Laundry rooms are common in nursing homes, hotels, gyms, salons and holiday lets. Tumble dryers produce heat and lint, and a fire can start quietly in a room few people visit.
What can go wrong
- Lint build-up in filters, drums and exhaust ducts.
- Overloading or drying items contaminated with oils or cooking fats.
- Poor ventilation so heat has nowhere to go.
- Clean and dirty laundry stacked high near machines and electrical equipment.
- Machines left running when nobody is on site.
Good practice
- Clean the lint filter after every cycle, and arrange regular cleaning of the machine and ducting following the manufacturer’s guidance.
- Do not dry items soaked in oils or flammable substances. Follow the care label.
- Keep the room tidy and keep laundry away from machines and sockets.
- Avoid running machines when the building is empty.
- Make sure detection covers the room and the door is kept closed. See our guide on fire doors.
- Record cleaning and servicing in your fire safety register.
Your duties
Under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, a person in control of premises must take reasonable measures to guard against fire and to protect people if one occurs. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 places wider duties on employers to manage workplace risks.
Talk to Safer Solutions
A fire risk assessment looks at your premises, your people and the way you work, and gives you a clear written action list. Call us on 086 275 9728 or email info@safersolutions.ie for a friendly, no-obligation chat. See our fire risk assessments in Ireland and our fire and legionella guides.