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Underground station fire safety regulations

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT News Release (074) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 31 March 2009

Fire safety regulations for sub-surface and underground railway stations have been published today.

The regulations maintain the existing standard of safety required brought in following the Kings Cross tragedy in 1987 while the accompanying guidance makes the requirements clearer, easier to understand and enforce.

There are sub-surface and underground railways in four areas: London, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne and Birmingham.

Sub-surface railway stations are those with at least one enclosed platform partially under a building or within a tunnel.

New fire safety regulations for all business premises were brought in 2005 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (FSO) but the Government agreed to give further consideration to the sub-surface railway regulations. The FSO means that there is already a person responsible for fire safety at every station. Today's publication recognises that a level of prescription is still required for sub-surface railway stations and include:

* Fire safety training for staff must take place at least once in every period of seven months;
* A minimum of two staff on the station at any one time;
* A plan of the station to be available to the Fire and Rescue Service.

The Regulations and detailed guidance published today by Communities and Local Government are the result of extensive consultation and partnership with the union RMT, Transport for London, Disabled Persons Passenger Advisory Committee, London Fire Brigade, Network Rail and other bodies involved in underground railways in England.

Fire Minister Sadiq Khan said:

"I welcome the positive and constructive working relationship we have had with the RMT and other key stakeholders on this important piece of work which simplifies and modernises the Regulations and recognises the importance of fire safety on underground railway stations."

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary said:

"RMT members who campaigned long and hard to retain the 1989 sub-surface fire-safety regulations will be delighted that their key provisions will remain in place.

"The King's Cross Fire stands as a constant reminder of the need for the best possible safety regime, and it is fitting that after a rigorous process we have reached a regulatory framework that will maintain the essential standards put in place after the tragedy."

The regulations come into force on 1 October 2009 after a six month transition period.

Notes to editors

1. The new regulations and guidance are published on: http://www.communities/gov.uk/fire

2. Fire Safety regulations for all commercial premises were reviewed and came into force the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order in October 2007. However, during the preparatory work, in 2004/5 the Parliamentary Select Committee on Regulatory Reform considered that the draft Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order should be amended to allow the Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) Regulations 1989 to remain in force.

The 1989 Regulations were brought in as a result of the Fennell Report into the tragic Kings Cross Underground Station fire in 1987. The then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister agreed to retain these Regulations until it published detailed guidance and conducted a review and consultation with all partners. The purpose of the review was to ensure that the same level of fire safety was maintained.

The Government has taken this opportunity to modernise and simplify the drafting of the regulations where appropriate, without altering the level of fire safety at sub-surface railway stations.

The Department has now published detailed guidance to accompany the Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway stations) (England) Regulations 2009. The guidance has been written by technical experts and was overseen by a working group drawn from key stakeholder groups. The partnership was further extended by providing the wider group of stakeholders a chance to peer review the guidance in draft. To assist those affected by the change in the Regulations, there will be a six month transition period until the 2009 Regulations come into force on 1 October 2009.

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