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A Hotel Owner's Guide to Building Management & Compliance
Hotel owners are responsible for the safety and well-being of all guests and employees. There are certain steps that ensure that these vast buildings are properly maintained.
This guide discusses the most critical aspects of building management that can make or break the hotel experience. These crucial elements include heating and ventilation systems, emergency lighting, electrical testing, and more.
Here's everything you need to know about keeping your hotel in tip-top shape:
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
A faulty HVAC system can cause issues that may affect the comfort and health of your guests.
System checks should include:
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Checking the filters and cleaning them when necessary
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Cleaning or replacing air conditioner coils
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Maintaining constant temperatures throughout the building
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Preventing leaks from ducts or pipes
While staff can perform visual checks every now and then, it's crucial to contact a professional to conduct thorough inspections at least once a year.
Check Your Entire HVAC Unit
Professional inspectors will nip problems in the bud and mitigate repair costs in the future.
In the meantime, you should look for the following when inspecting your HVAC unit:
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Signs of water damage
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Rodent and pest infestation
Ensure Proper Ventilation
Ensuring proper ventilation in your hotel will prevent a number of problems.
First, you can maintain optimum temperatures. If you have poor ventilation, your guests may feel too hot or too cold. Discomfort with the environment is a surefire way to get negative reviews and develop a bad reputation.
Ventilation will also prevent mould from growing on walls and floors. Mould can cause health problems for everyone in the hotel and can be very difficult to get rid of, so it's important to avoid growth as much as possible.
Finally, proper ventilation controls allergens like dust mites and pet dander through robust filtering systems.
Verify That Your HVAC System Can Cover the Square Footage
One of the most critical elements of maintaining a hotel is ensuring that your HVAC system suits the building. The size of your HVAC unit determines how much air it can move. A subpar system and lack of airflow will lead to discomfort, fluctuating temperatures, and more issues.
Calculate the square footage your units can handle. If your hotel’s square footage is larger than the coverage area, it’s time to invest in an upgrade so that your guests will remain comfortable throughout their stay.
Schedule Regular Airflow Quality Inspections
Airflow quality inspections will help you evaluate the effectiveness of your air handling system. They can detect potential problems before they become serious issues or threats to the health and safety of your guests and employees.
Airflow quality inspections will also ensure that your HVAC system is operating at peak efficiency levels, which can streamline your energy expenses.
By ensuring proper airflow quality at all times, you can keep your hotel running smoothly and all guests comfortable and happy.
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
An electrical installation condition report (EICR) on your hotel will ensure the overall safety of the electrical components of your building.
Professionals must perform this essential inspection at least once every five years.
If there are problems with wiring or some outlets don't work as they should, they can become fire hazards. An EICR will also minimize the risk of electrical shocks and other electrical hazards due to faulty wiring or subpar installations.
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Test)
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT test) is a simple way to ensure that your appliances are safe.
It involves both visual & machine testing. A professional inspector will identify any problems and offer advice to fix them or recommend replacements if necessary.
Do You Have To Do It?
While it's not statutory that PAT testing is conducted the UK government recommends you ensure as much as reasonably possible that all portable appliances are safe for use & when the government makes a recommendation that means should you decide not to follow their advice you may be liable should anyone be harmed as a result.
How Often Should It Be Completed?
Advice on testing frequency varies depending on the environment, how regularly a device is used & the type of appliance; however, a good generalised rule is to complete PAT testing every 12 months.
Who Can Do PAT Testing?
"A competent person" this can be an employee with a relatively small amount of training & a basic low cost PAT testing device or a professional.
Either way, keep records of all testing & ensure enough is done to prevent dangerous stations for guests & staff as well as stand up to legal criticism should anything go wrong.
Emergency Lighting
Emergency lighting systems are designed to provide a safe environment during power outages or other emergencies. When a system is working correctly, it can direct guests safely through the hallways and ensure that they have a clear path in case of fire, natural calamities, or other hazards.
Many things can go wrong with an emergency lighting system and lead to malfunctions. And if they occur during an emergency situation, it could leave guests and employees trapped in a dangerous situation without a safe way out.
By regularly testing your emergency lights, you can immediately identify when something is wrong and get it fixed right away.
How Often Should Your Emergency Lights Be Tested?
The UK government advises at least once a year.
Who Can Complete Emergency Light Testing?
Any competitor person can conduct emergency light testing, this can be an individual like an employee with a relatively small amount of training or a professional.
Just like all jobs requiring a competent person, you may have to justify your judgement of who is suitable if there's ever an incident involving emergency lighting failing.
Following testing, any issues must be addressed as soon as reasonably possible.
All testing, maintenance & incidences must be recorded in your emergency lighting log book.
Fire Alarm Testing
Fire alarm testing is a vital element of proper maintenance for hotels and other commercial buildings. Fire alarms must work properly at all times to alert people to the danger in the area so they can evacuate safely.
Fire alarms are just as crucial for safety as they are for legal compliance. If you don't test them regularly, you could one day find yourself in an emergency situation with faulty equipment that doesn't work when it needs to most.
What Tests Are Required?
The UK government advises weekly in-house testing & 6-12 monthly testing from a qualified fire alarm inspector.
In-House Testing
In-house you should be sounding the alarm, usually by use of a manual call point at least once a week.
Checking your fire panel regularly for any indication of a problem, arrange any maintenance required & recording everything in your fire alarm log book.
6 Month & 12 Month Testing
Further testing from a fully qualified fire alarm inspector is required at least once every 6 months; with every device within the fire alarm being tested within every 12 month period.
Health & Safety Reports
The UK government mandates regular health and safety reports. Hotels that conduct regular health and safety tests report fewer accidents & injuries on the job than those that don't.
Such reports enable hotel management to identify problems with the current systems and find solutions before something terrible happens.
The most important reason for conducting regular health and safety inspections in hotels is to ensure that the building is safe for guests. A poorly maintained property can be incredibly dangerous, not only for its customers but also for the employees who work there.
Gas Safety Checks
Gas inspections ensure that hotel gas lines don't combust or cause severe problems. If a gas leak is left undetected and unrepaired, it could cause an explosion or fire.
Faulty equipment can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which affects hotel guests and employees that use gas appliances such as stoves, heaters, and dryers.
Hotels must schedule a gas safety inspection at least once a year. Inspections are especially critical if the hotel has recently switched to a new supplier or if there are any significant changes in its appliances, such as brand new gas-centric cooking equipment.
Mould and Water Damage
Mould and water damage can lead to many serious health hazards for hotel guests and employees alike. Mould is a fungus that grows on organic matter, such as food, fabrics, and drywall. It can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and allergic reactions in people exposed to it for extended periods.
Hotel employees should regularly clean bathrooms, kitchens, and other damp areas that mould loves to grow on. However, tracking down the source of the problem can be very difficult. Hotel owners should get in touch with a professional who can inspect the nooks and crannies of the building to find mould growth. They will also recommend ways to prevent future infestations.
Tips for Preventing Mould and Water Damage
There are many ways to prevent mould and water damage. First, air vents must be thoroughly cleaned and regularly maintained, especially in areas where dirt and dust may accumulate. In addition, all plumbing systems must be closely maintained so they do not break down and lead to flooding.
Here are a few more things you should keep in mind:
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Keep your hotel at comfortable humidity levels between 30% to 50%.
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Regularly inspect the condition of your air conditioning unit and make sure it's working correctly.
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Call in professionals for regular inspections and maintenance.
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Install leak detectors on plumbing pipes and check them regularly for signs of water damage.
Conclusion
Hotel owners must ensure that their commercial premises meet all health and safety protocols. This ensures a pleasant stay for your guests and minimises hazards that could arise from the lack of maintenance.
When running a commercial enterprise that accommodates dozens or even hundreds of guests serviced by many employees, prevention is better than cure. Regular inspections for HVAC systems, electrical installations, appliances, emergency lights, and fire alarms will ensure that issues will be taken care of long before they become severe problems.
Obtain Electrical Services provides professional electrician and electrical testing services with a pool of skilled and licensed electricians. They provide EICR services, fire alarm services, and do PAT testing and emergency light testing as well.
Contact them at 01803 36 20 56 or click here for an online quote. For more information, you may also email shanice@obtainelectricalservices.co.uk or visit their website.
Always directly consult a relevant professional before making any decisions on the subjects covered today.
References
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DAMP AND MOULD Health risks, prevention and remedial actions. (2009). Retrieved 17 August 2022, from https://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/images/assets/Damp_Mould_Brochure.pdf
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Gas safety in catering and hospitality. (2004). Retrieved 17 August 2022, from https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cais23.pdf
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Burton-Hughes, L. (2017). Hotel Health & Safety | Hotel Safety | Hotel Safety Services. Retrieved 17 August 2022, from https://www.ramsaysafetysolutions.co.uk/latest-news/hotel-health-safety.html
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Fire, S. PAT testing explained - everything you ever wanted to know. Retrieved 17 August 2022, from https://surreyfire.co.uk/pat-testing-explained/
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Guide to Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) | Electrical Safety First. Retrieved 17 August 2022, from https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-an-electrician/periodic-inspection-explained/guide-to-condition-reports/
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HVAC System Types: What Are They & How Do They Work?. Retrieved 17 August 2022, from https://www.boxt.co.uk/air-conditioning/guides/HVAC-system-types