Owners of holiday lets and property lets are now required to meet new fire safety regulations, which have been in place since late-2023.
These changes apply to holiday homes in England and Wales and include updates relating to fire doors, lighting and smoke alarms.
Why have the fire safety regulations been changed?
Phase 3 of the Home Office’s fire safety reform programme came into effect at the start of October 2023. These are intended to increase safety levels in various different types of premises, including short stay holiday lets.
A short term let is classed as a residential property that is rented out for no more than 90 nights at a time. This would cover properties that are let out for holidays on platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb, for example.
What are the new short stay holiday fire regulations?
Some of the main changes to the fire safety regulations include:
- A sufficient fire risk assessment should be carried out for the property, which will help to identify the required safety measures needed to ensure people are safe from fire.
- Risk assessments should be formally recorded and displayed in the property and a professional used to conduct an assessment on larger properties with complex layouts.
- There should be sufficient "borrowed lighting" available to allow residents to see if the internal lighting is knocked out by a fire. Rechargeable torches should be supplied if this is not the case. Automatic emergency lighting systems are required for larger properties.
- Escape routes should offer access to fire doors that take more than 30 minutes to burn. Self-closing doors should be used for the front doors of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. Doors on smaller holiday homes should undergo a safety check every 6 months.
- Testing and maintenance records should be maintained in case they are needed for future reference.
What fire safety signs or notices should be used in short stay holiday lets?
To ensure people staying in the property are aware of fire safety guidelines, the following signs or notices should be on display:
Fire action notices
Fire action signs provides important information on what should be done in the event of a fire within the property, and what to do if there is a fire outbreak elsewhere in the block.
Properties that are part of a purpose-built block of flats may have a ‘Stay Put’ policy in place, which recommends that people stay inside their flat or apartment when not in an area directly affected by a fire.
However, not all guests will be aware of a ‘stay put’ policy, so it is helpful if this is also explained in detail. Fire actions notices typically include the following information:
- Instructions on how to raise the fire alarm.
- The premises full address, including the postcode.
- How to leave the property via the nearest fire exit.
- A reminder not to use the lifts in the event of a fire.
- Instructions on how to contact the fire brigade.
- A warning not to return to the building until instructed otherwise.
- Where to go to find the Fire Assembly point.
Smoking policy
Guests should be provided with instructions regarding the smoking policy for the property. If smoking is allowed, it is required that guests are given a means to properly dispose of smoking materials.
Balcony fire safety
There should be a sign on display that reminds guests that they are not allowed to use heaters or barbecues on any balcony in the property.
Fire exit signs
It is not a legal requirement for short stay holiday residencies to install fire exit signs or door signage inside the place of residence.
However, the building owner is responsible for ensuring that fire exit signs are installed in appropriate communal areas such as entrances, corridors and stairways inside the block.
What is a holiday let fire action notice?
The information displayed on this type of Fire Action sign will be purposefully designed to suit holiday let property environments, with the correct safety information being available to understand easily for guests and people staying at holiday lets.
Some examples include:
Brushed Aluminium Holiday Lets Fire Action Notice Sign
Made from brushed aluminium to ensure durability, this Brushed Aluminium Holiday Lets Fire Action Notice sign provides writing sections to include information about the fire assembly point and property address. There is also the option to have these details printed onto the sign before delivery.
It’s ideal for use in short term holiday let accommodation or in locations that do not have a fire alarm installed. Sizes available are 200mm (w) x 300mm (h) or 150mm (w) by 200mm (h).
Glow In The Dark Holiday Lets Fire Action Notice Sign
This Glow In The Dark Holiday Lets Fire Action Notice sign is available in PSPA "Class B" and "Class C" (which has 3x greater luminance) photoluminescent materials.
The design has room for the property address to be included, along with the location of the fire assembly point, which can both be printed onto the sign before delivery.
As with the aluminium sign, it meets current fire safety regulations, and is available in 200mm (w) x 300mm (h) or 150mm (w) by 200mm (h) sizes. It also comes with a 5-year warranty against fading or cracking.
Shout Fire Fire - Fire Action Notice Sign
The Shout Fire Fire - Fire Action Notice sign is available in a variety of different materials including:
- Brushed aluminium
- Rigid plastic
- Rigid plastic (self-adhesive back)
- Glow in the dark (rigid plastic Class B)
- Glow in the dark self-adhesive (class B)
- Extra glow in the dark rigid plastic (Class C)
- Extra glow in the dark self-adhesive (Class C)
- Self-adhesive vinyl
This is suitable for short stay holiday accommodation and locations that do not have a fire alarm and it meets the current fire safety standards.
It is available in sizes 200mm (w) x 300mm (h) or 150mm (w) by 200mm (h) and includes sections to add property address and fire assembly point information. Alternatively, you can request to have this printed onto the sign as part of your order. The sign also comes with a 5-year warranty against fading or cracking.
Summary
Fire action notice signs are a legal requirement for all short term holiday let accommodation and their installation will not only improve the safety of residents, but also help to protect the property. They are available in various designs and materials, making it easy to find one that suits the current aesthetic of the property. Phase 3 is the last of the current planned changes to fire regulations, but it is helpful to keep up-to-date with any announcements that could affect your property in the near future.
