Managing a holiday park or campsite comes with plenty of unique challenges, not least the need to balance guests’ enjoyment with their safety. Behind the scenes, you’re managing large open spaces, dozens of buildings, accommodation, and looking after hundreds of people on site each day – all of which makes fire protection a vital part of keeping everything running smoothly.
In this post, we take a look at the essentials you’ll need to protect people, your property, and everyone’s peace of mind.
Different buildings have different fire safety needs
Whether it’s a static caravan, cabin or lodge, each accommodation type on your site will need to have a fire detection solution, clear escape routes and reliable fire equipment on hand in case of emergency. And while touring caravans and tents are the responsibility of their owners, they should still be factored into your wider fire safety strategy.
Buildings across the rest of your site might include club houses, gyms, shops, reception areas, shower and toilet facilities, on-site launderettes and other amenities. As some of these buildings might not be fully supervised, the same robust fire safety measures should be considered and implemented.
Keeping guests, staff and visitors safe
Clear guidance and easy-to-access fire safety equipment are just two of the best-practice measures you’ll need to help protect people when they’re staying with you.
Having a regular turnover of guests who will be unfamiliar with your site means you’ll need to think about installing clear, easy-to-read instructions and signage, along with readily accessible safety equipment. It’s also worth considering that many parks and campsites are likely to host a lot of older visitors or families with young children, who’ll need more time and support in an emergency.
In a similar way, temporary or seasonal staff will probably need more help staying up-to-date with equipment and procedures, which means you’ll need to think about training and safety refreshers so that everyone can act quickly when it matters.
Types of fire safety measures for holiday parks
Your holiday park or campsite will need a mix of active and passive fire protection, which will need to be reviewed and serviced regularly to keep everything safe and compliant. JLA’s experts offer a complete range of solutions to support every area of your site:
- A detailed fire risk assessment will help you review your entire site and spot potential hazards, then recommend measures to strengthen safety and create an action plan
- Different kinds of fires need different kinds of fire extinguishers, so you’ll need to work with an expert partner like JLA to assess your needs before installing (and maintaining) the right systems for the job
- Emergency lighting and signage will help to guide people towards your emergency exits and meeting points, even if there’s low visibility from smoke or fire
- A well-maintained fire alarm system is critical in the outbreak of a fire, alerting the wider site while ensuring a quick response from the emergency services
- Fully certified fire doors are often the first line of defence against fire and smoke, helping to slow spread and give people more time to evacuate
- Regular, tailored fire safety training will give your staff the confidence they need to react quickly and support guests in an emergency
Helping guests stay safe
Simple reminders can have a big impact on fire safety on site, so it’s worth investing in posters or signage, especially in higher-risk areas. In the first instance, though, guests should call 999 as soon as a fire is noticed, and make sure they can get a safe distance away from it.
Other ideas might include prompts that ask visitors to:
- Familiarise themselves with nearby fire safety protocols
- Avoid drying clothes or shoes on heaters
- Keep matches and lighters away from children
- Not overload electrical sockets in a caravan or cabin
- Only smoke in designated areas – not inside caravans or buildings
- Take care when cooking with oil or chip pans, and never leave cooking unattended
- Keep barbecues and/or other fires well away from caravans, tents or buildings
These steps, supported by clear communication, should reduce the risk of dangerous incidents.
Can JLA take care of it for you?
With decades of combined technical expertise and a national presence, JLA is here to help you stay compliant, protect your guests and keep your site running safely. To arrange a no-obligation survey of your park, simply contact us today.
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