Fire Risk Management and Emergency Drills in Accommodation Facilities

Buildings used for accommodation purposes (such as hotels, dormitories, boarding houses, and guesthouses) pose a high fire safety risk due to occupants being unfamiliar with the environment and exposed to fire hazards while sleeping. Ensuring safety in these buildings requires the integrated implementation of structural (both passive and active) and operational measures.

Serkan Korkmaz

İzmir Fire Department - Training Branch Manager

From a structural standpoint, it is crucial to design and construct in compliance with the Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire, ensure regular inspection of passive and active fire protection systems, and maintain unobstructed emergency exit routes with adequate capacity. The use of fire-resistant materials and effective smoke ventilation systems also enhances evacuation safety.

Operational measures must be supported through regular fire drills and staff training. Drills help improve evacuation and emergency response procedures during actual incidents. Informing guests about emergency instructions also contributes to risk reduction.

In conclusion, fire safety in accommodation facilities can only be achieved through the integrated application of passive, active, and operational measures. This approach is critical for preventing loss of life and effectively managing evacuation processes.

Keywords: Passive and Active Fire Protection Measures, Emergency Drill Planning

INTRODUCTION

Tourism is defined as the set of events and relationships that arise from people traveling outside their usual place of residence, work, and routine needs, and temporarily staying in other locations, during which they demand goods and services—often produced by tourism enterprises (Kozak et al., 2015). As tourism has developed, the commercial accommodation sector—encompassing hotels, guesthouses, lodges, and similar types of lodging—has steadily grown.

The accommodation sector consists of businesses such as hotels, motels, resorts, hostels, campgrounds, guesthouses, and inns that commercially provide suitable environments to meet the temporary accommodation, nutrition, rest, and recreation needs of people traveling for various reasons outside their homes (Olalı and Korzay, 1993).

Structures used for accommodation purposes (e.g., hotels, dormitories, guesthouses) present critical fire safety risks due to high human density, occupants' unfamiliarity with the space, and vulnerability during sleep (Demirel and Konur, 2006). This study aims to present an integrated fire safety approach to mitigate such risks.

Current Status of Accommodation Facilities in Turkey

According to the 2023 "Turkey Chain and Group Hotels Research" conducted by the Turkish Hoteliers Association, the number of chain and group hotels in Turkey has reached 67, of which 46 are owned by domestic investors and 21 by foreign investors. These account for a total of 722 facilities with a room capacity of 157,495 (TÜROB, 2023). The provinces with the highest number of hotels are listed as Istanbul, Antalya, and Ankara, while the ranking by bed capacity is Antalya, followed by Istanbul and Ankara.

The combined capacity of public and private dormitories within accommodation facilities exceeds 1 million beds (Ministry of Youth and Sports, 2024).

Guesthouses and boarding houses in Turkey are classified under the "simple accommodation operation certified facilities" category by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. As of July 2024, there are 14,867 such facilities with 328,547 rooms and a total bed capacity of 663,420 (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2024). Table 1 shows the number of accommodation facilities along with their room and bed capacities.

Table 1: Distribution of Accommodation Facilities in Turkey

Fire Safety Standards and Regulations for Accommodation Facilities

Fire safety in accommodation facilities is governed by various national and international standards and regulations. These frameworks define a wide range of safety parameters, from structural precautions to operational procedures.

Table 2: Fire Safety Standards

FIRE SAFETY MEASURES

According to the Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire (BYKHY), the required safety measures for buildings are arranged to cover the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and usage phases.

Passive Fire Safety Measures:

Passive fire safety measures are structural precautions implemented during the design and construction stages of a building that function without requiring any energy source. These measures prevent or delay the outbreak and spread of fire. Even if active systems fail during a fire, passive systems continue to provide protection, enhancing life and property safety.

Passive fire safety includes fire compartments, fire-resistant structural elements, firewalls, fire doors, fire escapes, smoke barriers, and fire-resistant cable systems. These elements form the backbone of a building's fire safety strategy. In high-occupancy structures such as accommodation facilities, these measures play a vital role in preventing loss of life by allowing critical evacuation time and limiting fire spread.

The table below, titled “Table 3: BYKHY Passive Fire Safety Measures,” systematically summarizes these precautions and their brief explanations. It illustrates the scope and function of passive fire safety applications.

Table 3: BYKHY Passive Fire Safety Measures

Active Fire Safety Measures:

Active fire safety measures are dynamic systems designed for the early detection, control, and extinguishing of fires, and they operate with the aid of an energy source. These systems are activated either automatically or through manual intervention in the event of a fire, forming an active line of defense.

Comprising components such as smoke and heat detectors, fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, pressurization systems, and audible-visual warning systems, active fire safety measures enable the early detection and response to fires, preventing potential disasters. In accommodation facilities, these systems are critically important for ensuring the safety of guests and staff, minimizing property damage, and maintaining business continuity.

For effective fire safety, active systems must be designed in integration with passive measures and be maintained regularly.

The relevant precautions and their brief explanations are systematically summarized in the table below titled “Table 4: BYKHY Active Fire Safety Measures.” This table outlines the scope and functions of active fire safety applications.

Table 4: BYKHY Active Fire Safety Measures

Most Common Fire Risks and Precautions in Accommodation Facilities

Fire safety in accommodation facilities requires a specialized approach due to the unique characteristics of these establishments. This section examines the five primary factors that increase fire risks in such facilities, along with the corresponding precautions that can be taken to mitigate these risks. Table 5 outlines the key risk factors related to fire safety in accommodation facilities.

Table 5: Fire Safety Risk Factors in Accommodation Facilities

Emergency Drill Planning and Operational Precautions

Emergency Trainings and Scenarios

In accommodation facilities, training for all stakeholders (employees, visitors, technical staff) on emergency situations is essential for the sustainability of fire safety. These trainings should cover the use of fire detection and alarm systems, evacuation procedures, use of fire extinguishing equipment, and emergency scenarios. In addition to theoretical information, practical exercises should be included in the training. Emergency scenarios should be prepared based on the building's risk analysis, including factors such as the fire's point of origin, type, affected areas, evacuation routes, and special conditions (e.g., individuals with disabilities).

Drill Organization and Responsibilities

For the effectiveness of fire drills, responsibilities must be clearly defined, and emergency response teams should be established in accordance with Article 126 of the Building Fire Safety Regulations (BYKHY). Responsibilities for floor evacuation, building evacuation, and evacuation of individuals with disabilities should be assigned, documented, and regularly updated.

Management of Emergency Teams

The effectiveness of emergency teams should be ensured through regular training, drills, and performance evaluations. Team members should be well-versed in their assigned areas, able to use fire extinguishing equipment, receive basic first aid training, and be familiar with communication protocols. Team lists and contact information should be regularly updated and kept visibly within the building.

Coordination with External Stakeholders

Building management should coordinate with emergency services such as the fire department, ambulance, and police. In this context, fire safety measures and evacuation plans should be shared, joint drills should be organized, and communication protocols should be established. Necessary arrangements should be made for quick access by the fire department, and building plans and critical information should be shared with the relevant units.

Integrated Fire Safety Model in Accommodation Facilities

To ensure effective fire safety in accommodation facilities, it is crucial to address passive, active, and operational measures with a holistic approach that complements each other. Passive measures focus on preventing or delaying the spread of fire through the building's structural characteristics, while active measures include technological systems used for fire detection, alarm activation, and extinguishing. Operational measures involve human-based applications such as staff training, emergency plan preparation, regular drills, and defining procedures to be followed during a fire.

It is not sufficient to implement these three types of measures individually; their interaction and coordination must be ensured. Therefore, this section proposes an integrated model for fire safety in accommodation facilities, where passive, active, and operational fire safety measures are combined to achieve the highest level of safety. This model aims to minimize fire risk and prevent loss of life and property in the event of a fire by leveraging the strengths of each type of measure. A schematic representation of the "Integrated Fire Safety Model in Accommodation Facilities" is shown in Figure 3.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the unique risk factors and solution strategies related to fire safety and drill planning in accommodation facilities. Based on the findings, the following recommendations have been developed:

·  Fire safety in accommodation facilities should be addressed with a holistic approach starting from the design phase.

·  Integration between passive, active, and operational measures must be ensured.

·  Fire safety inspections should be conducted regularly, and identified deficiencies should be addressed promptly.

·  Staff training and drills should be an integral part of the fire safety strategy.

·  Fire safety standards and regulations should be continuously updated in light of technological developments and current research.

These recommendations form the fundamental elements for ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of fire safety in accommodation facilities.

REFERENCES

Kozak, N., Kozak, M. A., & Kozak, M. (2015). General Tourism: Principles and Concepts. Detay Yayıncılık, Ankara.

Olalı, H., & Korzay, M. (1993). Hotel Management. Beta Publishing, İstanbul.

Demirel, F., & Konur, Z. (2006). Analysis of Escape Routes in Hotels within the Framework of National and International Regulations and a Sample. Gazi University Journal of Engineering and Architecture, 21(2), 293-301.

Okuyucu, A. (2016). Structural and Spatial Transformation of the Accommodation Sector in Turkey: 1990-2013. Journal of Social Research in Turkey, 249-269.

Kılıç, A. (2019). Fire Safety in High-Rise Buildings. Fire and Safety Journal, 215, 28-36.TÜROB (2023). Turkey Chain and Group Hotels Research. Turkish Hoteliers Association, İstanbul.

Ministry of Youth and Sports (2024). Dormitory Statistics. General Directorate of Credit and Dormitories, Ankara.

Ministry of Culture and Tourism (2024). Tourism Statistics. General Directorate of Investments and Operations, Ankara.

Official Gazette (2022). Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings. Official Gazette No. 32026, dated November 27, 2022, Ankara.

NFPA (2021). NFPA 101: Life Safety Code. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA.

NFPA (2022). NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA.

NFPA (2023). Fire Loss in the United States During 2022. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA.

CEN (2019). EN 13501-2: Fire Classification of Construction Products and Building Elements - Part 2: Classification Using Data from Fire Resistance Tests. European Committee for Standardization, Brussels.

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