Fire Safety in European Hotels

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Fire Safety in European Hotels Dr SD Christian
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
Council Recommendation 86/666/EEC Fire Safety in
European Hotels
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Fire Safety in European Hotels

• Address the need to update and/or improve the
  Technical Guidelines
• Working Group of national technical experts on
  fire safety in Hotels co-ordinated by an
  independent Rapporteur.

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Fire Safety in European Hotels
Section 19 of the Report contained the complete
revision of all the original Technical Guidelines
contained in the 1986 document.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
The updating and amendment of the technical
guidelines took into consideration the progress
since 1986 in respect of later Council documents
and published harmonized technical European
standards.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
The work was completed against a background of
recognising that in May 1994, the European
Parliament asked the Commission Services to come
forward with its proposals for a Directive
(1). (1) OJ C 205 of 25.07.1994. p.163.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
Report in 2001 from the Commission. On the
application of the Council Recommendations of 22
December 1986 on fire safety in existing hotels
(2). (2) COM (2001) 348 final
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
Consumer Policy Strategy 2002-2006 (3). From the
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and
Consumer Policy was presented to the European
Parliament in January 2003 by the appointed
Rapporteur Philip Whitehead (3) COM(2002)
208-C5-0329/2002-2002/2173(COS).
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
Among the positive Resolutions was a repeated
call for a Directive on fire safety in Hotels.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
Relevant, subsequent Directives 95/2001
General Product Safety 89/106 Construction
Products 89/391 Safety Health of Workers at
Work 89/654 Minimum Health Safety
Requirements
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
Many of the provisions of the Council
Recommendation now appear to have become
statutory provisions of these, later Directives.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
In particular, the provisions of the 89/391
(Framework) and 89/654 (Workplace) Directives now
apply vigorous measures to ensure the safety of
workers at their place of work.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
The 89/654 Directive (Article 9(1)(A) required an
employer to carry out a risk assessment within
the workplace to identify hazards.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
A fundamental part of any risk assessment is the
fire behaviour of the contents.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
The combustion behaviour of the contents, such as
upholstered furniture has long been a concern of
the Commission Services.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
Annex D of the revision of 86/666 comprised the
recommended performance of the contents (textile
end-use applications) in Hotel bedrooms and
public areas.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
This in one area where there are many European
Standards available, they include EN597
EN122952 EN 1021 EN 13722 EN 9239
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
So, where are we now?
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
In 2001, the Commission presented a Report on the
application of 86/666 (4) This Report presented
the broad outlines for further initiatives
activity on fire safety in Hotels. (4) COM (2001
348 final
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
The Report was widely circulated within the
Member States and the period of consultation
finished on 15 November 2003.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
The Report acknowledged the entitlement of
consumer and hotel staff to protection against
fire in hotels
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
The Council Recommendation 86/666 has been
revised. The amended Technical Guidelines were
also the subject of consultation with the Member
States.
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
Finally, a Consumer Safety Working Party
documents (5 6) listing priority service
sectors under consideration for EU measures
related to safety specifically mentions fire
safety. (5) Working Document D. (6) Working
Document E
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
The Commission Services are now considering their
response
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Fire Safety in European Hotels
Thank you for your attention. Dr. SD Christian