XN000022-1989-07-19 — Page 43

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1989

HE NOTED THAT STAIRCASES PROVIDED THE MAIN MEANS OF ESCAPE OCCUPANTS OF MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS AND THE MAIN MEANS OF ACCESS FIREMEN IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE.

FOR

FOR

"WINDOWS WHICH HAVE BEEN BOARDED OVER EXTERNALLY FOR WALL DECORATION OR SIGN PURPOSES IN RESTAURANTS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM AND ARE MAINTAINED TO SERVE THEIR DESIGNED PURPOSES, MR BARNES SAID,

"THIS TYPE OF EXTERNAL BOARDING, HOWEVER, CAN AFFECT THE MOVEMENT OF SMOKE AND AGGRAVATES THE SPREAD OF FIRE WITHIN THE PREMISES TO MAKE FIRE FIGHTING MORE DIFFICULT, HE ADDED.

*

MR BARNES SAID THAT THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES WAS CONSIDERING WAYS AND MEANS OF ABATING THIS HAZARD AND THAT A SERIES OF MEASURES WERE NOW BEING FINALISED.

THESE INCLUDED REQUIRING THE INSTALLATION OF AN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR I'REMISES EXCEEDING A SPECIFIED AREA AND WHERE THE AVERAGE QUANTITY OF COMBUSTIBLE SUBSTANCES EXCEEDED A SPECIFIED QUANTITY.

ANOTHER REQUIREMENT WAS THE INSTALLATION OF A SMOKE EXTRACTION SYSTEM OR A STIPULATION THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE OPENABLE WINDOWS ON THE EXTERNAL WALL OF THE BUILDINGS SHOULD NOT BE OBSTRUCTED BY DECORATION.

"WHEN DETAILS ARE FINALISED, THE INDUSTRIES WILL BE CONSULTED BEFORE THE REQUIREMENTS ARE IMPLEMENTED. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE NEW REQUIREMENTS WILL TAKE EFFECT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR," MR BARNES

SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE OPERATION OF A RESTAURANT WITHOUT A LICENCE WAS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE AND THE OPERATOR WAS LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.

"THE LICENSING AUTHORITIES ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT SOME RESTAURANTS ARE OPERATING WITHOUT LICENCES AND WILL TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THEM.

"WHERE THE SITUATION CONSTITUTES A FIRE HAZARD. THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES WILL TAKE ACTION UNDER SECTION 9 OF THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE," MR BARNES SAID.

FOLLOWING THE AMENDMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE IN OCTOBER 1988, THE LICENSING AUTHORITIES WERE EMPOWERED ΤΟ APPLY TO COURT FOR CLOSURE ORDERS TO CLOSE UNLICENSED PREMISES, HE NOTED.

"A PHASED PROGRAMME HAS BEEN DRAWN UP BY THE DEPARTMENTS TO DEAL WITH THE UNLICENCED PREMISES. UNTIL CLOSURE ORDERS HAVE BEEN EXECUTED, MR. BARNES SAID.

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ENFORCEMENT NOW, FIVE

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