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Chapter 22:01 - Fire Prevention

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L.R.O. 1/2012
LAWS OF GUYANA
FIRE PREVENTION ACT
CHAPTER 22:01
Act
19 of 1954
Amended by
Current Authorised Pages
Pages
(inclusive)
Authorised
by L.R.O.
1 – 7 ... 1/2012
4 of 1972 16 of 1969 20 of 1963 27 of 1959
LAWS OF GUYANA
2 Cap. 22:01 Fire Prevention
L.R.O. 1/2012
Index
of


Subsidiary Legislation
This Chapter contains no subsidiary legislation
LAWS OF GUYANA
Fire Prevention Cap. 22:01 3
L.R.O. 1/2012
CHAPTER 22:01
FIRE PREVENTION ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Fire Advisory Board.
4. Duties of Board.
5. Entry and inspection of premises.
6. Power of Chief Fire Officer to require alterations to be made, etc.
7. Appeals.
8. Offences.
9. Re-opening of premises closed by court.
10. Regulations
__________________________
19 of 1954 An Act to provide for the inspection of premises in Guyana
for the purpose of eliminating fire hazards and for
purposes connected therewith.
[10TH JULY, 1954]
Short title.
[16 of 1969]
Interpretation.
[27 of 1959
20 of 1963]

c. 22:02
1. This Act may be cited as the Fire Prevention Act.
2. In this Act—
“inspector” means any member of the Guyana Fire Service
authorised in writing by the Chief Fire Officer thereof to
inspect premises under this Act or any regulations made
there under;
“the Chief Fire Officer “means the Chief Fire Officer of the
Guyana Fire Service established under the Fire Service
Act and any member of that Service not below the rank
of sub-officer.
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4 Cap. 22:01 Fire Prevention
L.R.O. 1/2012

Fire Advisory
Board.
[16 of 1969]
Duties of
Board.
Entry and
inspection of
premises.
[27 of 1959
4 of 1972]

Power of Chief
Fire Officer to
3. (l) There shall be constituted a Board to be called
the Fire Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as “the
Board”) vested with the powers, duties and functions in this
Act mentioned.
(2) The Board shall consist of nine members who
shall be appointed by the Minister.
(3) At any meeting of the Board, five members,
including the presiding member, shall form a quorum.
(4) The Board may appoint a Secretary, at such
salary, if any, as the Minister may approve.
4. It shall be the duty of the Board—
(a) to advise the Minister on all questions
pertaining to the prevention of fires
and matters incidental thereto; and
(b) to perform the duties and exercise
the functions mentioned in this Act.
5. The Chief Fire Officer or any inspector may, on any
week- day between the hours of eight of the clock in the
forenoon and four of the clock in the afternoon, and at such
other times as he may determine, enter and inspect any
premises for the purpose of ascertaining whether, by reason
of the condition or construction of such premises, or by
reason of the storage of inflammable material on or near to
such premises, or by reason of any other conditions existing
on such premises (including any manufacturing or other
process carried on in such premises), there is a danger of an
outbreak of fire.
6. (1) Where the Chief Fire Officer considers it
desirable so to do, he may serve a notice in writing by post on
LAWS OF GUYANA
Fire Prevention Cap. 22:01 5
L.R.O. 1/2012
require
alterations to
be made, etc.

Appeals.
[16 of 1969]
Offences.
[6 of 1997]
the owner of the premises requiring him to carry out such
structural alterations as may be specified in such notice
within the time stated in such notice which, in the opinion of
the Chief Fire Officer, would reduce the risk of fire, arrest the
progress of any fire, or provide adequate means of escape
from fire.
(2) The Chief Fire Officer may serve a notice in
writing by post on the occupier of any premises requiring
him to take such precautionary measures against the
outbreak or spread of fire as may be specified in such notice
within the time stated in such notice.
(3) The time specified in any notice served under
the provisions of subsection (1) and (2) shall not commence to
run until the expiration of seven days after the service of such
notice on the owner or occupier of the premises as the case
may be.
7. (1) Any owner or occupier may, within fourteen
days of the service of any notice served on him under section
6, appeal to the Board from the requirements of such notice.
(2) Upon the hearing of any such appeal the Board
may confirm, revoke, or vary the requirements of the notice.
(3) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the
Board on any appeal under subsection (1) may within
fourteen days appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be
final.
8. (1) Any person who fails to comply with the
requirements of any notice served on him under section 6(1)
or (2) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of two
thousand six hundred dollars for every day during which
he continues to make default, and where such premises are
used for the purposes of any trade or business, the court
shall, in addition to any penalty imposed, order that such
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6 Cap. 22:01 Fire Prevention
L.R.O. 1/2012
Re-opening of
premises closed
premises shall be closed for the purposes of such trade or
business until the court is satisfied that the owner or
occupier as the case may be, has complied with the
requirements of the notice.
(2) Any person who uses or permits to be
used any premises in contravention of any closing order
made by the court under subsection (1) shall be liable to a
fine of not less than two thousand six hundred dollars and
not more than nineteen thousand five hundred dollars for
every day during which he uses or permits to be used such
premises in contravention of the terms of the order and the
court may, in addition to any other penalty, order that any
trade licence held by the occupier shall be deemed to be
cancelled or suspended as the case may be.
(3) Any person who—
(a) assaults, resists, obstructs or wilfully
delays the Chief Fire Officer or any
inspector in the performance of his
duty under this Act; or
(b) conceals or attempts to conceal from
the Chief Fire Officer or any inspector
any explosive, inflammable or
dangerous substance on any
premises, or being the occupier of any
premises refuses to give the name and
address of the owner of such
premises when requested by the
Chief Fire Officer or an inspector so to
do,
shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of nine
thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.
9. (1) Where any closing order has been made under
section 8(1), the owner or occupier as the case may be, may,
LAWS OF GUYANA
Fire Prevention Cap. 22:01 7
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by court.
Regulations.
[16 of 1969]
upon complying with the requirements of the notice served
on him under section 4, make application to the court in a
summary manner that the order be discharged, and shall
serve a copy of such application on the Chief Fire Officer.
(2) Upon the hearing of any such application as
aforesaid, the court shall not discharge the order unless the
applicant produces a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board that the requirements of the notice have been
complied with to the satisfaction of the Board.
10. (1) The Minister may make regulations for the
carrying out of the purposes and objects of this Act.
(2) There may be annexed to any regulation for the
breach thereof a fine of nine thousand seven hundred and
fifty dollars and without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing, the Minister may make regulations—
(a) providing for the registration of any
premises in respect of which, by
reason of any process carried on
therein, there is in the opinion of the
Minister, a danger of an outbreak of
fire;
(a) prescribing the specifications to
which any premises mentioned in
paragraph (a) shall conform; and
(b) prescribing the precautionary
measures to be taken by the occupier
of any premises against the outbreak
or spread of fire.
____________________