Fire Certificates - Shops
Please note that this service is not available from Stafford Borough Council.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue - www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk
Fire Safety
Virtually all places of work will fall within the scope of Fire Safety Legislation. Namely, these are The Fire Precautions (Workplace Regulations) 1997 (as Amended) or The Fire Precautions Act 1971.
| Service ID: | 807 |
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| email: | Not applicable |
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| fax: | Not applicable |
| complaints: | Not applicable |
Basically, larger premises will be covered by the Fire Precautions Act and the 'Workplace Regulations'. In the case of smaller premises, they have to comply with the requirements of the 'Workplace Regulations'
The Criteria is detailed below.
Who should apply?
An Application for a fire certificate is required under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 as amended by the Fire Safety and Safety at Places of Sport Act 1987 in respect of any premises which are put to a use designated by Order made by the Secretary of State under section 1 of the Act. Orders have so far been made relating to hotels and boarding houses, factories, offices, shops and railway premises.
Factories, Offices, Shops and Railway Premises
An application for a fire certificate is required for any premises used as factory, office, shop or railway premises in which:
- more than 20 persons are at work at any one time; or
- more than 10 persons are at work elsewhere than on the ground floor.
Additionally a fire certificate is required if a building contains 2 or more premises of this kind and the aggregate of persons at work in all these premises in the building exceeds 20 or the aggregate number at work elsewhere than on the ground floor in these premises exceeds 10.
Definition of Factory, Office, Shop and Railway Premises
The Designation Order defines these premises as places where people are employed to work by reference to the definitions contained in the Factories Act 1961 and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963, subject to the addition in the former of electrical stations and institutions and the exclusion in the latter of premises consisting of a covered market place where a market is held by virtue of a grant from the Crown or of prescription or under statutory authority wherein shop premises are aggregated. Railway premises (including structures) to which regulations made under section 12 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 apply are also excluded. If you are uncertain where your premises come within the definitions you should consult the fire authority for your area.
Who should complete the Application Form
The occupier of premises should complete the application form and send it to the fire authority (or in the case of Crown owned or occupied premises, to HM Inspector of Fire Services). If, however, the premises are factory, office, shop or railway premises and are held under a lease and consist of part of a building, all parts of which are in the same ownership, or consist of part of a building in which different parts are owned by different people, the Fire Precautions Act 1971, as modified, makes the owner(s) of the building responsible if the premises are used without a fire certificate being in force. Thus in such cases application should be made on behalf of the owner(s) of the building and the occupier(s) must supply information as appropriate to the owner(s). The occupiers of such premises are advised to check that a fire certificate is in force or that an application has been made for one.