FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACES) REGULATIONS

FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACES) REGULATIONS

FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (FIRE PRECAUTIONS

IN NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACES) REGULATIONS

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

Regulation.................................. Page

1.........Citation .......................... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... v 2
2.........Interpretation .................... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... V 2
3.........Application ....................... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... v 2
4.........Doors ... . ...................... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... It' 2

5..................Maintenance of fire escapes ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... v 3

6...........Fire fighting ................ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... V 3

7.........Smoking . . ...................... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... V3

Alterations and additions .............. 1 . ... ... ... ... ... It' 4

9. Storage of inflammable substances ... .. 1 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... V
4

10............Sources of ignition ........... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... V 5

11...................Prevention of escape of vapours ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... v 5

12............Naked flame . ................. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. V 5

13............................Power to require safety precautions. etc. .1. 11. 1 ... ... ... ... ... v 5

14. Offences.......................... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... V 6





FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (FIRE
PRECAUTIONS IN NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACES)
REGULATIONS

(Cap. 59. section 7)

10 July 198 1.1

1. These regulations may be cited as the Factories and Industrial
Undertakings (Fire Precautions in Notifiable Workplaces) Regulations.

2. In these regulations unless the context otherwise requires

'Building Authority' means the Building Authority as defined in
section 2(1) of the Buildings Ordinance;

'inflammable substance- means any substance specified in Category 5
of the Schedule to the Dangerous Goods (Classification)
Regulations.

3. These regulations apply to every notifiable workplace.

4. (1) Every door leading out of a notifiable workplace shall

(a)be maintained in such condition that it can be readily opened
and closed at any time.,

(b) if it is a sliding door--

(i) be so designed as to be self-closing. by its own weight
or otherwise., or

(ii) be connected to a counterweight by means of a fusible
link which shall fuse at a temperature of not more than 68 C
thereby disconnecting the counterweight from the door so
that the door will close;

(c)if it is not a sliding door. be kept closed by means of a self-
closing mechanism which shall at all times be fully operational
and maintained in good working order;

(d)if it is made of metal, be of solid steel with an overall
thickness of not less than 3 mm; and

(c) if it is made of materials other than metal-

(i) conform to the standards laid down in Tables F and G of
the Third Schedule to the Building (Construction)
Regulations. or

(ii) be in accordance with the specifications shown in the
plan approved by the Building Authority under section 14(1)
of the Buildings Ordinance.





(2) Every door in a notifiable workplace, other than a sliding
door, shall be constructed to open outwards and shall not when
open reduce the effective width of any means of escape-

(a)from the workplace, if the door is a door leading out of the
workplace. or

(b)if the door is a door of a room in the workplace being a
room in which more than 10 persons are employed, from
the room.

(3) While any person employed in a notifiable workplace is
within the workplace, whether such person is working or not, the
doors, gates and shutters leading out of the workplace and the doors
of every room in the workplace in which any such person is. shall not
be locked or fastened in such a manner that they cannot be easily
and immediately opened from the inside.

(4) [Deleted, L.N. 2101851

5. (1) The proprietor of every notifiable workplace shall
maintain in good condition and free from obstruction every door-
way, stairway and passageway within the workplace which affords a
means of escape from the workplace in case of fire.

(2) No person shall wilfully alter, damage, obstruct or other-
wise impair any such doorway, stairway or passageway.

6. (1) The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require
the proprietor of any notifiable workplace to provide and maintain
at that workplace, in addition to any fire service installation or
equipment already in that workplace, means for fighting fire appro-
priate to the size, type and nature of the undertaking being carried
on, which shall be so placed as to be readily available for use.

(2) The notice given tinder this regulation shall specify in
detail the means for fighting fire to be provided and maintained, and
the time within which the notice is to be complied with.

(3) The proprietor of a notifiable workplace shall, on being
served with a notice under this regulation, comply with the notice.

(4) No person shall wilfully alter, damage, obstruct or other-
wise impair any means for fighting fire provided in accordance with
this regulation.

(5) In this regulation 'maintain' means maintain in an
efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

7. (1) An inspector may, by notice in writing, prohibit
smoking in any notifiable workplace, or in any part thereof, where
any inflammable substance or any other substance or article which
in his opinion involves danger from fire is present for the purposes of





or in connexion with, any industrial process or operation. and the
circumstances are such that smoking would give rise to a serious risk of
fire.

(2) No person shall smoke in any part of a notifiable workplace in
which smoking is prohibited under paragraph (1).

(3) The proprietor of a notifiable workplace in which smoking is
prohibited under paragraph (1) shall take all reasonable practicable steps
to ensure compliance with the prohibition and shall display in prominent
positions within the workplace sufficient number of notices bearing the
words and characters 'NO SMOKING in letters and characters not less
than 180 millimetres high.

(4) All notices displayed in accordance with paragraph (3) shall be
maintained in good condition by the proprietor.

8. (1) The proprietor of a notifiable workplace shall not carry out or
cause or permit to be carried out or suffer the continuance of any
alteration or addition to a notifiable workplace as it is shown on the
plans of the building approved by the Building Authority under Part 11
of the Buildings Ordinance

(a) that may create a serious risk of-
(i) the outbreak of fire;
(ii) the spread of fire, or
(iii) the spread of smoke from any fire; or

(b)that may obstruct free passageway to a means of escape from
the workplace in case of fire.

(2) [Deleted, L.N. 210185]

9. (1) The proprietor of a notifiable workplace in which any
inflammable substance is present for the purpose of. or in connexion
with, any industrial process or operation shall ensure that--

(a)subject to sub-paragraph (b), the inflammable substance is
stored in suitable closed containers and that the containers
are kept in a storeroom which is approved for that purpose by
the Director of Fire Services,

(b)in the case of any room in the workplace where the aggregate
quantity of inflammable substance stored does not exceed 35
litres, the inflammable substance is stored in suitable closed
containers and that the containers are kept in a cupboard or
bin constructed of suitable material. The cupboard or bin shall
be situated in a position where it is least likely that the
inflammable substance will catch fire.





(2) Every container. storeroom, cupboard and bin used for storing
an inflammable substance shall be clearly and boldly marked
'Inflammable Substance This requirement shall not apply to

(a)any suitable small closed container containing not more than
500 millilitres of inflammable substance; or

(b)any aerosol dispenser in which the amount of inflammable
substance contained is not in excess of either 45 per cent by
weight of the total contents or 250 grammes in weight.

(3) This regulation is in addition to and not in derogation of the
Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations.

10. (1) No naked flame or other means likely to Ignite vapour from
any inflammable substance shall be present in any notifiable workplace
where a dangerous concentration of vapours from an inflammable
substance may reasonably be expected to be present.

(2) In any notifiable workplace where a dangerous concentration of
vapours from any inflammable substance may reasonably be expected
to be present. all cotton waste and other material in the workplace which

(a)has been used in such a manner as to render it liable to
spontaneous combustion; or

(b) is contaminated with any inflammable substance,

shall be deposited as soon as is reasonably practicable in a metal
container having a self-closing lid or be removed without delay to a safe
place.

11. Where any inflammable substance is present in any notifiable
workplace steps shall be taken to prevent so far as is reasonably
practicable the escape of vapours from any such inflammable substance
into the general atmosphere of the workplace.

12. Without prejudice to regulation 10(1), in every notifiable
workplace where any naked flame, burner or furnace is used, adequate
precautions shall be taken to prevent the accidental ignition of any
combustible material.

13. (1) The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require--

(a)that any notifiable workplace shall be provided with such
means of escape therefrom in the case of fire as may he
specified in the notice;

(b)that in any notifiable workplace, such measures as may be
specified in the notice shall be taken to reduce the risk of





(i) the outbreak of fire; (ii) the spread of
fire; or (iii) the spread of smoke from any
fire;

(c)that in any notifiable workplace, illuminated notices bearing
the words and characters ' EXIT ', in letters and
characters not less than 180 millimetres high, shall be
provided and maintained in good condition at each exit from
the workplace.

(2) Every notice given under this regulation shall specify in detail
the requirements of the Commissioner, and the time within which the
notice is to be complied with.

(3) The proprietor of a notifiable workplace shall, on being served
with a notice under this regulation, comply with the notice.

14. (1) The proprietor of any notifiable workplace who
contravenes regulation 5(1), 6(3), 7(3), 8(1), 9(1) or 13(3) commits an
offence and is liable to fine of $30,000.

(2) Where in respect of any notifiable workplace regulation 4, 9(2)
10(1) or (2), 11 or 12 is contravened, the proprietor of the notifiable
workplace commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $30,000.

(3) Any person who contravenes regulation 5(2), 6(4) or 7(2) and
any proprietor of a notifiable workplace who contravenes regulation
7(4) commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $10.000.
L.N. 214/81. L.N. 210/85. 50 of 1985. Citation. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Interpretation. L.N. 210/85. (Cap. 123.) (Cap. 295, sub. leg.) Application. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Doors. 50 of 1985, s. 9. L.N. 210/85. L.N. 210/85. (Cap. 123, sub. leg.) (Cap. 123.) L.N. 210/85. Maintenance of fire escapes. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Fire fighting. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Smoking. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Alterations and additions. L.N. 210/85. 50 of 1985, s. 9. (Cap. 123.) Storage of inflammable substances. 50 of 1985, s. 9. (Cap. 295, sub. leg.) Sources of ignition. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Prevention of escape of vapours. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Naked flame. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Power to require safety precautions, etc. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Offences. 50 of 1985, s. 9.

L.N. 214/81. L.N. 210/85. 50 of 1985. Citation. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Interpretation. L.N. 210/85. (Cap. 123.) (Cap. 295, sub. leg.) Application. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Doors. 50 of 1985, s. 9. L.N. 210/85. L.N. 210/85. (Cap. 123, sub. leg.) (Cap. 123.) L.N. 210/85. Maintenance of fire escapes. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Fire fighting. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Smoking. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Alterations and additions. L.N. 210/85. 50 of 1985, s. 9. (Cap. 123.) Storage of inflammable substances. 50 of 1985, s. 9. (Cap. 295, sub. leg.) Sources of ignition. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Prevention of escape of vapours. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Naked flame. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Power to require safety precautions, etc. 50 of 1985, s. 9. Offences. 50 of 1985, s. 9.

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