Fire Risk Assessments for Hotels and Guesthouses in Cork

When guests are asleep, a fire is harder to detect and harder to react to. They do not know the layout, the alarm or the exits. That is why fire safety in hotels and guesthouses starts with clear information and reliable systems.

The main risks

  • Sleeping guests who may be tired, unfamiliar with the building or have had a drink.
  • Many bedrooms with soft furnishings, bedding and curtains.
  • Kitchens, bars and function rooms under the same roof.
  • Older or converted buildings, which can have long corridors, split levels and awkward stairs.
  • Seasonal staff who may not know the fire arrangements.
  • Locked or hard-to-find exits, especially at night.

What a fire risk assessment typically covers

  • Bedroom doors and corridors: do doors close well, and are corridors protected and clear?
  • Fire detection and alarm that wakes guests and staff, with a logged testing routine.
  • Emergency lighting and signs leading from bedrooms to exits.
  • Guest information: fire notices in rooms that are clear and in plain language.
  • Night-time arrangements: who is on duty, who raises the alarm and who helps guests.
  • Kitchens and extraction, including grease build-up. See our guide on kitchen extraction.
  • Laundry, storage and plant rooms.
  • Function rooms and events, where numbers can rise quickly.
  • Records and training for permanent and seasonal staff.

Practical steps

  • Brief new staff on the alarm, exits and assembly point on day one.
  • Do a closing and night-time walk-round of escape routes, with a simple checklist.
  • Test and record alarms and emergency lighting as agreed with your service provider.
  • Review your assessment after refurbishments or a change in layout.

Your duties

The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 expect a person in control of premises to take reasonable measures to protect people from fire. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 covers your staff.

Speak to Safer Solutions

We provide fire risk assessments in Cork for hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs. Call 086 275 9728 or email info@safersolutions.ie for a friendly conversation.