Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987

26 Safety certificates for stands at sports grounds. E+W+S

(1) This Part applies in relation to a sports ground which—

(a) provides covered accommodation in stands for spectators, and

(b) is not a designated sports ground.

(2) A certificate under this Part (referred to as a “safety certificate”) is required in respect of the use, at a sports ground in relation to which this Part applies, of each stand which provides covered accommodation for 500 or more spectators to view activities at the ground; but one certificate may be issued in respect of several such stands.

(3) The Secretary of State may by order amend subsection (2) above by substituting a smaller number for the number for the time being specified in it.

(4) The power to make an order under subsection (3) above is exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(5) A stand in respect of the use of which a safety certificate under this Part is required is referred to in this Part as a “regulated stand”.

(6) It shall be the function of the local authority to determine whether any, and if so, which of the stands at a sports ground in their area is a regulated stand, and to issue safety certificates.

(7) In determining whether any stand at a sports ground in their area is a regulated stand the local authority may apply any criteria which are appropriate for that purpose.

(8) In discharging their function of determination as respects the stands at sports grounds in their areas, local authorities shall act in accordance with such guidance as the Secretary of State may give them.

(9) A final determination of a local authority that a stand at a sports ground is a regulated stand shall be conclusive of the question subject only to an appeal under section 30 below.

(10) A safety certificate in respect of the use of a regulated stand at a sports ground may be either—

(a) a certificate in respect of the use of the stand for viewing an activity or a number of activities specified in the certificate during an indefinite period commencing with a date so specified; or

(b) a certificate in respect of the use of the stand for viewing an activity or a number of activities specified in the certificate on an occasion or series of occasions so specified;

and any reference in this Part to a safety certificate’s being “for” a stand is a reference to its covering the use of the stand for viewing an activity or activities during an indefinite period or, as the case may be, on an occasion or occasions.

(11) In this Part—

• “final”, in relation to a determination, is to be construed in accordance with section 28 below;

• “general safety certificate” means such a safety certificate for a stand as is mentioned in subsection (10)(a) above;

• “special safety certificate” means such a safety certificate for a stand as is mentioned in subsection (10)(b) above; and

• “stand”, in relation to a sports ground, means an artificial structure (not merely temporary) which provides accommodation for spectators and is wholly or partly covered by a roof, and, in relation to the number of spectators in a stand provided with covered accommodation, “covered” means covered by the roof or other part of the structure which constitutes the stand.