Sectors
Keeping members of the public safe is of the upmost importance. With the hospitality sector being one of the most at risk sectors in regards to fire safety due to varied types of buildings, it is essential that fire safety management is kept up to date including the management of the fire integrity and compliance of the buildings. The risk is also greater than other sectors as occupants in a hotel aren’t familiar with their surroundings.
We work alongside companies and venues in providing fire safety advice, assessments and surveys of their buildings, to ensure compliance and the safety of persons with the buildings.
Karntek’s unrivalled experience ranges from 16th century to modern hotels, restaurants, sports facilities and other venues of leisure and entertainment within the UK.
The services provided range from but are not limited to:
- Fire door inspections
- Fire compartmentation surveys
- Fire risk assessments
- Fire safety sign audits
- Fire damper inspection
Two of the most important surveys are the inspection of fire doors and fire compartmentation. Using a hotel for an example, it is important to inspect all fire doors throughout but especially on high risk areas such as kitchens, plantrooms, staircases and most importantly bedroom doors. This is to ensure that these are fit for purpose and will hold back fire and most importantly smoke. 80% of deaths in the event of fire are caused by smoke.
The second most important aspect is the fire compartmentation of the building, which runs hand in hand with the fire door systems. If you have poor fire compartmentalization, it is likely that fire and smoke will spread rapidly and sometimes go unnoticed for long periods of time, travelling through the building and breaching through compartments. This is especially important in the hospitality sector, as the majority of the building occupants would be unfamiliar with the layout and evacuation plans and therefore must be given the greatest chance of survival by stopping the fire from reaching them for the longest possible time using fire doors and compartmentation.
Fire risk assessments are a legal requirement for all these types of buildings.
A useful, clear and easy to understand document is the HM Government for Sleeping Accommodation.
Frequently asked questions
HOW OFTEN SHOULD FIRE DOORS BE CHECKED?
In most cases your fire doors should be checked as often as you should check your alarms, which is every 6 months. This can change depending on your building.
Can I carry out my own Fire Risk Assessment?
A Fire Risk Assessment must be completed by a “Competent Person”. This means you must have the necessary knowledge, training, skills and experience. If your Fire Risk Assessment isn’t “Suitable and Sufficient” you could be prosecuted.
Access more information here
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