The regulations, which came into force on 6 April, require sprinkler systems to be installed in traditional buildings converted for hotel use. The changes follow a series of fatal hotel fires and represent one of the most significant updates to hotel fire safety requirements in Scotland in recent years.

While the new rules have been welcomed by many as a positive development, fire safety advocates have questioned why the requirements apply only to converted historic hotels and not to all hotel accommodation. They argue that the legislation has highlighted a broader issue, with no general requirement for sprinkler systems in many modern, purpose-built hotels.

The regulatory changes stem from recommendations made following the fatal fire at Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomond in 2017. The incident claimed two lives and prompted a major review of hotel fire safety standards in Scotland. Investigations into the tragedy exposed weaknesses in fire protection arrangements and led to calls for stronger fire suppression measures in buildings used to accommodate sleeping guests.

Attention has now turned to evidence suggesting that fire risks are not limited to historic buildings.

Analysis commissioned by the Scottish Government as part of its review of sprinkler requirements found that hotels constructed using non-traditional building methods experienced a higher frequency of fire incidents and greater levels of physical fire damage than traditional converted properties during the period studied.

The findings have led to questions over whether future fire safety reforms should consider a wider range of hotel types rather than focusing solely on historic conversions.

The debate comes amid ongoing concerns about hotel fires across Great Britain. Industry figures indicate that more than 400 hotel fires are recorded annually, equating to more than one fire every day across a hotel stock of around 9,500 properties.

Supporters of wider sprinkler adoption maintain that while the latest regulations address a specific area of risk, they do not fully resolve concerns about fire protection standards throughout the hospitality sector.

The issue has remained under scrutiny following the fatal fire at the New County Hotel in Perth in 2023, which claimed three lives and renewed attention on fire safety arrangements within hotels.

Industry campaigners have described the introduction of mandatory sprinklers in historic hotel conversions as an important step forward but continue to argue that the evidence supporting sprinkler protection should be examined across all forms of hotel accommodation.

As the regulations begin to take effect, attention is expected to focus on whether policymakers will consider further reforms aimed at expanding sprinkler requirements beyond traditional buildings.

The debate is likely to continue as fire safety professionals, hotel operators and government officials assess both the impact of the new regulations and their wider implications for guest safety across Scotland’s hospitality sector.

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