Skip to main content
Hostel Management logo
  • Home
  • Forum
    • Forums Index
      • New Posts
      • Recent Activity
      • All Activity
      • Posts I’m Following
    • The Common Room
      • MODERATOR NOTES
      • Introduce Yourself
      • Introduce Your Hostel
      • Travel Talk
      • Hostel Stories
      • Off Topic Chat
    • General Hostel Topics
      • Hostel Publications
      • Hostel Trends and News
      • Hostel Conferences and Tourism Events
      • Buy / Sell / Trade Items
      • Promoting the Hostel Movement
      • Hostel Videos
      • Site Feedback and News
    • Open a New Hostel
      • The Ideal Hostel
      • Buy / Sell a Hostel
      • Start a Hostel
      • Business Partners
    • Hostel Operations
      • Front Desk Operations
      • Internet Access and Computers
      • Website, Computer, and Tech Support
      • Housekeeping and Maintenance
      • Hostel Bars & Restaurants
      • Tour Desk Operations
      • General Hostel Operations
      • Pest Control
      • Eco-Hostels
    • Hostel Marketing
      • Hostel Reviews, Booking Engines, and Directories
      • Marketing Exchange
      • Internet Marketing
      • Travel Bloggers and Media Connections
      • Offline Marketing
    • Hostel Culture and Society
      • Foreign Language and Culture for Hospitality
      • Hostels for Good
    • The Lounge
      • Travel Stories
      • Introduce Yourself
    • Work Abroad Forum
      • Teach English Abroad
      • Kibbutz Volunteer Jobs
      • Volunteer Abroad
      • Other Travel Work
      • Resort and Hotel Jobs
    • Other Topics
      • Site News and Feedback
      • Off-topic Chat
    • Non-English Forums
      • Hostel Management em Português
      • 日本語 Hostel Management in Japanese
      • Hostel Management en Esperanto
      • Hostel Management en Español
      • Hostel Management en Français
      • Hostel Management in Deutsch
      • Hostel Management in Italiano
  • Magazine
    • Announcements
    • Blog
    • How-to Articles
    • Industry News
    • Sponsored
    • Spotlight
    • Webinar
    • All Recent Articles
  • Services
    • Member Perks
    • Hostel Consultants
    • B2B Services Directory
    • Hostel Unconferences
    • OTA Listing Verifications & Alerts
    • Hostel Professional's Library
  • Hostels
    • Our Hostels Database
    • Hostels for Sale
    • Hostels for Lease
    • Hostels Seeking Managers
    • Hostels Seeking Investors
    • Hostels Seeking Partners
    • Sell or Lease Your Hostel
    • Find Hostel Investors or Partners
    • Add Hostels to Our Database
  • Jobs
    • Find Hostel Workers
    • Post a Hostel Job
    • Find Hostel Jobs
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Our History
    • Contribute
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
JOIN NOW
Hostel Management logo
JOIN NOW
  • Home
  • Forum
    • Forums Index
      • New Posts
      • Recent Activity
      • All Activity
      • Posts I’m Following
    • The Common Room
      • MODERATOR NOTES
      • Introduce Yourself
      • Introduce Your Hostel
      • Travel Talk
      • Hostel Stories
      • Off Topic Chat
    • General Hostel Topics
      • Hostel Publications
      • Hostel Trends and News
      • Hostel Conferences and Tourism Events
      • Buy / Sell / Trade Items
      • Promoting the Hostel Movement
      • Hostel Videos
      • Site Feedback and News
    • Open a New Hostel
      • The Ideal Hostel
      • Buy / Sell a Hostel
      • Start a Hostel
      • Business Partners
    • Hostel Operations
      • Front Desk Operations
      • Internet Access and Computers
      • Website, Computer, and Tech Support
      • Housekeeping and Maintenance
      • Hostel Bars & Restaurants
      • Tour Desk Operations
      • General Hostel Operations
      • Pest Control
      • Eco-Hostels
    • Hostel Marketing
      • Hostel Reviews, Booking Engines, and Directories
      • Marketing Exchange
      • Internet Marketing
      • Travel Bloggers and Media Connections
      • Offline Marketing
    • Hostel Culture and Society
      • Foreign Language and Culture for Hospitality
      • Hostels for Good
    • The Lounge
      • Travel Stories
      • Introduce Yourself
    • Work Abroad Forum
      • Teach English Abroad
      • Kibbutz Volunteer Jobs
      • Volunteer Abroad
      • Other Travel Work
      • Resort and Hotel Jobs
    • Other Topics
      • Site News and Feedback
      • Off-topic Chat
    • Non-English Forums
      • Hostel Management em Português
      • 日本語 Hostel Management in Japanese
      • Hostel Management en Esperanto
      • Hostel Management en Español
      • Hostel Management en Français
      • Hostel Management in Deutsch
      • Hostel Management in Italiano
  • Magazine
    • Announcements
    • Blog
    • How-to Articles
    • Industry News
    • Sponsored
    • Spotlight
    • Webinar
    • All Recent Articles
  • Services
    • Member Perks
    • Hostel Consultants
    • B2B Services Directory
    • Hostel Unconferences
    • OTA Listing Verifications & Alerts
    • Hostel Professional's Library
  • Hostels
    • Our Hostels Database
    • Hostels for Sale
    • Hostels for Lease
    • Hostels Seeking Managers
    • Hostels Seeking Investors
    • Hostels Seeking Partners
    • Sell or Lease Your Hostel
    • Find Hostel Investors or Partners
    • Add Hostels to Our Database
  • Jobs
    • Find Hostel Workers
    • Post a Hostel Job
    • Find Hostel Jobs
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Our History
    • Contribute
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us

The World's Largest Community of Hostel Professionals.

Search form

Login

Are your hostel's smoke detectors flawed?

DarrenOverby's picture
by Darren Overby |
19 July 2024

0

You know how we're always talking about the importance of fire safety? Well, I’ve got some blazing hot info for you. For a while now, I've talked about a serious flaw with ionization type smoke detectors.  Sure, they're great at detecting burnt toast at 2am in the morning (we've all been there!), but they're not so great at catching those sneaky smoldering fires that produce dangerous carbon monoxide before turning into real flames.

I recently stumbled upon this fascinating YouTube video by Andrew Lam that shows just how bad ionization smoke detectors are at alerting you to a small smoldering fire. It also highlights a change in how smoke detectors are now required to be designed (in the US, at least). Since we're always concerned about fire safety, I thought it would be useful to share it with you. Trust me, it's worth a watch!

Why This Info is Important for Hostels
In hostels, where we have a lot of guests, fire safety is a top priority. The video explains that the most common smoke detectors, called ionization detectors, often fail to detect smoldering fires for up to 30 minutes! That's like watching an entire episode of "Chicago Fire" before realizing there's a problem. Smoldering fires produce a lot of smoke and carbon monoxide before bursting into flames. This means your hostel guests could be rendered unconscious before the smoke detector even goes off. Yikes!

Action Steps for Hostel Owners
1. Watch the Video: This video is a must-watch. It explains the problem with ionization smoke detectors and why we should consider using photoelectric detectors. The link to the video is here.

2. Check Your Smoke Detectors: Ask your licensed fire alarm service provider what type of smoke detectors you have installed and check their expiration dates. If you don’t have a serviced fire alarm system (most hostels in developed countries do), you can check this yourself or hire someone to do it.

3. Consider Supplemental Detectors: If upgrading your building’s fire alarm system isn’t possible right now, think about adding standalone photoelectric smoke detectors. These are great for catching smoldering fires early.

Choices Made at My Hostel
At the hostel I started, we have a supervised fire sprinkler system, so the fire marshal only required supervised smoke detectors in certain key areas. But, when California law started requiring additional carbon monoxide detectors inside all sleeping rooms, I decided to take this safety a step further.

Like you, I wanted to know about all fires in the hostel AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, including small smoldering ones!  Don't get me wrong, fire sprinkler systems are great at both detecting and extinguishing fires.  However, wouldn't it be nice to not have a fire get so large that the sprinkler system has to activate?   So, I decided to install interconnected Nest smoke detectors in all occupied rooms and storage areas. These Nest detectors are fantastic because they include ionization, photoelectric, and heat rise sensors all in one unit. Oh yeah, they also have carbon monoxide detection. This way, my managers get notified immediately if any fire starts (large or small).  The Nest detectors all speak and tell everyone where the smoke is and the manager gets notifications on their phone.  This is something the building fire alarm can't do.  All of this extra protection gives us the chance to extinguish the fire before it becomes large and unmanageable.  

Stay Compliant and Informed
Always stay in touch with your local authorities and follow their guidance on fire safety. Make sure any supplemental installations you decide on are allowed by local regulations.
In summary, fire safety is crucial, and staying informed about the best ways to protect your guests is part of our responsibility as hostel owners. Watch the video, check your detectors, and consider adding extra protection if needed. Stay safe and keep your guests safe!

Cheers to safer hostels! 

0 COMMENTS

Log in to post a comment

Darren Overby
Support Darren Overby's work with a tip!

Hostel Management believes in compensating creators for the time, knowledge and skill they share to make our industry better. Up to 50% of your annual membership subscription can now be used to tip creators.

You are not currently a supporting member of HostelManagement.com. Please subscribe to create your tip account.

JOIN NOW

Related Pages

The Future of Hostels with Rucksack Brian

3 years 9 months ago

0

Hostel Management Members Featured in New York Times article!

4 years 10 months ago

0

Hostels in Singapore on verge of shutting for good

4 years 11 months ago

0

YHA to re-open network for stays from 17 July

4 years 11 months ago

0

Announcing the North American Hostel Association

5 years 1 day ago

0

 
  • MANAGER RESOURCES
    • START A HOSTEL
    • HOSTEL CONSULTANTS
    • HOSTEL WIKI
    • B2B SERVICES
    • MEMBER PERKS
  • HOSTEL TRAVELER
    • FIND A JOB
    • FREELANCERS
    • OUR HOSTELS
  • HOSTEL MARKETPLACE
    • SELL A HOSTEL
    • BUY A HOSTEL
    • INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
    • PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
  • EVENTS
    • UNCONFERENCES
  • ABOUT
    • OUR TEAM
    • OUR HISTORY
    • CONTRIBUTE
    • FAQ
    • CONTACT US
  • MY ACCOUNT
    • My Profile

Hostel Management Newsletter

  • Sign up for the HM newsletter to stay on track with the latest industry talk, news & events.

     

  • Subscribe

All right reserved © HMI

  • Privacy
  • Terms of Service
  • Forum Policy
  • DMCA

Join the world's largest community of hostel professionals.

Yes, we have members in United States as well.

Only takes 30 seconds!
Already a member? Login here.

Where do you call home?
Picture

Check Your Email

We have just sent you an email with a link to activate your account. If yu have not received this email with about 15 minutes, check your span or promotions folders.
If you continue to experience problems, please email us at [email protected].
×