It seems obvious to kit a holiday let out with firefighting gear, but the guidance is more measured than you might expect. A fire extinguisher fire blanket set-up has its place, but the priority is always getting guests out, not getting them fighting fires.
The fire extinguisher fire blanket approach
The Home Office guidance is clear that in the event of a fire, evacuating is the safest thing to do, and guests should not be expected to use firefighting equipment. That said, in self-catering accommodation it says you may wish to provide a small fire extinguisher and a fire blanket in the kitchen area. The All-Wales guidance goes a step further, saying that as a minimum a fire blanket should be provided in the kitchen, with clear instructions on how to use it safely.
Why the kitchen
Most small fires start with cooking, so the kitchen is the logical place for equipment. A fire blanket is ideal for smothering a pan fire, which a guest can tackle safely in the first few seconds before it grows. The emphasis is always on small fires only, and on evacuation if there is any doubt at all.
Never put water on a pan fire
It is worth spelling out in your instructions that water must never go on a chip-pan or oil fire, which is one of the most dangerous mistakes a panicking guest can make. A fire blanket smothers the flames safely; the right advice beside it prevents a small fire becoming a fireball.
Choosing equipment
The Home Office guidance offers practical buying advice: you can buy suitable extinguishers, guaranteed for five years, from larger DIY outlets, and low-maintenance ten-year extinguishers are also available. You should check the gauge regularly to make sure the stored pressure has not leaked away, since an extinguisher that will not fire is worse than useless.
Instructions matter
Whatever you provide, the guidance says instructions should be clear, with a warning that evacuation is preferable and that no one should tackle anything other than a very small fire. Put simple guidance beside the equipment and in your guest information pack.
It is not a substitute for the basics
Firefighting equipment supports, but never replaces, working alarms and clear escape routes. Check it at each changeover to confirm it is present, in date and undamaged. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service can advise, and a competent assessor will confirm what your fire risk assessment calls for.
What to provide, and the danger of overdoing it
A fire blanket in the kitchen is sensible in almost every let, since it tackles the most likely fire, a pan catching alight, without any guest training. Extinguishers are more nuanced. The guidance is wary of encouraging untrained guests to fight a fire rather than get out, so the priority is always to escape and call 999. Where you do provide an extinguisher, a multi-purpose one suited to the risks, sited on the escape route, is the usual choice, and it needs annual servicing. Your fire risk assessment decides what is appropriate. Make clear in your guest information that getting out comes first and firefighting equipment is only ever for a small fire blocking the escape. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service can advise on type and siting, and servicing dates belong in your records alongside your alarm tests.
Whatever you provide, point it out in your welcome information, because equipment a guest cannot find in a hurry is no better than no equipment at all when a pan catches alight.
Get the right advice for your property
Want to know what firefighting equipment your let needs? For advice tailored to your property from a competent professional, speak to Jamie at ESI: Fire Safety on 01276 300 351.
