The Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) Regulations 1989

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for fire precautions to be taken in certain underground and low level railway stations used by members of the public. The railway stations to which the Regulations apply are described in regulation 3 by reference to the station having a railway platform which is wholly or mainly enclosed in a tunnel or building at a level below ground level.

Regulation 4 specifies the precautions to be taken in the station premises in relation to the means of escape from the premises in case of fire. It imposes requirements as to keeping the premises free from obstruction and clear of combustible refuse, opening doors and barriers in case of fire, marking exits and providing adequate lighting. Regulation 5 requires the premises to be provided with means for fighting fire, including a water sprinkler system for every escalator and travolator and an automatic system for fighting fire in other parts of the premises where there is a risk of fire. Provision is also made for the fire brigade to be called in the event of fire in the premises and for facilitating fire fighting by the fire brigade. Regulation 6 requires the premises to be provided with means for detecting fire and for giving warning in case of fire, including heat detectors in escalators and travolators, smoke detectors in escalator and travolator machine rooms, an automatic system for detecting fire in other parts of the premises where there is a risk of fire, a fire alarm system and a public address system. Regulation 7 requires some parts of the premises, such as machine rooms and storage areas, to be separated from other parts of the premises by fire-resisting construction. Regulation 8 prescribes certain qualities of resistance to fire for materials used in or on internal walls and ceilings in the premises and for materials of which specified parts of escalators and travolators are constructed. Regulation 9 provides for persons working in the premises to receive instruction in fire precautions and for fire drills to be held there. Regulation 10 makes provision for additional precautions to be taken in the premises relating to the preparation of a plan for action in a fire emergency, the prevention of smoking, the supervision of construction and maintenance work and the attendance of staff. Regulation 11 requires records to be kept of maintenance work done on certain fire doors, fire-fighting equipment and fire alarm systems, and of the instruction given and fire drills held in the premises.

Under regulation 12 a fire authority may grant exemption from specified provisions of the Regulations and may impose conditions on the grant of an exemption. Subject to any such exemption, regulation 13 makes the occupier of the station premises responsible for any contravention of the requirements imposed and makes it an offence for him to contravene the relevant provisions of the Regulations. Regulation 13 also provides for some requirements to be treated as satisfied in station premises in Scotland by compliance with provisions of the building standards regulations which, unlike building regulations in England and Wales, apply to station premises.

The Regulations come into force generally on 18th September 1989 but some provisions of regulations 5, 6, 7 and 8 come into force on the later dates specified in regulation 1(3).

Copies of the British Standards referred to in regulation 8(4) may be obtained from any of the sales outlets of the British Standards Institution or by post from the British Standards Institution, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes MK14 6LE.