The fire authorities in Shanghai denied certification for China’s first capsule hotel, refusing to issue a license due to fire and personal safety concerns.
The fire department said Xitai Capsule Hotel, which is located near the city’s railway station, was found to have used flammable materials during construction.
Furthermore, the average space for each guest, 2.4 square meters, did not meet the city’s basic requirement for renting houses and may pose difficulties for emergency evacuation.
China.org.cn reports that the 300-square-meter hotel consists of 68 capsules. Each capsule costs a basic RMB28 (US$4.25). None have ever been used.