If you run an on-site laundry room within your Florida hotel, then you’ll need to make sure you are fully aware of the high-risk nature of this type of operation. Heat, lint, and chemical use all increase your risk of a fire within your hotel laundry room and could result in a disaster that ceases operations or greatly impacts your hotel business. Consider what you need to know about preventing fires in Florida hotel laundry rooms.
Recent Fires in Florida Hotel Laundry Rooms
In recent years, terrible fires have occurred in Florida hotel laundry rooms. On January 17, 2025, a fire broke out in a second-floor laundry room at the Imperial Swan Hotel in Lakeland, Florida. The hotel had several fire code violations, including damaged fireproofing, missing ceiling tiles, and a hood suppression system that was overdue for inspection, so a Florida state fire marshal is investigating the incident. To top things off, the fire displaced Hurricane Milton refugees staying here.
Another incident occurred at the RIU Florida Beach Hotel in Miami Beach, damaging walls, flooring, and several rooms and requiring a complete evacuation. In February 2021, the Aloft Tampa Midtown also had a laundry room fire, fortunately, isolated by the sprinkler system.
Common Causes of Fires in Hotel Laundry Rooms
Lint Build-up
Lint accumulates in dryers and duct work in any laundry room. This accumulation becomes more of a risk, especially when dealing with high volumes of laundry in a Florida hotel. Lint is a highly flammable material and poses a fire hazard for anyone operating a laundry room when it’s not cleared out regularly.
Overheated Equipment
With so much equipment in a hotel laundry room, you must do your best to avoid malfunctioning or overloaded dryers. A lack of proper maintenance often leads to overheating. Schedule regular maintenance checks to avoid issues with your equipment.
Spontaneous Combustion of Laundry
When operating a hotel laundry room, there’s always a risk of oils, grease, and cleaning chemicals in linens. Improper washing and drying can lead to spontaneous combustion, igniting a fire that can quickly spread through your laundry room.
Electrical Issues
Faulty wiring and overloaded circuits are common causes of electrical issues in laundry rooms. To avoid electrical issues, conduct regular inspections to detect them before they become a potential fire risk.
Improper Storage of Flammable Materials
All chemicals and solvents used in laundry must always be stored properly. Chemicals and solvents that can ignite can easily be exposed to flames, so follow safe storage practices to prevent fires.
Fire Prevention Strategies for Hotel Laundry Rooms
Regular Cleaning and Maintenance
The number one way to prevent fires in hotel laundry rooms is to clean the room and maintain your equipment regularly. Paying more attention to this area of your operation will reduce many of the risks we’ve shared above and decrease the chances of a fire breaking out in your hotel.
Cleaning Lint Traps and Exhaust Vents
When lint builds up in your dryers, it can ignite from the heat. To prevent lint build-up, clean your lint traps and exhaust vents regularly. As one of the leading causes of fires in laundry rooms, this should become second nature to your employees.
Routine Inspections of Dryers and Electrical Systems
Even if you are confident in running your hotel laundry room, you should conduct a professional inspection of your dryers and electrical systems. Clinicians and someone more familiar with the technical aspects of your equipment will be able to identify any potential issues ahead of time. Replace any faulty parts immediately to reduce the risk of a fire.
Safe Handling of Linens and Chemicals
Linens and chemicals must be handled properly to prevent spillages and incidents that could cause a fire. This handling accompanies training your employees and should be one of the first things discussed in any company induction. You’ll also want to follow proper storage procedures and store cleaning agents away from heat sources. All linens should be adequately washed with oils or chemicals, so review your current practices for potential hazards.
Fire Suppression Systems
Installing sprinklers and fire extinguishers will provide the necessary systems should a fire break out in your hotel laundry room. Without these systems, a fire can quickly spread through the laundry room and into other areas of your hotel. Sprinklers should automatically activate when smoke and fire are detected. Train your team to use fire extinguishers properly so they feel confident using one in an emergency.
Employee Training and Emergency Preparedness
While you must take every precaution possible to maintain your laundry rooms, training your employees on emergency preparedness is also critical to help prevent the outbreak and spread of a fire in your hotel. You want to ensure your team feels confident about how to react should a fire break out. This confidence should be part of their initial induction when starting with your company. Then, you need to schedule regular training sessions to keep their knowledge up to date and share new company practices.
The risk of a fire in a hotel’s on-premise laundry (OPL) room is one of many reasons hotels should consider outsourcing their laundry. Removing your in-house laundry room from your Florida hotel can reduce the fire risk and save your business time and money. Our team will support you in making your hotel a safer place to work and stay. Consider outsourcing hotel laundry to Nexa Laundry and see all of the benefits of our services for yourself. Contact us today for more information about our services or to discuss any questions you have about how we can support your Florida hotel. Nexa Laundry serves top-rated hotels across the Florida Gulf Coast including popular tourist destinations, such as Tampa, Clearwater Beach, Madeira Beach, and St. Pete Beach.