Fire Services Act, 1981

PART III

Fire Fighting and Fire Safety

General obligations with regard to fire safety.

18.—(1) This section applies to premises or any part thereof put to any of the following uses—

(a) use as, or for any purpose involving the provision of, sleeping accommodation, excluding premises consisting of a dwelling house occupied as a single dwelling;

(b) use as, or as part of, an institution providing treatment or care;

(c) use for purposes of entertainment, recreation or instruction or for the purpose of any club, society or association;

(d) use for purposes of teaching, training or research;

(e) use for any purpose involving access to the premises by members of the public, whether on payment or otherwise; and

(f) use for any other prescribed purpose, but excluding—

(i) premises used as a factory within the meaning of the Safety in Industry Acts, 1955 and 1980;

(ii) premises used as a store and subject to licensing under regulations made under the Dangerous Substances Act, 1972 ;

(iii) a magazine, store or registered premises within the meaning of the Explosives Act, 1875 ; and

(iv) an oil jetty within the meaning of regulations under the Dangerous Substances Act, 1972 .

(2) It shall be the duty of every person having control over premises to which this section applies to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on such premises, and to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire.

(3) It shall be the duty of every person, being on premises to which this section applies, to conduct himself in such a way as to ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable any person on the premises is not exposed to danger from fire as a consequence of any act or omission of his.

(4) A fire authority may give advice in relation to fire safety to the owner or occupier of any premises or to any person having control over any premises.