Fire Safety in Hotels

Hotel Fire Safety Guide Following the Kartalkaya Fire

The fire in Kartalkaya, Bolu, once again demonstrated that fire safety management within hotels remains insufficient in many accommodation facilities. In buildings accommodating large numbers of guests, employees, contractors, and visitors — while simultaneously housing kitchens, technical plant areas, electrical infrastructure, laundries, storage facilities, and other ignition sources — fire safety must be managed as a critical life safety and operational risk issue rather than merely a regulatory obligation.

Hotels present uniquely complex fire risks due to continuous occupancy, unfamiliar guests, sleeping accommodation, high occupant density, and the need for rapid evacuation under emergency conditions. For this reason, hotel operators should adopt a comprehensive and sustainable fire safety management approach that extends beyond minimum legal compliance.

Fire Risk Assessment

An effective fire safety strategy begins with a comprehensive fire risk assessment. Hazards must be systematically identified, fire risks evaluated, and appropriate control measures implemented to reduce the likelihood and potential consequences of fire.

Wherever possible, fire risk assessments should align with recognised national and international standards. Guidance documents such as PAS 79 provide a structured and widely recognised methodology for conducting fire risk assessments in complex buildings.

Particular attention should be given to higher-risk areas including commercial kitchens, generator rooms, electrical switch rooms, technical plant spaces, laundries, chemical storage areas, and waste collection points.

Consideration must also be given to vulnerable occupants, including disabled persons, elderly guests, children, and individuals unfamiliar with the building layout. Night-time occupancy conditions and reduced staffing levels during overnight operations should also be carefully evaluated as part of the assessment process.

The findings of the assessment should lead to clearly defined control measures designed to eliminate hazards where possible, reduce fire risks, limit fire spread, and protect building occupants.

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

Although fire prevention measures are essential, the possibility of fire can never be entirely eliminated. Early detection therefore remains one of the most critical components of hotel fire safety management.

Hotel fire alarm systems should be designed as fully integrated systems covering guest rooms, corridors, escape routes, technical spaces, plant rooms, public areas, and back-of-house operations. Detection systems should provide rapid identification of fire conditions while enabling clear and immediate occupant notification.

Many international hotel operators also integrate fire alarm systems directly with local fire and rescue services in order to support faster emergency response and improve incident management capabilities.

Escape Routes and Fire Doors

Escape routes represent one of the most critical life safety features within hotel buildings. All escape routes should remain continuously accessible, clearly identified, adequately illuminated, and protected from fire and smoke spread.

Travel distances and escape route capacities should be assessed in accordance with occupant load and building usage. Particular consideration should be given to phased evacuation strategies, alternative escape arrangements, and evacuation support measures within higher-risk or high-occupancy areas.

Reference should be made to Annex 5/B and Annex 14 of the Turkish Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings during the design and evaluation of escape arrangements.

Fire-resisting doors play a vital role in compartmentation and smoke control. These doors should be routinely inspected by competent persons to ensure that self-closing mechanisms, seals, glazing, and door integrity remain fully operational.

Escape signage, directional guidance systems, emergency exit markings, and assembly point information should be clearly visible throughout the facility.

Emergency Lighting

Loss of normal electrical power during a fire emergency can significantly compromise evacuation operations. Reliable emergency lighting systems are therefore essential to maintaining safe escape conditions.

Adequate emergency illumination should be provided in corridors, stairways, escape routes, technical areas, and spaces with limited natural lighting. Emergency lighting systems should support safe movement, visibility of escape signage, and access to fire fighting equipment during emergency conditions.

Under current regulations, emergency lighting systems must remain operational for a minimum of 60 minutes following failure of the normal electrical supply. In buildings with occupant loads exceeding 200 persons, the required duration increases to a minimum of 120 minutes.

Assembly Points and Evacuation Organisation

Emergency evacuation procedures should include clearly designated assembly areas located in safe outdoor locations away from vehicle movement, smoke exposure, and emergency response access routes.

Large hotels may require multiple assembly points depending on building size, occupancy levels, and site layout. Assembly areas should be capable of accommodating all occupants safely during emergency conditions.

Effective evacuation management also requires accurate occupancy control procedures. Hotels should maintain reliable records covering guests, employees, visitors, contractors, restaurant customers, and conference participants in order to support post-evacuation accountability processes.

Fire Fighting Equipment

Appropriate fire fighting equipment should be strategically positioned throughout the hotel based on identified fire risks and operational requirements.

While local regulations establish minimum legal requirements, referencing internationally recognised standards such as BS 5306-8 can support a more effective and risk-based approach to portable fire extinguisher selection and positioning.

Commercial kitchens should be equipped with wet chemical extinguishers suitable for Class F fires. Carbon dioxide extinguishers should be provided in areas containing electrical hazards, while fire blankets should be installed where appropriate.

Sprinkler systems, fire pumps, hydrants, hose reels, suppression systems, and fire detection systems should be subject to routine inspection, testing, and preventive maintenance programmes. All inspection and maintenance activities should be properly documented.

Staff Training and Competent Persons

Fire safety management cannot rely solely on technical systems. Employees must understand their responsibilities and be capable of responding effectively during emergency situations.

All personnel should receive regular training covering fire prevention, alarm procedures, evacuation arrangements, emergency response actions, and the safe use of fire fighting equipment.

Fire Safety Officers, Fire Wardens, and Evacuation Officers should be formally appointed, with responsibilities clearly defined and communicated throughout the organisation.

Regular evacuation drills and fire exercises should be conducted to evaluate both system performance and organisational preparedness under realistic emergency conditions.

Safety Signage and Emergency Information

Fire safety signage and emergency information should be designed to remain clear, visible, and easily understandable for all occupants, including international guests unfamiliar with the building.

Guest rooms should contain clearly displayed escape plans identifying exit routes, emergency instructions, and assembly points.

Manual call points, emergency exits, fire extinguishers, hose reels, and other emergency equipment should remain clearly identified at all times. Interior design considerations should never compromise visibility of fire safety systems or emergency signage.

Emergency Fire Plan

A comprehensive Emergency Fire Plan should be developed based on the findings of the fire risk assessment and the building’s operational requirements.

The plan should define emergency procedures, evacuation responsibilities, communication arrangements, emergency contacts, fire fighting measures, and coordination processes with emergency services.

All personnel should be informed of the plan, and the document should be regularly reviewed, updated, and incorporated into staff induction and refresher training programmes.

Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance

The installation of fire protection systems alone is not sufficient to ensure fire safety. All systems and equipment must remain fully operational throughout the building’s lifecycle.

Fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, sprinkler systems, smoke control systems, fire pumps, fire doors, and other fire protection measures should undergo routine inspection, testing, servicing, and maintenance by competent persons.

Maintenance records, inspection reports, and testing documentation should be retained as part of the hotel’s overall fire safety management system.

Conclusion

Fire safety within hotels extends far beyond regulatory compliance. It is a critical component of life safety, operational resilience, business continuity, asset protection, and corporate responsibility.

Particularly within high-occupancy accommodation facilities, fire risk assessment, evacuation strategy, fire protection systems, maintenance procedures, staff competence, and emergency preparedness must be managed as part of an integrated fire safety management framework.

The lessons highlighted by the Kartalkaya fire once again demonstrate that effective fire safety management requires continuous attention, competent oversight, and a proactive safety culture throughout the organisation.

Further information about our Introduction to the Management of Hotel Fire Safety course, developed in line with the CFPA-Europe approach, is available via the link below

Asuman ERKUL, CMIOSH

Electrical and Electronics Engineer, MSh, MSc

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