If you run a hotel, B&B or guesthouse in Ireland, two things matter more than most owners realise: fire safety and Legionella risk in your water systems. The practical way to show both are under control is a written fire risk assessment and a written Legionella risk assessment, each kept up to date and backed by simple records.
Why guest accommodation is different
Guests sleep in your building, do not know the layout and may be slow to react at night. Rooms can sit empty for days, or whole wings can close for the winter, which leaves water standing in pipes and showers. Staff change with the season. All of this is why a one-size-fits-all checklist rarely works and a risk assessment written for your premises does.
Fire safety checks for hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses
Under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 (section 18(2)), the person in control of premises must take reasonable measures to guard against fire and protect the people inside. Employers also have a general duty to assess hazards under section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. A written fire risk assessment is the usual way to meet both. Typical points to cover:
- Escape routes: corridors, stairs and final exits clear at all times, with exit doors that open easily from inside.
- Detection and alarm: tested regularly, serviced by a competent person and recorded. See our guide to fire alarm testing, servicing and records.
- Fire doors: bedroom and corridor doors that close properly and are never wedged open.
- Emergency lighting and extinguishers: in place, serviced and easy to reach.
- Kitchens and laundries: grease, extraction and lint are common causes of fire. See laundries and tumble dryers.
- Night-time procedure: who raises the alarm, who meets the fire brigade, and what guests are told in their rooms.
- Staff training: a short induction for every new or seasonal team member.
For local examples, see our guides for hotels and guesthouses in Cork and hotels in Galway, or our main fire risk assessment service.
Legionella: what owners need to know
Legionella bacteria can grow in warm, stagnant water. Guest accommodation has many of the conditions that help them: storage tanks and hot water cylinders, long pipe runs, showers and shower heads, and outlets that are used rarely. Rooms that stay empty for long periods are a typical weak point.
A Legionella risk assessment identifies where the risk is in your system and what to do about it. The assessment normally leads to a simple written scheme of control covering, for example:
- Hot and cold water temperature checks at set points.
- Regular flushing of little-used outlets and empty rooms.
- Cleaning and disinfecting shower heads.
- Water sampling where the assessment recommends it. See which taps get sampled and how often sampling is done.
- Thermostatic mixing valves checked and maintained. See mixing valves and Legionella.
In Ireland the HPSC National Guidelines for the Control of Legionellosis (2009) and information from the Health and Safety Authority are the usual references. Spa pools, hot tubs and swimming pools are specialised systems and need their own assessment, so they sit outside this guide.
If your property closes for the winter, it is good practice to review your Legionella arrangements before reopening: flush the system, check temperatures and confirm the risk assessment still matches how the building is used. Our guide to part-time premises and holiday lets explains more.
Keep simple records
Keep a fire log (alarm tests, drills, servicing, staff training) and a water log (temperatures, flushing, cleaning, sampling results). Insurers, licensing bodies and inspectors may ask to see them, and they show that checks are happening, not just planned. Check with your insurer and local authority whether they ask for anything extra for your type of premises.
Where we work
We carry out fire risk assessments and Legionella risk assessments for guest accommodation across Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, and tourist towns such as Killarney, Tralee, Castlebar, Ennis, Sligo and Wexford. See all areas we cover.
Get a free written quote
Not sure where your hotel, B&B or guesthouse stands on fire safety or Legionella? Our team will look at your premises and tell you what is needed. Call 086 275 9728, email info@safersolutions.ie or request a free quote online.