With the holiday season and lovely warm weather here again, it is important to ensure that holidaymakers and staff remain safe and comply with the current UK fire regulations for caravan sites. As well as ensuring guests and property stay safe, this is an essential legal requirement.

Below you will find some vital fire safety guidelines to help holiday parks remain safe and compliant with current legislation.

Do You Have A Fire Risk Assessment?

All holiday parks should ensure they have a Fire Risk Assessment in place. This should be reviewed regularly and updated should any changes to the park take place, e.g. additional caravans, extensions to premises etc.

Fire Risk Assessments are the legal duty of the responsible person (in this case the Park owner) under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Ensure Fire Equipment Is Serviced

It is a legal requirement to ensure all fire extinguishers are serviced annually, to ensure they function correctly and are within date. Different fire extinguishers carry out different functions, so it is important that the correct type of extinguishers are allocated across your park. These should be placed clearly and accessibly throughout the location.

Caravans should have fire alarms and gas detectors.

It is suggested that a site alarm is in place to notify all guests of a fire incident as early as possible.

What Is The Most Suitable Fire Extinguisher For A Holiday Lodge/Caravan?

It is a legal requirement that each caravan/holiday lodge has a fully commissioned/serviced fire extinguisher.

With the risk of electrical appliances (e.g. hair straighteners/mobile chargers), cookers and external gas cylinders, trying to work out which type of extinguisher you need can feel like a minefield. We recommend you speak to one of our team at Firetech (Special Vehicles) Ltd. who can help.

We will go through the different options for your specific requirements, taking into account the size of your caravan/holiday lodge, the type of appliances inside, and other variables, to advise you on the correct fire extinguishers for your holiday park.

Keep Safe Distances Between Lodge, Caravans, Tents And Awnings

To prevent the spread of fire between holiday lodges and caravans, there should be at least six metres between caravan walls and at least three metres clear from associated equipment and boundaries.

As the nice evenings arrive, so does the BBQ season. A fire can destroy a tent in less than 60 seconds so it is recommended that your guests have a bucket of water readily available as a quick go-to safety solution. Caravan fire extinguishers and fire blankets should also be available.

Ensure that tents, awnings and ropes are kept clear of all emergency exit routes. It is vital that pathways are kept clear of obstruction.

Provide Safe Smoking Areas

Many park and moorland fires are started by a single cigarette butt. It is recommended that you provide hard-standing, designated areas for smoking, to provide an easy and convenient method of disposing of cigarettes and avoid any potential fires.

Ensure Clear Signage

Clear signage should be readily available across all premises in case of an emergency evacuation. If the worst should happen, ensuring that everyone has a clear escape route can be the difference between an injury and a fatality.

It’s imperative that holidaymakers are aware of what is expected of them in the event of a fire, which means being prepared and communicating effectively. Fire exit signs provide clear guidance on how to exit a building in a fire or emergency situation. Fire assembly point signs highlight a designated safe area for people to gather in the event of an evacuation.

Fire extinguisher ID signs should be installed above fire extinguishers to inform users of their contents and which types of fire they can and can’t be used on. Sign installation is also required for compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Careful planning and installation of the right equipment ahead of the holiday season will ensure holiday parks and campsites remain legally compliant and guests are kept as safe as possible.

Keep Your Holiday Park Safe With Firetech

Please note, this is a general guide to fire prevention for holiday parks and is not extensive to all situations. We recommend you contact us at Firetech (Special Vehicles) Ltd on 01258 817984 or email us at admin@firetechuk.com for further information. We are experts when it comes to fire safety, fire extinguisher servicing, fire risk reports, Fire Risk Assessments and more in the Dorset, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset & Hampshire areas and our friendly team is on hand to assist you and your business.