Fire safety should never take a holiday. Take these cues from our Orlando fire extinguisher company when managing or using a short-term rental.

Short-term rentals offer travelers a vacation option with more privacy and “homey” amenities than hotels. These properties are not regulated like hotels, however, so special attention should be paid to fire safety. Here, we offer tips for property owners and travelers alike so that everyone can enjoy their vacation safely.

Travelers Beware

When booking a short-term rental for a family vacation or business trip, you likely use filters such as travel dates, bedrooms, bathrooms, and amenities like a swimming pool and Wi-Fi. Is there even an option to filter out properties that don’t have fire extinguishers or smoke detectors? 

If you can’t tell whether or not a property is outfitted with appropriate fire safety equipment, it’s wise to contact the property manager directly. Fires in short-term rentals are not uncommon. Two fires in Florida short-term rental properties in 2022 caused damage and injury due to improper placement of fire extinguishers. Bay County, the location of the Panama City Beach fire, now requires short-term rental properties to undergo fire inspections.

Unlike hotels, rental properties often have different safety standards. Some property owners might cut corners on fire safety to save money or increase profits, while others might lack awareness of the best safety practices for their renters. Consequently, renters are left with the responsibility of ensuring that the property they lease is safe.

Take Charge As A Property Owner

As a short-term rental business owner, you have the authority to guarantee your property’s safety. This responsibility includes providing essential Fire & Life Safety equipment. As a hospitality professional, your primary goal should be the safety of your renters, irrespective of potential fines for non-compliance. 

Don’t leave yourself open to reputation hits or lawsuits by not doing what’s best for your renters. Consider these tips to ensure the safety of the vacationers you’re hosting.

Grill Maintenance and Placement

Nothing says vacation more than grilling out every night. Unfortunately, grills are among the most dangerous amenities for renters and property owners. Even if you place your grill in a safe place, renters may move it to a more convenient, less safe location. Remember these grill rules so your property and your renters stay safe:

• Open-flame grills should stay nine feet vertically and ten feet horizontally away from combustible materials.
• Have your grill inspected annually by a professional for leaks.
• Using locking cables will keep your grill in a safe location where renters cannot move it.
• Fire extinguishers should be located within 30 feet of the grill, near a path of exit.

Fire Extinguishers

Rentals that are single-family homes are not technically required to have fire extinguishers. However, we feel it’s essential to equip your property with clearly marked and easily accessible fire extinguishers throughout the space. 

You may have a fire extinguisher under your sink at home, but you know where it is and can get to it quickly because you live there all the time. You are also likely aware of the fastest exit routes. On the other hand, renters need more guidance, which is why it’s best to mount fire extinguishers in short-term rentals in brackets where they’re highly visible and in a path of egress.

Smoke Detectors

NFPA 101 hotel guidelines are very specific regarding the location and number of smoke detectors. However, the rules are different for one- and two-family dwellings. You only need to install smoke detectors in each sleeping room and the area just outside each sleeping room. As you can imagine, that leaves a vast area of the property unprotected. Most fires in short-term rentals start in the kitchen or a utility space. Many short-term rental properties also have no fire alarm or sprinkler requirements.

We recommend consulting with an Orlando fire extinguisher company to adequately equip your properties with the safest fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and fire sprinklers. 

Occupancy and Egress

Consider safety when designating maximum occupancy for your rental space. Many short-term rentals will have a bedroom in a basement or loft with no window egress. Again, there are no regulations concerning how many occupants can safely stay in a short-term rental, so it’s best to talk with a fire safety expert before you put your renters in danger. Property management is a balance between maximizing profits while prioritizing your renters’ safety.

Let DynaFire Guide You To A Safe Vacation Space

Whether you’re researching a home-away-from-home or you’re operating a short-term rental investment property, Fire & Life Safety should be a filter that is always turned on. Remember these tips for safe travels and happy short-term rental property ownership.