed to allow occupants to leave quickly and easily, in the event of fire, guests unfamiliar with their surroundings may still struggle to find exit routes. In older buildings, egress can be especially convoluted and confusing.
Emergency lighting for quick, safe escape
Modern emergency lighting systems are both smart and user-friendly, offering real opportunities for cost savings
Emergency lighting is both a practical and legal requirement, and should be designed to enable quick, safe escape from a building. It is crucial that emergency lighting is as well maintained as the fire system and that old technology is replaced, not only for safety but also to keep overall running costs as low as possible.
Modern emergency lighting systems are both smart and user-friendly, offering real opportunities for cost savings, efficiency gains and improved protection. Improvements begin with the lights themselves.
LED lights are eco-friendly and help in energy savings
LEDs offer design, energy savings and environmental benefits, representing the biggest recent change in the lighting industry. They last between 15 and 30 per cent longer than fluorescent alternatives, reducing the need for bulb replacement.
Their lower power usage also means that they can be installed with smaller battery packs, for both aesthetic and logistical advantages, as well as environmental benefits.
EasySafe and LuxIntelligent
EasySafe is Advanced’s range of addressable, low-voltage emergency luminaires and exit signs, which are designed to work in conjunction with its emergency lighting test system, LuxIntelligent.
EasySafe devices can be integrated onto existing cabling and installation is quick, simple, and will on average deliver 20% energy efficiency savings, in comparison to fluorescent lighting.