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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