BUILDINGS (ESCAPE FROM FIRE). (Hansard, 26 November 1930)

§ Mr. GRAHAM WHITE

I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make further and better provision with respect to means of escape from buildings in case of fire, and for purposes connected therewith. Unfortunately, it is the case that there are a very large number of buildings which, either through faulty construction or because there has been neglect to provide proper means of escape, are veritable death traps in case of fire arising. From time to time fire does break out and life is lost and then the whole country is horrified. This Bill was promoted in the first instance, by the United Kingdom Commercial Travellers Association, whose members in the course of their business are called upon to visit every corner of the country, and who have very painful cause to be aware of the deficiencies which this Bill seeks to remedy. The decision of the Association to turn to Parliament for legislation against the danger which this Bill seeks to remedy was due to an outbreak of fire at an hotel in the North of England, in Blackburn, in the early part of 1929, as a result of which two of their members were burnt to death, and a third was seriously injured, while others escaped with their lives but with the loss of all their clothes and other belongings.

The first Clause of the Bill provides that in the case of every new building which is more than two stories in height or where the upper storey of any one floor is more than 22 feet from the ground there shall be provided such means of escape for the persons employed therein or sleeping therein or resorting thereto as may be considered reasonable in all the circumstances of the case. The buildings to which these conditions shall apply are tenement dwellings, flats, 1319 maisonettes or buildings which are to be used as hotels, boarding houses, boarding schools, nursing homes and the like. It is suggested that no such building shall be occupied until a certificate has been given by the local authority that adequate means have been provided and that they exist in working order.

The second Clause provides in regard to existing buildings that if in the opinion of the local authority such building is not already provided with adequate means of escape in the case of fire arising, they may call upon the owner, by notice served in writing, to make such provision as may be considered reasonable in all the circumstances of the case, and the owner shall then take the necessary steps to make such provision. The third Clause provides that similar conditions shall apply in the case of buildings which are being converted and are to be used for any of the purposes which I have just described. A further Clause seeks to provide that in hotels and similar buildings there shall be adequate lighting of passages during the hours of darkness. The Clause will also give powers to local authorities to require the owners to provide certain forms of mechanical sprinklers and mechanical apparatus for the extinction of fire.

These are the main outlines of the Bill, which also contains a Clause providing that anyone who is aggrieved by any provision of the Bill shall have the right of appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction, if he feels constrained to take that course. The Bill was presented to the House last Session and as a result of the publicity and scrutiny which followed it has received an extraordinary amount of support. It is supported by the Association of Municipal Authorities, the Association of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Fire Brigades. The Institute of Auctioneers and Valuers, who from the nature of their occupation are interested, are in favour of the Bill. It is a non-party Bill and as far as I am aware there is no opposition to it in any quarter whatever. Therefore I ask leave to introduce the Bill and express a hope that facilities may be granted for it at a later stage.