Nightclubs across the country are being visited by their local fire officers for fire safety inspections.

They are looking for issues such as faulty fire alarms, overcrowding and blocked exits. These are all problems that could endanger lives should a fire occur.

This is in response to a call for tighter fire safety legislation for nightclubs after the deaths of 240 people at a nightclub in Santa Maria in Brazil on 27 January this year.

The fire broke out when the band released fireworks which were intended for outdoor use on stage. Most of the victims died from breathing in toxic fumes. Their escape was impeded by overcrowding and blocked exits by security staff that were unaware of what had happened.

Nightclub Fire Safety in the UK

Here in the UK by law businesses and organisations should have a Responsible Person for fire safety.  They should identify these hazards with a ‘suitable and sufficient’ fire risk assessment.

Overall the fire safety of most nightclubs in was judged to be of a high standard.

Fire Protection manager, Chris Kemp, who was in charge of the fire safety inspections commented,
“On the whole our inspectors were met with a positive attitude to putting things right and the whole exercise has been a real success.”

Fire safety issues that have been discovered so far have included faulty alarms and blocked exits. Follow up inspections have been arranged to check that less serious hazards have been rectified.

Clubs who do not follow the rules could find themselves subject to prohibition. The Responsible Person could face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.

If you run a nightclub or any organisation make sure you install and regularly maintain your smoke alarms and fire alarms as part of improving the fire safety of your premises. That way all your guests and staff can have a good time and remain safe.

If you are responsible for an organisation or its premises make sure you are complying with fire safety legislation. You do not want to put lives at risk unnecessarily.

See http://www.fia.uk.com if you are the Responsible Person for Fire Safety.

Ensure your business is safe from fire with our assistance

At Spy Alarms, we have been protecting businesses and organisations from the threat of fire for over 30 years. Our attention to detail, professionalism and competence are just a few reasons why thousands of people have chosen us to protect their property. For a FREE site survey, please get in touch with our Kent or London team today.