The Briefing Room

General Category => World News => Topic started by: EC on November 17, 2013, 12:39:35 pm

Title: Hotel made completely of ice told it needs to install fire alarms
Post by: EC on November 17, 2013, 12:39:35 pm
Let's hear no more complains about over-regulation in the USA.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/350967/Hotel-made-completely-of-ice-told-it-needs-to-install-fire-alarms

Quote

Management at the Icehotel, located near the frosty town of Jukkasjaervi in Sweden, made sure they didn't keep guests out in the cold when they announced it will install fire alarms to comply with new building rules.

Since 1990 the hotel has been rebuilt every December by its owners until it begins to melt again in April

A spokeswoman for the hotel said: “We have to apply for building permits every year.

“When the rules change, we need to adapt to the new rules obviously.

    “When the rules change, we need to adapt to the new rules obviously.”
    A spokeswoman for the Icehotel

She added: “When we explain to people, I think it makes sense.”

However, there have been "no incidents so far" she confirmed, with the hotel in its 24th year.

“It went off once, but when the supervisor came down it turned out it was just one of our guests who’d snuck off to the cleaning closet and had a cigarette.”

The popular escape has been credited as the world's first ice hotel.

It is made out of about 1,000 tons of ice and is situated 17 kilometres from Kiruna.

People from all over the world visit the ice shelter to wrap up in temperatures as low as -8C.

Prices can vary from price between £150 and £850 a night depending on guests' desired rooms.

This year, the hotel will open on December 6 and will close down at the beginning of April.
Title: Re: Hotel made completely of ice told it needs to install fire alarms
Post by: rangerrebew on November 17, 2013, 12:43:14 pm
Did the inspector work for the US government in a previous life? :silly:
Title: Re: Hotel made completely of ice told it needs to install fire alarms
Post by: Oceander on November 18, 2013, 07:28:30 pm
It sounds really stupid at first, but it ain't necessarily so.  I am quite certain that the guests bring with them lots and lots of blankets, sweaters, and other coverings, all of which are flammable, and some of which can produce toxic fumes.  If the smoker mentioned in the story had instead tried to hide his ciggie by dropping the still-lit butt onto the floor, and managed to get it stuck in a blanket instead - one made of synthetics - the consequences might have been much worse.  After all, fires are used for warmth and etc. in igloos, which are also made out of ice and snow.
Title: Re: Hotel made completely of ice told it needs to install fire alarms
Post by: Bigun on November 18, 2013, 07:43:41 pm
It sounds really stupid at first, but it ain't necessarily so.  I am quite certain that the guests bring with them lots and lots of blankets, sweaters, and other coverings, all of which are flammable, and some of which can produce toxic fumes.  If the smoker mentioned in the story had instead tried to hide his ciggie by dropping the still-lit butt onto the floor, and managed to get it stuck in a blanket instead - one made of synthetics - the consequences might have been much worse.  After all, fires are used for warmth and etc. in igloos, which are also made out of ice and snow.

It sounds really stupid at first until you realize that those doing the installing will be union thugs!
Title: Re: Hotel made completely of ice told it needs to install fire alarms
Post by: andy58-in-nh on November 18, 2013, 07:48:35 pm
It sounds really stupid at first until you realize that those doing the installing will be union thugs!

If this had happened in the U.S., the EPA would have forced them to install a sprinkler system.
Title: Re: Hotel made completely of ice told it needs to install fire alarms
Post by: Oceander on November 18, 2013, 07:53:05 pm
If this had happened in the U.S., the EPA would have forced them to install a sprinkler system.

:bigsilly:
Title: Re: Hotel made completely of ice told it needs to install fire alarms
Post by: rangerrebew on November 19, 2013, 02:13:03 pm
I wonder if the escape doors open in or out?  OSHA requires they open out but I'm not sure what the law would be in this case.  Also, are door handles heated so skin doesn't stick to them?  This requires all new thinking. :whistle: