Key points:
- Summer is peak season for many of Denver’s restaurants, bars, and hotel venues. The larger the crowd, the greater the risks.
- Restaurants, bars, and hotel venues are shifting spaces where movement isn’t always predictable, which is why many venues staff preventative fire monitors.
- Outdoor patios, retractable glass roofs, rooftop bars, and cooling systems increase fire risk factors.
Summer crowds present critical fire code considerations for Denver hotels, restaurants, and bars. Even if occupancy or operations don’t warrant a special event permit or mandated fire monitoring, many venues conduct preventative monitoring. Especially venues with retractable roofs or that transition to both indoor and outdoor service during the summer months. Staffing at least one hospitality venue firewatch guard continuously monitors these shifting spaces for fire safety.
Guests rely on you to keep them safe. As such, hospitality venues must balance their desire for maximum occupancy with risk and liability mitigation. Staffing a single fire monitor or dual-trained security personnel during peak occupancy takes a proactive approach to risk. Your monitor works with you and your team to maintain safety and compliance.
Now, let’s explore 3 of the unique considerations venues face during the summer beyond increased occupancy.
1. Patio Seating Arrangements
Obtain a patio permit and ensure you understand how occupancy changes when you extend your seating area outdoors. The tips below minimize risk factors and support safe egress if the need for evacuation arises.
- You’ll need to monitor the occupancy both indoors and outdoors, as the Fire Marshall will assign different occupancy numbers in each area.
- Mindfully map out tables, chairs, and floor-mounted umbrellas to create an intuitive flow.
- When guests reposition tables, chairs, or umbrellas, consider if it impedes flow or creates other risks.
- Ensure that the top of outdoor umbrellas, tents, sail shades, elaborate décor, and flammable materials maintain a minimum of 18 inches of clearance from the roof.
- Venues with dance floors allow more people per square foot, but if you have a lot of seating, you may want to remain below your maximum occupancy.
- String lighting creates ambiance when the sun goes down, but it creates a fire hazard. Instead of installing yourself, hire an electrician to install compliant lighting, wiring, and electrical.
2. Retractable Glass Roof Risks
Retractable glass roofs provide open air, but they obstruct your fire suppression systems. Add to that umbrellas and canopies that provide shade, and fire risks rise. These risks are sound reasons for staffing a peak-time hospitality fire watch guard.
Your retractable roofing was installed in compliance with NFPA 13 sprinkler obstruction rules. To maintain compliance, stay up to date with maintenance and repairs, including inspecting your electrical load, glass roof, tracker loop systems, and fire safety system.
Also be mindful that regardless of the time of the year, sun shining through a glass roof interferes with your thermal heat detector’s performance. If you haven’t yet, install UV/IR optical flame detectors and projected beam smoke detectors.
3. High-Pressure Misting Systems and Evaporative Cooling Systems
Installing an evaporative cooling system or high-pressure misting system keeps guests cool in outdoor areas when heat is high. The downside is that these systems can delay the detection of increased thermal energy.
To avoid delayed thermal detection, install a projected beam smoke detector and ensure misters are strategically placed away from fire alarms, strobe paths, and thermal sensors.
Hospitality Venue Firewatch Guards in Denver
Hospitality venues are shifting spaces. The more unpredictable the movement, the greater the risk factors. Staffing a trained and certified fire guard goes above and beyond to ensure minimum compliance.
Scout Security has you covered! We staff pre-scheduled and emergency-response special events, peak-season, and as-needed firewatchers and security personnel.
