The ice hotel that needs a fire alarm

The ICEHOTEL in Swedish Lapland has revealed it needs to install fire alarms to comply with local building regulations

It may sound like a far-fetched April Fool’s Day joke: the hotel constructed almost entirely of ice that requires fire alarms. But for a hotel rebuilt every winter in northern Sweden using only frozen water, it is absolutely true.

The ICEHOTEL, located in the small Arctic town of Jukkasjaervi, has announced that it would install fire alarms this year. It says it is following a request by the authorities to guarantee the safety of its guests. “We have to apply for building permits every year,” said Beatrice Karlsson, a spokeswoman for the hotel. “When the rules change, we need to adapt to the new rules obviously. We were a little surprised at first, but the reason is that there are things that can actually catch fire, like pillows, sleeping bags or reindeer skins.To us the most important concern is the safety of our clients, so we will comply," she added. “When we explain to people, I think it makes sense.”

The hotel will open from December 6 to April 13, with prices ranging from 1,900 kronor (£178) for a single room to 7,500 kronor (£850) for the most expensive suite. Tourists come from all over the world to sleep on an ice bed in temperatures as low as -8C (18 degrees Fahrenheit).

         This year will be the ICEHOTEL’s 24th incarnation, and includes work from a range of designers from Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, and Brazil. The alarms, which were installed and tested last winter with the local fire department, have made construction of the hotel, even more of a challenge. "The environment is humid, and ice and snow... move, so [that] had to be taken into account," Karlsson said.

As for the fire alarms, Karlsson said there had been “no incidents so far.” “It went off once, but when the supervisor came down it turned out it was just one of our guests who’d snuck off to the cleaning closet and had a cigarette.”

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Once they get a permit, they don’t need any more permits.

b. The rules about safety have changed recently.

c. The first hotel was built 24 years ago.

d. They have never had alarms before.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What kind of hotel is it? What kind of guests stay in it?

b. Why are they going to install fire alarms?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. improbable (par.2)                  b  to. request (par.3)                              c. to be obedient (par.3)

d. series (par. 5)                        e. to result (par.6)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. “We were a little surprised at first, but the reason is that there are things that can catch fire.”

Beatrice said  _______________________________________

b. The ICEHOTEL will install fire alarms because the local building regulations require them.

If _________________________________________________

c. It is following a request by the authorities to guarantee the safety of its clients.

It is following a request by the authorities so that  _______________________________

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

What kind of accommodation do you prefer when you travel? Give reasons