A hotel provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Hotels come in all shapes and sizes and offer rooms from basic bedsits to grand, elaborate suites.
Hotels play host to countless visitors each year, not just as residents, but as wedding guests, business professionals attending conferences, and guests that may just be visiting the bar or restaurant.
Hotel managers have a duty to protect their guests and visitors from fire and are required by law to provide suitable fire detection in all areas.
The Torn Hotel Fire, September 2017
In late September 2017, a fire engulfed The Hotel Torn, a ten-storey building in Southern Russia. Over 50 firefighters and 19 appliances were sent to tackle the blaze which took two hours to control.
Over 400 people were evacuated from the hotel, and 100 nearby residents were forced to leave their homes as a precaution.
Although the cause of the fire is still unknown, it is believed that the building was constructed from highly flammable materials which caused the fire spread rapidly and take the lives of two employees.
What are the Risks?
There are many fire risks associated with hotels, including:
As hotels are open to the public, the likeliness of smoking on the premise is high. The risk of fire increases if suitable smoking areas are not provided, or if cigarettes are not extinguished and disposed of correctly.
- Kitchens and Restaurants
Most hotels have restaurants and kitchens within the main building. If kitchen appliances become faulty or are poorly maintained, the risk of fire increases.
- Electrical appliances
Hotels often have hundreds of rooms, each with multiple electrical appliances; power outlets, light fittings, trouser presses, kettles and irons, etc. The risk of fire increases if these items are not used correctly or are damaged.
- Flammable Materials
Furniture, laundry, paper, chemicals, wall hangings and many other flammable materials that are typically present in hotels can easily ignite or cause a fire to spread more rapidly.
To keep residents and guests safe, suitable fire detection needs to be present at all time. With changes in regulations, additional rooms or planned maintenance, ensuring that the installed fire alarm meets the legal requirements can be a difficult task and requires careful and thorough planning, particularly in larger premises.
What is the Solution?
Wi-Fyre offers a hybrid fire detection solution that allows users to combine the strengths of hardwired and wireless fire detection technology. This gives system designers and maintainers the flexibility to use wireless devices when and where necessary to provide reliable and cost-effective fire detection.
Wi-Fyre can be used as part of a new installation, but can also be used to extend an existing hardwired fire detection system or replace faulty or outdated hardwired devices. This means that hardwired systems that no longer meet the required safety standards or that need extending can be updated without the need to install new cables, without damaging the aesthetics of the property, and with little disruption to the operation of the building.
How Does Wi-Fyre Work?
A Wi-Fyre Transponder is used to connect field devices to the fire alarm control panel. This transponder is connected via a compatible interface module that is installed into the fire alarm wiring. Every transponder can communicate wirelessly with up to thirty field devices, including manual call points, sounders, interfaces and smoke and heat detectors.
To ensure the signal between the transponder and the connected device is strong enough to operate efficiently, a wireless survey must be carried out using the Wi-Fyre survey head. The Wi-Fyre wireless survey head uses an 8-way colour-coded rotary LED array to indicate the signal strength received at the Transponder from its current location.
Sources:  express.co.uk