You’re absolutely right, Lindsey. The code requirements for hotels offer extra protection to the building occupants because the people in them may be unfamiliar with the egress paths, you can’t control what other occupants of the hotel are doing (for example, smoking in bed), and people may not respond immediately to an alarm because they’re either sleeping or think it’s a false alarm.

Here are some stats from the NFPA: “U. S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 3,970 structure fires in hotels and motels in 2003-2007. These fires caused an annual average of 11 civilian deaths, 151 civilian fire injuries, and $63.3 million in direct property damage.” According to the NFPA, 1 out of every 12 hotels/motels reported a structure fire! If nothing else, I would think that a hotel like this one would want to compartmentalize the building to protect their property. Without operable fire doors, the smoke and flames would not be contained to one area and the property damage would increase exponentially.

Whenever I stay in a hotel with deficient fire doors, I notify the hotel. I’ll let you know what I hear back.