Fire Safety Act · 2022 Revised Edition · Part · Preliminary
6. Power to enter premises for various purposes
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
The Director or any authorised officer on producing, if so required, an authenticated document showing his authority, shall have a right to enter any premises at all reasonable hours for the purpose of —
ascertaining whether there is or has been, on or in connection with the premises, any contravention of any of the provisions of this
Act;
obtaining information required for fire-fighting purposes with respect to the character of the premises, the availability of water supplies and the means of access thereto and other material circumstances relating to fire-fighting purposes;
Fire Safety
conducting fire-drills and exercises, provided prior reasonable notice in writing is given to the owner or occupier of such premises;
ascertaining whether there exists in the premises any fire hazard;
ascertaining whether or not any place of public assembly or premises used for purposes of entertainment or recreation are being used to accommodate a larger number of persons than is permitted under any regulations made under this Act;
checking and testing fire safety measures; and
performance by the Director of his powers under this or any other written law.
Subject to subsection (3), the Director or any authorised officer under subsection (1) shall not exercise the right of entry conferred by subsection (1) unless 24 hours’ notice in writing of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.
authorised officer
“authorised officer” means any person appointed as such under section 4;
Subsection (2) does not apply in respect of any entry into a place of public entertainment or public assembly, factory, workshop or workplace or premises otherwise used for business purposes.
place
“place” includes houses, yards and open spaces appurtenant thereto, buildings and footways and any underground space;
Terms defined in this Act
authorised officer
Defined · s 2“authorised officer” means any person appointed as such under section 4;
fire hazard
Defined · s 2“fire hazard” means any matter or circumstance which materially increases the likelihood of fire or the danger to life or property that would result from the outbreak of fire and includes — (a) any alteration to any building in contravention of any written law relating to building works or fire safety works such as might render escape in the event of fire more difficult; (b) the overcrowding of any public building or any building used occasionally or regularly for public worship or religious ceremonies such as might render escape in the event of fire more difficult; (c) any removal from any building of any fire safety measure which was provided in such building in accordance with plans approved by the Director under section 26; (d) the presence in any building of any fire safety measure which from lack of proper maintenance or for any other reason is not in efficient working order; (e) the obstruction of escape routes, passageways, common property or limited common property of any building such as might render escape in the event of fire more difficult; and (f) any other matter or circumstance which would materially hamper the Force in the discharge of its duties in the event of fire;
fire safety measures
Defined · s 2“fire safety measures” includes any installation, equipment or works manufactured, used or designed to be used for the purposes of — (a) extinguishing, attacking, preventing or limiting a fire and controlling the spread of smoke resulting from the fire; (b) giving warning of a fire; (c) providing access to any premises or place for the purpose of extinguishing, attacking, preventing or limiting a fire; (d) providing means of escape; or (e) providing a means of communication to facilitate fire-fighting operations or the evacuation of persons in the event of fire;
occupier
Defined · s 2“occupier”, in relation to any premises, means the person in occupation of the premises or having the charge, management or control thereof and, in relation to any part of any premises different parts of which are occupied by different persons, means the person in occupation or having the charge, management or control of that part;
place
Defined · s 36“place” includes houses, yards and open spaces appurtenant thereto, buildings and footways and any underground space;
premises
Defined · s 2“premises” includes messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, easements and hereditaments of any tenure, whether open or enclosed, whether built or not, whether public or private, and whether or not maintained under statutory authority;
Part
Fire Hazard in Premises
Part
Fire Prevention in Buildings
Part
Control of Fire Safety Works
Part
Control of Petroleum and Flammable Materials
Part