Smoke Detectors Act 1991

3 Guidance as to fitting of smoke detectors

(1) The Secretary of State may—

(a) approve and issue any document which, in his opinion, is suitable for the purpose of providing practical guidance with respect to the fitting of smoke detectors in accordance with the requirement mentioned in section 1(2) above; and

(b) from time to time approve and issue a revision of the whole or any part of an approved document.

(2) An approval under subsection (1) above takes effect on the date of issue of the document or revision concerned or on such date as may be specified in the document or revision.

(3) A failure on the part of any person to comply with an approved document does not of itself render him liable to any criminal proceedings; but in any proceedings for an offence under section 1 above—

(a) a failure to comply with an approved document may be relied on as tending to establish liability; and

(b) proof of compliance with such a document may be relied on as tending to negative liability.

(4) In any proceedings for an offence under section 1 above a document that appears to the court to be an approved document shall be taken to be such unless the contrary is proved.

(5) References in this section to an approved document are references to that document as it has effect for the time being, regard being had to any revision of the whole or any part of it that has been approved under subsection (1)(b) above.