Hotel Owner & Fire Risk Assessor Jailed for Breaches

A hotel owner from Nottingham and the man responsible for carrying out a fire risk assessment of his properties have been jailed for eight months each for breaches of fire safety regulations in what is believed to be the first instance of a fire risk assessor being prosecuted.

David Lui, operator of The Dial Hotel and The Market Inn in Mansfield, and fire assessor John O'Rourke both admitted to seriously contravening the Fire Safety Order 2005 regulatory reform at Nottingham's Crown Court in May.

Routine inspections by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) revealed that fire precautions were inadequate at both of Mr Lui's properties.Despite fire risk assessments being carried out by Mr O'Rourke, a number of serious deficiencies had been overlooked, which would have left occupants seriously at risk had a fire broken out. "Due to the serious risk to life that was being presented to occupants, [NFRS] issued prohibition notices preventing any further use of both premises for sleeping accommodation until suitable improvements had been made" the fire authority said.

Earlier this year, the owner of a house of multiple occupancy in Wirral was fined £158,000 for breaches of fire safety regulations, including having doors that were not properly resistant to fire and had no self-closing mechanism.