On 25th June 2015, David Schofield, owner of the Park Hotel in Paignton, Devon UK was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years for severe fire safety breaches.
The offences were related to several breaches of fire safety regulations which included: fire doors not meeting the required standard, fire doors blocked or wedged open, poor safety evacuation procedures and exposed wires. Judge Philip Wassell commented that the list of breaches were “hair raising,’ with Glen Wells, Station Manager at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service stating that the hotel is “among one of the worst for the sheer number of things that were wrong regarding fire safety matters.”
The most recent government statistics show that around 42% of hotels in England fail to meet satisfactory standards in their fire inspection, with one of the most common issues being inadequate emergency routes and exits. Twenty eight fire doors at the Park Hotel failed to close properly, and in the event of a fire this could have resulted in devastating consequences for the hotel and its occupants.
Fire doors are important safety devices which are there to help protect lives by preventing the spread of smoke and fire. Regulations state that fire doors must be kept closed in order to provide protection in the event of a fire. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in loss of business, hefty fines and even imprisonment.
For many, being able to keep fire doors open makes day-to-day life easier by enabling freedom of movement through busy buildings. It also improves ventilation and reduces the risk of injury from handling a heavy fire door.
Fireco can help make compliance easy by offering solutions that keep fire doors open legally and safely. They supply products that continuously listen for the sound of the fire alarm and close the doors automatically in the event of a fire.
For more information visit www.fireco.uk
