What hotels, guest houses and serviced apartments need for fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors and security, from the engineers who look after a hotel group in Harrogate and York.
The short answer
Hotels are sleeping-risk premises, so they need more from a fire alarm than most businesses. In practice that means automatic detection in bedrooms and escape routes, sounders loud enough to wake sleeping guests, three-hour emergency lighting, fire doors on every bedroom and a written fire risk assessment, with everything serviced and recorded.
This guide covers what the law and the British Standards expect, and what we see in practice looking after a group of hotels across Harrogate and York. It applies equally to guest houses, B&Bs, serviced apartments and holiday lets with paying guests.
Who is responsible?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the “responsible person”, usually the owner, operator or manager, must carry out a fire risk assessment and keep fire safety measures maintained. Since October 2023, every business must record its fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements in full, and record who carried out the assessment.
Fire alarm requirements
See our fire alarm categories guide and BS 5839-1:2025 changes.
Stopping false alarms
False alarms are the biggest complaint we hear from hotels. Every one means an evacuation, unhappy guests and wasted fire service time. The usual causes are steam from showers, aerosols, kettles and toasters in rooms, and detectors placed too close to bathroom doors.
Emergency lighting
BS 5266-1 recommends a three-hour duration for premises used for sleeping, because guests may need time to find their way out and the building may need to stay lit while it is re-occupied. Escape routes, stairs, open areas such as restaurants and bars, and exit signs all need covering. Test monthly with a short function test and annually with a full three-hour test. See our emergency lighting testing guide.
Fire doors and escape routes
Servicing and records
| Check | How often | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Fire alarm call point test | Weekly, a different call point each time | Your staff |
| Fire alarm service | At least every six months | Competent engineer (BAFE registered) |
| Emergency lighting function test | Monthly | Your staff |
| Emergency lighting full-duration test | Annually | Competent engineer |
| Fire extinguisher service | Annually | Competent engineer |
| Fire drill | At least once a year for each shift (more often where staff turnover is high) | Your staff |
Security for hotels
Hotels are open around the clock, which makes security different from most businesses. We usually fit CCTV covering entrances, reception, car parks and bars; Paxton access control on back-of-house doors, offices, stores and staff areas; and intruder alarms on areas that close overnight, such as bars, cellars, cash offices and function rooms. Access-controlled doors on escape routes are linked to the fire alarm so they release automatically.
Listed and period hotels
Many hotels in Harrogate and York are Victorian or Georgian, and plenty are listed. Wireless and hybrid fire alarms avoid chasing cables into original plaster and cornicing, and most installations can be done with the hotel open. See our wireless vs wired guide.
One contractor for everything
For the hotels we look after in Harrogate and York, we service fire alarms, emergency lighting, CCTV, intruder alarms, access control and extinguishers on one planned schedule. That means one contractor, one set of certificates ready for inspections and insurers, and visits planned around guests and events. See our maintenance contracts and multi-site contracts.
Sources: HM Government, Fire safety risk assessment: sleeping accommodation; Home Office, fire safety legislation guidance.
Common questions
What fire alarm does a hotel need?
Most hotels need an L1 or L2 fire alarm to BS 5839-1, with detection in bedrooms and escape routes and sounders of at least 75 dB(A) at the bedhead. Your fire risk assessment confirms the category.
How often should a hotel fire alarm be serviced?
At least every six months by a competent engineer, with a weekly call point test by your staff recorded in the logbook.
How long should hotel emergency lighting last?
BS 5266-1 recommends three hours for premises used for sleeping, tested monthly and with a full three-hour test once a year.
How do we reduce false alarms in hotel bedrooms?
Use multi-sensor detectors, position them away from en-suite doors and extractors, and log every false alarm so the cause can be fixed.
Do you look after hotels in Harrogate and York?
Yes. We look after a group of hotels across Harrogate and York, covering fire alarms, emergency lighting, CCTV, intruder alarms, access control and extinguishers on one schedule.
Last reviewed 09/11/2026 by the Salts Fire & Security team, Baildon. This is general guidance; your fire risk assessment and the full standard take priority.
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