(Courtsey of isleofwight.com)
Navigating the New Fire Regulations:
Ensuring Safety at Just for You Holiday Homes on the Isle of Wight.
At Just for You Holiday Homes, based on the picturesque Isle of Wight, the safety and well-being of our guests have always been paramount. With the recent changes in fire regulations introduced by the UK Government in October 2023, we have embarked on a journey to ensure that our properties not only meet but exceed these new standards. In this blog post, we’ll delve into how these changes affect us and how Just for You Holiday Homes is making compliance easier for our owners.
Understanding the Impact on Owners:
The new fire regulations have brought about significant changes for holiday accommodation owners across the UK. Compliance with these regulations is essential not only for legal reasons but also for the safety and peace of mind of guests staying in holiday properties.
Our Journey to Compliance:
At Just for You Holiday Homes, we understand the importance of staying ahead of regulatory changes to maintain the highest standards of safety and service for our guests. To prepare for the new fire regulations, our team embarked on an extensive journey of research and preparation. Hundreds of hours were dedicated to understanding the intricacies of the new regulations and assessing how they would impact our properties.
With thanks to PASC UK, our team watched hours of webinars; hearing from people of authority within the Government, and those with knowledge from several different fields such as fire doors, fire suppression systems and general fire safety.
Once we felt we were armed with the knowledge we needed to move forward, each property in our portfolio underwent a meticulous assessment to identify any potential fire hazards and ensure compliance with the new regulations. From electrical installations to heating systems, furniture, and furnishings, measuring doors and organising smoke alarm installations, no aspect was overlooked in our quest to create a safe environment for our guests.
We understood that this journey could be daunting for property owners, which is why we made it our mission to make compliance as seamless as possible. From offering guidance and support to facilitating necessary assessments and upgrades, we stood by our owners every step of the way.
Collaboration:
We collaborated closely with our maintenance team and engaged local and national contractors to expedite the compliance process. By working together, we were able to streamline assessments, implement necessary upgrades, and provide our owners with the support they needed to navigate these changes with confidence. Our in-house maintenance team have gone above and beyond to ensure all work is carried out to the highest standards throughout. We have had a few ‘tricky’ properties when installing fire doors. However, these were tackled with ease by our team. To tackle the safety of some of our open-plan properties, our owners decided to install fire doors; meaning there was less open-plan area and less risk in the event of a fire. By being able to complete this work in-house, we are getting ahead and being able to provide safe houses, in compliance with the new fire safety regulations, in time for the busy season that awaits us.
Below are some photos of fire door work being carried out and some before, during and after photos of our open-plan properties.
This particular property required some rework of the structure surrounding the door, as it is an older house. Our maintenance team have worked wonders to ensure that the slick look of the house is maintained, at the same time offering utmost safety for our guests.
Before: Open-plan access to the kitchen and dining room area.
After: 30 Minute fire door was installed to ensure the kitchen can be closed off from the sitting room and upstairs of the house; meaning a protected escape route is now provided.
The same work was completed for the house in this photo. The sitting room and kitchen can now be closed off from the rest of the house, providing a protected escape route.
Fire Protection Measures: Enhancing Safety at Just for You Holiday Homes.
As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our guests, Just for You Holiday Homes prioritises the implementation of robust fire protection measures. Here’s how we go above and beyond to create a secure environment for our visitors:
Installation of Fire Detection and Alarms:
The safety of our guests is further enhanced by installing smoke alarms in all bedrooms and common areas, along with heat alarms in kitchens and other high-risk areas. These alarms are interlinked to sound simultaneously, alerting occupants to the presence of a fire and enabling prompt action. We also have a D/deaf smoke alarm, that links with the smoke alarms throughout all of our properties, which can be requested upon booking.
Escape Plan Provision:
To assist guests in navigating our properties during emergencies, we provide a simple escape plan drawing. This ensures that guests, who may not be familiar with the property layout, can evacuate quickly and efficiently. We provide these floor plans within the guest guidebooks, both digitally and within the properties, which include information such as escape routes, smoke alarm locations and where fire-fighting equipment can be found.
Below is an example of one of our floor plans:
Regular Maintenance and Testing:
We understand that the effectiveness of fire safety measures relies on regular maintenance and testing. That’s why we conduct routine checks and maintenance of all fire safety equipment and procedures. Our dedication to ensuring these systems work in practice underscores our commitment to guest safety. We have incorporated routine checks on smoke alarms and safety torches throughout our cleaning checklists, upon each check-out/changeover clean. This ensures peace of mind for our guests, as well as enhances our audit trail when it comes to complying with fire safety measures throughout all our properties.
Clear Escape Routes:
In compliance with legal requirements, we meticulously establish clear escape routes in all our properties. These routes are designed to facilitate swift and safe evacuation, taking into account the diverse needs of our guests, including elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and children. Our escape routes are equipped with fire-safe doors to enhance their effectiveness.
Emergency Lighting:
We understand the importance of adequate lighting during emergencies. That is why our holiday homes are provided with sufficient safety lighting throughout. While none of our current properties are big enough to require fully installed emergency lighting systems; we have ensured that all our properties have sensor safety torches provided throughout. These torches are plugged into the wall, meaning, should you need them, in the event of a power cut; be that from a fire or just in general, they will have sufficient charge.
Fire Escape Signs:
We have provided fire escape signs throughout our properties; containing instructions on what to do in the unlikelihood of a fire; including the advised assembly point, the address of the property and the What3Words which can be used to best advise emergency services of the location. These signs guide guests to safety during emergencies, ensuring a swift and orderly evacuation process.
Below is a blank of the fire safety signs we provide within our houses:
Provision of Firefighting Equipment:
Although guests primarily focus on evacuating safely during a fire, we believe in being prepared for all eventualities. That’s why our properties are equipped with appropriate firefighting equipment and maintained to the highest standards. While guests are not expected to use this equipment – the priority should always be to evacuate the property as quickly and as safely as possible, we do provide fire extinguishers and fire blankets throughout our properties.
At Just for You Holiday Homes, we spare no effort in providing a safe and secure environment for our guests. Through the implementation of comprehensive fire protection measures, we strive to offer peace of mind and unforgettable experiences for all our guests, as well as reassurance that no holidays will be cancelled due to lack of compliance, especially once the mandatory national registration process for holiday lets comes to fruition across England, which is expected to be introduced by this summer.
In Summary:
At Just for You Holiday Homes, we understand the importance of prioritising the safety and satisfaction of our guests. Through dedication, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence, we have ensured that our properties not only meet but exceed the new fire regulations.
As we continue on this journey towards compliance, we remain steadfast in supporting holiday homeowners on the Isle of Wight. Together, we can create a safe and memorable experience for guests, knowing that their well-being is our top priority.
For more information on how Just for You Holiday Homes is navigating the new fire regulations and how we can support you as an owner, please feel free to contact us. Your peace of mind is Just for You.
