WWYD- hotel fire alarm

[bluecloudme]

I’m staying in a hotel for two nights, last night and tonight. First floor room. Windows sealed shut which I loathe!

The fire alarm went off about an hour ago, so 4.20 am. I obviously got up immediately and went to the nearest fire exits. As I got to the door the alarm went off. The door wouldn’t open. I went back to my room. Lots of other guests were looking out to the corridor and they all went back to bed.

I can’t get back to sleep for worrying about the fire door not opening. What would happen if there was an actual fire?

Would I be unreasonable to leave and ask for a refund so that I can stay somewhere else tonight?

WWYD?

I would question them and if it’s not fixed yes I would ask for a refund.

Ask to see a manager.
Ask him to demonstrate how/or not the door opens. If he can’t open it, ask what he intends to do about it?
If you are not satisfied with his reaction, ask for a refund & check out.
In slower time speak to local Fire Authority & report it or at least, get their advice about reporting to the appropriate people.

I’d talk to them about why the fire door didn’t open first.

Was it a fire door that led to an outside fire escape, with a bar across the door that you push down (an emergency exit) or was it an internal fire door in a tower block, for example, that might lock if the fire risk is in that area, to direct you to go out another way? Not sure if the latter exists, but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.

If it’s the first and they’ve locked it, then it’s probably illegal and you would definitely not be unreasonable to ask for a refund. If the system was working as it should, then you would not be unreasonable to go elsewhere, but may not get a refund.

You're not in Gloucester are you? Stayed in a hotel there and fire alarm went off at 6am. Everyone went downstairs, no one around, it stopped and we all went back to bed. When I looked at hotel reviews apparently it was a regular occurrence.

You'll be very lucky to get a proper manager at this time of night but the night staff should be trained to show you how the door opens in the event of a fire.

In our hotel certain doors open and others close upon the fire alarm being pulled. Also our night staff are trained in this area so much better than the rest of us, I'm sure if you speak to them they'll help put your mind at rest.

Did any other door open? Did you see anyone else outside?

When you say the alarm
went off as you got to the door, do you mean it stopped?

If so the door could well be linked to the alarm and only open when the alarm is sounding?

Nope not Gloucester!

I don’t know if any other door opened.

Yes the alarm stopped just as I got to the door.

You may be correct but that would be equally alarming- what is there was a fire but the alarm didn’t work? People would be trapped.

Thanks for your responses! I will speak to the manager in the morning