UK Act of Parliament
1971
United Kingdom
Fire Precautions Act 1971 (repealed)
At a glance
What's here
6 compliance obligations
Penalty landscape
4 of 6 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 2 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 3
- Occupier 1
Plus 2 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 770 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 78 duties
Occupiers also bound by 107 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 15 duties
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England/Wales comparison) 2005 14 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 13 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 12 duties
- Housing Act 1985 1985 11 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Browse 9 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Special Provision for Certain Premises
Special Provision for Certain Premises
(1) This paragraph applies to premises in respect of which...
Special Provision for Certain Premises
Special Provision for Certain Premises
Special Provision for Certain Premises
Special Provision for Certain Premises
Special Provision for Certain Premises
Offences in relation to foregoing provisions.
2 years imprisonment- Violate fire safety requirements or certification conditions Occupier
Duty as to means of escape and for fighting fire.
2 years imprisonment- Ensure safe means of escape and fire-fighting equipment Any Person
Provision as to offences.
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with a fire safety prohibition notice Any Person
Duty of local authority to consult fire authority in certain cases before passing plans.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must consult fire authorities on building plans Local authority
Duty of fire authorities to consult other authorities before requiring alterations to buildings.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Fire authorities must consult other authorities before ordering alterations Statutory regulator
Offences due to fault of other person.
2 years imprisonment- Responsibility for offences caused by a third party Any Person
Browse 53 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Uses of premises for which fire certificate is compulsory.
Premises exempt from s. 1.
Power of fire authority to make fire certificate compulsory for use of certain premises as a dwelling.
Right of appeal against, and coming into force of, notices under s. 3.
Application for, and issue of, fire certificate.
Powers for fire authority to grant exemption in particular cases.
Withdrawal of exemptions under s. 5A.
Contents of fire certificate.
Change of conditions affecting adequacy of certain matters specified in fire certificate, etc.
Changes of conditions affecting premises for which exemption has been granted.
Charges for issue or amendment of fire certicicates.
Right of appeal as regards matters arising out of ss. 5 to 8.
Codes of practice as to means of escape and for fighting fire.
Legal effect of codes of practice.
Improvement notices.
Rights of appeal against improvement notices.
Provision as to offences.
Special procedure in cases of special risk: prohibition notices.
Rights of appeal against prohibition notices.
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Power of Secretary of State to make regulations about fire precautions.
Exercise of certain powers of fire authority in England or Wales where building regulations as to means of escape apply.
Exercise of certain powers of fire authority in Scotland where building standards regulations as to means of escape apply.
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Enforcement of Act.
Powers of inspectors.
Exercise on behalf of fire inspectors of their powers by officers of fire brigades.
Restriction on disclosure of information.
Falsification of documents, false statements etc.
Offences by bodies corporate.
Defence available to persons charged with offences.
Appeals to magistrates’ courts.
Appeal from order made on complaint.
Civil and other liability.
Power of county court or sheriff, where notice under s. 3 is in force, to modify agreements and leases and apportion expenses.
Special provision for factory, office, railway and shop premises.
Extension of ss. 24 and 33 of Fire Services Act 1947.
Provisions as to ss. 59 and 60 of Public Health Act 1936 and certain similar enactments.
Suspension of terms and conditions of licences dealing with same matters as fire certificates or regulations.
Provision for securing exercise of local Act powers in conformity with this Act.
Amendment of Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963.
Modification of Rent Act 1968 and corresponding Scottish Acts.
Power to apply Act to vessels and movable structures.
Power of local authorities to make loans to meet expenditure on certain alterations to buildings occasioned by this Act.
General provisions as to regulations.
Service of documents.
Expenses.
Application to Crown, etc.
Application to premises occupied by U.K. Atomic Energy Authority.
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Interpretation.
Short title, extent and commencement.
Modification of Rent Act 1968 and Corresponding Scottish Acts
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