Overcoming the challenges of fire safety in hotels

Many hotel reception desks still handle a lot of paperwork, such as guest check-in forms and photocopies of ID documents. Local maps and flyers for tours are typically stored nearby for guests to take. Besides this, computer systems, printers and handheld devices are constantly switched on for all enquiries and payments. This presents a classic combination of heat and electrical sources, plus kindling material, all within one area. Just one smoldering power cable and a breeze from the entry door can soon transform into uncontrollable flames.

Solutions:
AVENAR fire alarm panels and AVENAR 4000 fire detectors offer reliable coverage in administrative and reception areas. Up to 125 AVENAR devices can be installed within a single loop. Maintenance, upgrades and component replacements are all easy as the entire AVENAR product range is backward and forward compatible.

Hotels feature diverse areas to be accessed by staff only. Each of them poses different combinations of fire hazards. Gas cooktops or open flames are often used in kitchens while substances like oils, alcohol, powdered ingredients and cleaning products are stored close by. Large appliances like washing machines and tumble dryers may catch fire when in constant use in hotel laundries while piles of flammable linens sit in containers or on shelves. Boiler rooms can similarly overheat but also release harmful but odorless carbon monoxide fumes. Equipment in maintenance rooms can smolder, emit smoke or release sparks.

Solutions:
The range of AVENAR 4000 multi-sensor detectors is perfect for addressing combined fire risks. One version detects smoke or CO emissions, but can also simultaneously recognize steam as harmless matter, for example. Another includes heat detection capabilities to pick up sudden temperature spikes or when a maximum temperature is reached. Dual optical detection versions notice the release of even extremely pale smoke.

Smoking is one of the top causes of fires in hotels or motels globally, yet many still allow smoking and vaping in designated areas or on balconies. A smoke detector must be advanced enough to spot the difference between smoke from a fire, smoldering from sources such as overheated electrical devices, tobacco smoke and vape emissions, and steam vapors from guest bathrooms or spa facilities.

Solutions:
The right combinations of AVENAR 4000 multi-sensor detectors with dual-optical, thermal or CO sensors can monitor continuously for signs of harmful ignition, smoldering, smoke and fumes. Any of these diverse scenarios where fires could take hold are covered by simultaneous detection of values which reach or exceed specified limits. This reliable coverage significantly reduces nuisance alarms and evacuations.

Sophisticated fire alarm and detection solutions are integrated with the intention of reducing false alarms which lead to unnecessary evacuations. Staff in the hospitality industry always aim to keep guests comfortable and provide continual access to their private rooms and public areas. Despite this, at least occasional evacuations – either as a precaution or due to the threat of a real fire spreading rapidly – cannot be avoided altogether. Elevators would normally be out of use during evacuations. Guests on upper floors would therefore need time to descend stairwells at a safe pace.

Solutions:
Smart Safety Link enables the integration of voice alarms with fire detectors. These networked functions assist safety managers with efficient emergency evacuations. Guests can be evacuated calmly with a gradual approach, floor by floor or area by area. This reduces any sense of panic or confusion if alarms are sounded.

Whether a hotel is part of a global chain or an individual boutique lodging, the interior design is an important aspect of making it feel like a welcoming home for guests. However, the installation of smoke and fire detectors is necessary to meet building safety regulations. Hotel managers tend to prefer that these devices are not easily noticeable and blend in with the established décor. They must also be easy to clean, as items fitted to walls and ceilings easily accumulate dust particles.

Solutions:
As their name suggests, Bosch invisible fire detectors are extremely discreet – but also highly reliable. Their device housing is incredibly slim so they do not protrude from walls and ceilings. In fact, the slim design also means dust buildup is minimal and their smooth surfaces make them easy to wipe clean. Bosch fire detectors come in a range of 16 RAL colors, so picking a shade to conform to a specific interior color scheme is also no problem.

Exhaust fumes emitted from vehicle tailpipes can accumulate to produce concentrated levels of carbon monoxide. The existence of this gas in these enclosed or partially enclosed spaces exacerbates the hazards of ignition and combustion on parking lots. Plus, flames and smoke would disperse CO fumes to a wider area. Fires on garage facilities build underneath or adjacent to a hotel building run the risk of spreading quickly to main hotel areas occupied by guests.

Solutions:
Specific local regulations determine the precise fire safety solutions required on hotel parking lots. If sprinklers are not installed in parking areas, heat buildup and sudden leaps in temperature can be monitored dependably by Bosch heat detectors. Excessive values of carbon monoxide can be reliably picked up by AVENAR multi-sensor detectors with specific CO gas sensors for a more reliable fire detection.

Hotel staff always strive to ensure rest, relaxation and uninterrupted access to facilities for their guests. Despite this, regular maintenance of appliances and devices on the premises must be carried out to ensure reliable operation and safety for everyone. This includes checks and maintenance on all fire alarm panels, detectors and their power sources. Maintenance staff are often required to work on site to determine root causes of any operational issues. The use of ladders and maintenance equipment usually deems those areas as inaccessible to avoid further safety hazards.

Solutions:
Bosch Remote Services resolve all such issues related to regular on-site maintenance. The smart, networked solution can be operated from a distance for troubleshooting and identifying precise locations of maintenance requirements. This saves the disruption of safety staff frequently entering a hotel premises. The predictive maintenance capabilities of Remote Services allow system issues to be raised and solved in advance. This greatly reduces downtime of the fire safety solutions.

Hotel owners usually plan ahead with property investments and purchase a space large enough premises expansions if demand warrants it. If their accommodation is regularly fully booked, then additional rooms or spaces for new facilities are often built as extensions. However, investments in fire safety coverage for the existing site may have included systems which are no longer available or might have capacity limits for loops and networks.

Solutions:
The Bosch family of fire alarm panels, detectors and all related devices and accessories are completely modular. They allow for backward compatibility for legacy systems and forward compatibility to integrate upgrades and newer product models. This means the entire fire safety solution is completely future proof. It can be adapted and expanded to the specific requirements on each premises – whatever the size, scale and layout.