Casino operators love a refresh. New carpet, a sleeker bar, a sportsbook lounge where a bank of old slots used to sit, maybe an esports space aimed at younger visitors. Such upgrades ensure the competitiveness of a property, and there are plenty of hotels undertaking them today. Unfortunately, no one wants to close their doors during that time.
It becomes problematic to provide proper fire protection in a building under construction, with guests still being inside. This is because walls will need to be relocated, ceilings removed, and piping for the sprinkler system re-routed. Every step described will disable a part of the protection system, while at the same time, the building remains operational. It is expected from the authorities that a casino gaming fire watch will be provided wherever fire protection has been disabled.
Below is how a standard project usually proceeds.
Table of Contents
Phase 1: Planning and Permits
Long before any hammers fall, drawings are provided by the design team and reviewed by the fire marshal. Now is the time for tough questions. What sprinkler zones will be affected? For how long? Are alarm devices going to be isolated? Is access to exit routes going to change?
The astute project manager develops the impairment calendar right here, a straightforward list of when each zone goes down. The impairment calendar forms the foundation for planning interim coverage.
Watch for: Overlapping impairments. Two zones down at once in neighbouring areas can create a much bigger gap than either alone.
Phase 2: Demolition
Cut out old fixtures, partitions and ceiling tiles. Dust travels fast. Tools used for cutting create sparks. Sprinklers may be capped or dismantled.
Watch for: Hot work close to combustible coatings, dust preventing smoke detectors from working, and barriers that block the view of risks. Detectors in dusty zones are often covered to prevent false alarms, which leaves those spots blind until the covers come off.
Phase 3: Rough-In
Pipes, conduit and ductwork go up. This is where sprinkler piping gets modified, and where valves close for hours or days at a time.
Patrol staff on interim duty spend a lot of time here, since impairments peak during this stretch. They inspect the partially constructed area and make sure the temporary power cables are safeguarded, and debris from construction is not blocking the exits.
Watch for: Open ceilings with wires exposed, material storage in hallways and fire doors obstructed.
Phase 4: Finishes
Drywall, painting and installation of other finishings take place in this phase. A lot of adhesive, solvents and paint thinner, as well as cardboard and packing materials, will be around. Any individual assigned to casino gaming fire watch setting will pay more attention to storage areas in this phase.
Watch for: Flammable liquids stored without cabinets, rags stored in piles and heaters/lights positioned near material storage.
Phase 5: Testing and Turnover
Sprinklers are reconnected, flushed and tested. Alarm devices come back online. Inspectors walk the space and sign off.
Watch for: Ending interim coverage before the final test is complete. A system isn’t truly back until the inspector says so and the paperwork backs it up.
Keeping Guests Safe During Construction
The guest is the X factor, because they roam about close to the barrier, look behind curtains, and even disregard the signs. Certain ways of doing it help:
- Make sure that barriers built are sturdy and fire-rated, not those that are easily collapsible.
- Signage should be done in such a way that the escape routes are not hidden from view.
- Ensure that no false alarms are triggered because of noise and dust generated.
- Give a briefing to the floor team every day regarding changes made.
- Take a walk on the complete path from the slot floor to the exit point before every shift begins.
What the Fire Marshal Usually Asks
Certain standard questions have to be answered by experienced operators:
- What are the affected areas and the period?
- Who is conducting the interim inspection, and how frequently is it?
- How is hot work controlled?
- Where do temporary barriers sit relative to exits?
- How is alarm monitoring being handled?
Having answers ready enables quick approvals and shows proficiency.
Records That Matter
There are documents galore produced at construction sites. From impairment logs, to patrol logs, to hot work permits, to test results, to minutes of meetings – they should all be in the same place. If you have an issue, then you can be sure that having everything in order will be your best bet at defence.
Closing Thoughts
Renovation can add value to a structure and extend its lifespan, but it will certainly not cover all the possible areas of concern if done without proper preparation. Fire safety must always remain a priority in any construction meeting discussion.