The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Fire-fighters' switches for luminous tube signs etc.

37.—(1) Subject to paragraph (11), this article applies to apparatus consisting of luminous tube signs designed to work at a voltage normally exceeding the prescribed voltage, or other equipment so designed, and references in this article to a cut-off switch are, in a case where a transformer is provided to raise the voltage to operate the apparatus, references to a cut-off switch on the low-voltage side of the transformer.

(2) In paragraph (1) the “prescribed voltage” means—

(a) 1000 volts AC or 1500 volts DC if measured between any two conductors; or

(b) 600 volts AC or 900 volts DC if measured between a conductor and earth.

(3) No apparatus to which this article applies is to be installed unless it is provided with a cut-off switch.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), the cut-off switch must be so placed, and coloured or marked as to satisfy such reasonable requirements as the fire and rescue authority may impose to secure that it must be readily recognisable by and accessible to fire-fighters.

(5) If a cut-off switch complies in position, colour and marking with the current regulations of the Institution of Electrical Engineers for a fire-fighter’s emergency switch(1), the fire and rescue authority may not impose any further requirements pursuant to paragraph (4).

(6) Not less than 42 days before work is begun to install apparatus to which this article applies, the responsible person must give notice to the fire and rescue authority showing where the cut-off switch is to be placed and how it is to be coloured or marked.

(7) Where notice has been given to the fire and rescue authority as required by paragraph (6), the proposed position, colouring or marking of the switch is deemed to satisfy the requirements of the fire authority unless, within 21 days from the date of the service of the notice, the fire and rescue authority has served on the responsible person a counter-notice stating that their requirements are not satisfied.

(8) Where apparatus to which this article applies has been installed in or on premises before the day on which this article comes into force, the responsible person must, not more than 21 days after that day, give notice to the fire and rescue authority stating whether the apparatus is already provided with a cut-off switch and, if so, where the switch is placed and how it is coloured or marked.

(9) Subject to paragraph (10), where apparatus to which this article applies has been installed in or on premises before the day on which this article comes into force, the fire and rescue authority may serve on the responsible person a notice—

(a) in the case of apparatus already provided with a cut-off switch, stating that they are not satisfied with the position, colouring or marking of the switch and requiring the responsible person, within such period as may be specified in the notice, to take such steps as will secure that the switch will be so placed or coloured or marked as to be readily recognisable by, and accessible to, fire-fighters in accordance with the reasonable requirements of the fire and rescue authority; or

(b) in the case of apparatus not already provided with a cut-off switch, requiring him, within such period as may be specified in the notice, to provide such a cut-off switch in such a position and so coloured or marked as to be readily recognisable by, and accessible to, fire-fighters in accordance with the reasonable requirements of the fire and rescue authority.

(10) If a cut-off switch complies in position, colour and marking with the current regulations of the Institution of Electrical Engineers for a fire-fighter’s emergency switch, the fire and rescue authority may not serve a notice in respect of it under paragraph (9).

(11) This article does not apply to—

(a) apparatus installed or proposed to be installed in or on premises in respect of which a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003(2) has effect authorising the use of premises for the exhibition of a film, within the meaning of paragraph 15 of Schedule 1 to that Act; or

(b) apparatus installed in or on premises before the day on which this article comes into force where, immediately before that date—

(i) the apparatus complied with section 10(2) and (3) (requirement to provide cut-off switch) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982(3); and

(ii) the owner or occupier of the premises, as the case may be, had complied with either subsection (5) or subsection (7) (notice of location and type of switch) of section 10 of that Act.

(1)

The current regulations are the IEE Wiring Regulations, version 16 published in June 2001 (as amended by amendment 1 of 2002 published in February 2002) - BS 7671: 2001 (ISBN 058296 998 0). Copies may be obtained from any of the sales outlets operated by the British Standards Institute (BSI) or by post from the BSI at Milton Keynes.

(2)

2003 c. 17.

(3)

1982 c. 30.