The Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) (England) Regulations 2009

A railway platform is an enclosed platform if the platform and the permanent way to which it is adjacent are situated wholly or mainly in a tunnel or wholly or mainly within or under any building.

A railway platform is an underground platform if the level of the roof or ceiling immediately above the platform and the permanent way to which it is adjacent is below the level of the surface of the ground adjacent to any exit from the railway station providing a means of escape from the station in case of fire.

A railway platform is situated mainly in a tunnel or mainly within or under a building if the platform and the permanent way to which it is adjacent are covered by any part of a tunnel or building for more than half the length of the platform.

These Regulations apply to premises owned or occupied by the Crown.

Paragraph (2) applies to any passage or other area affording a means of escape from station premises in case of fire or giving access to such a means of escape.

Every door which does not form part of, or give access to, the means of escape must be kept locked at all times when the part of the premises to which the door gives access is neither in use by any person who is at work in the premises nor available for use by members of the public.

The parts to which this paragraph applies must be provided with a means for fighting fire comprising a system which is activated automatically in that part of the premises in case of fire in that part.

When any member of staff reasonably suspects that there is an outbreak of fire in the premises, immediate steps must be taken to activate the warning system referred to in regulation 6(3) and call for the assistance of the fire and rescue authority.

A plan of the station premises suitable for use by fire-fighters when attending the premises for fire-fighting purposes must be kept in a part of the premises where it is accessible to fire-fighters.

In this Regulation “passenger conveyor” includes any mechanically operated moving footway other than an escalator.

The parts to which this paragraph applies must be provided with a means for detecting fire which is activated automatically in case of fire in that part.

The station premises must be provided with an electrically operated system for giving warning in case of fire.

The station premises must be provided with a public address system for use by or on behalf of the occupier of the premises to give warning of fire to members of the public in the premises and advise them of the action to be taken in case of fire.

Arrangements must be made to secure that in case of fire the station manager and any member of staff who is on duty in any part of the station premises can communicate with each other by personal radio or by telephone.

All parts of station premises must be kept clear of any accumulation of combustible refuse or other combustible matter.

Any area set aside for storing combustible refuse in station premises pending its disposal must be separated from other parts of the premises by fire-resisting construction.

Any material which is used in the construction of an internal wall or ceiling in any public area must be of limited combustibility.

Every member of staff must be given basic instruction as soon as reasonably practicable after beginning work in station premises.

Every member of staff must be given further basic instruction at least once in every period of seven months.

A fire drill must be held for members of staff not less than once in every period of six months for the purpose of providing them with training in the action to be taken in case of fire in the premises.

The attendance of members of staff at a fire drill must be so organised as to secure that not less than one third of the number of those persons at work in the station premises at any one time have attended a fire drill in the preceding six months.

Each fire drill in station premises must be held at a time when members of the public have access to the premises.

A record made under paragraph (7) above in relation to station premises must be kept in the premises for a period of not less than three years from the date on which it was made.

All practicable steps must be taken to supervise the carrying out by persons other than members of staff of any work of construction or maintenance in the premises which presents a risk to persons in case of fire.

The periods of duty of members of staff must be so arranged as to secure that not less than two of them are present on duty in the premises at all times when members of the public have access to the premises.

Paragraph (2) applies where a fire and rescue authority is satisfied in respect of any particular station premises that compliance with a requirement of any of the provisions of regulations 5(2), 6(2), 9(8) and 10(2) is inappropriate, unnecessary or not reasonably practicable.

Where this paragraph applies the fire and rescue authority may by notice in writing to the occupier of the premises grant exemption from compliance with the requirement to such extent as is reasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case and in particular to the risk in case of fire to persons in the premises.

A fire and rescue authority may grant an exemption under paragraph (2) subject to such conditions as may be specified in the notice granting the exemption.

A fire and rescue authority may by notice in writing to the occupier of the premises withdraw an exemption under paragraph (2) if the occupier fails to comply with any condition subject to which the exemption was granted.