Fire Regulations

The risks as defined on www.firesafetySENSE.com

“So on the Fire Minister's figures, over the five years the actual overall risk of death by fire in an overnight stay in a hotel or B&B must have been considerably less than 1 in 593 million. Such figures are difficult to comprehend - but as a comparison, your chances of drawing all six correct numbers and winning the UK National Lottery is 1 in 14 million.”

Legislation

Yet legislation, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, came into force two years ago in order to "improve" the situation. The HM Government booklet says "You must have a suitable fire-detection and warning system. This can range from a shouted warning to an electrical detection and warning system." Trouble is, this is open to interpretation and Fire Authorities are insisting not on shouted warnings but on expensive hard-wired electrical systems. There have been some horror stories on the way the regulations are being implemented.

Comments from Forum members on the notice board

“Just a quick note to let everyone know that from 11 November 2008 we will be closing our B&B accommodation.... Our problem was not the cost (although £5-7K was a bit steep) but the impact on our home.” - Farmhouse, Derbyshire

“I take my fire and safety obligations very seriously - I have written to various authorities and none of them, I repeat none, can produce any evidence of death or injury being sustained to a guest in a small (three bedrooms or less) bed and breakfast establishment. Ultimately unless leeway can be given on the matter I will close.” - Farmhouse, Norfolk

“We have just had German guests for the last two nights. When the electricians came this morning, the guests were preparing to leave, they enquired why we were having this work done. We replied it is an EU directive that we must have these works done. They immediately giggled and said "in Germany we do not have this work done, so why are you?” We told them that we had to comply or close down. They were very shocked and said it was so silly, “so the EU says ‘jump’, England asks ‘how high?’ and the rest of the EU laugh!!!” - B&B, Norfolk

“In common with many small B&Bs around the country, this business has closed down because it is no longer economic. The demands placed on us by the Fire Service have been unreasonable, ridiculous and too costly to implement in relation to the small income.” - B&B, Buckinghamshire

“We only have two double rooms in our small B&B but it was quickly made clear that the existing smoke alarms and means of escape were insufficient. Given two options, agree to his requests or close by the weekend, we have taken the option of installing a new radio linked alarm system, emergency lighting and a full sprinkler system in our listed cottage at considerable expense.” - B&B, Suffolk

“We have just had the bill through for the hard wire system we had put in - £4250 inc. vat which considering this is for a brand new 4 zone panel, all wiring, full L1 setup (sounders & sensors in anywhere that has a ceiling!) across 4 floors and labour + parts, we don't think we did too badly!” - Guest House, Norfolk

“The main job is get the risk assessment completed, my engineers journal for this month is reporting on an £11,000.00 fine for a small hotel failing to carry out a risk assessment.” - Country House, Worcestershire

“Quite apart from the cost (£15-20,000) and the administrative burden involved we felt that the result would detract from the “home from home” ethos of a small B&B.” - Guest House, Suffolk, closed 31 August 2007 due to new Fire and other Regulations

“I have just taken delivery of 7 fire doors and have until 9th January 2009 to have them installed - we have an Edwardian House with original lovely doors - all being ripped out. I protested but to no avail - being told that I would be closed by the end of this year if I did not sign up and have the work done.” - B&B, Norfolk

“I had to have ten smoke/heat detectors and eight 1 inch belts fitted (£9,000 worth), the noise was horrendous as it was such a small house (end terraced property).” - Anonymous

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Share your experiences with other colleagues in the serviced accommodation industry in The Forum at www.bed.gb.com/forum/index.php 108 different topics have been/are being discussed.

Sign E-Petition at No 10

If you agree with its terms, why not sign the E-Petition to the Prime Minister at No 10: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Act to ensure that the 2006 Fire Regulations ("RRFSO") are enforced proportionately and consistently without onerous burdens on very small premises not justified by the actual risk." Deadline to sign up by: 31 December 2008 Link: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/FireSafetySENSE/

E-Petition submitted by David Weston of BandB Association and FireSafetySENSE.com.

Article submitted by the editor.

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