Fire officers’ statement

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32764, 15 November 1971, Page 20

Fire officers’ statement

fN.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 14. Concern . and disapproval that New Zealand’s fire brigades had not been consulted when new fire legislation, fire codes, and fire standards had been prepared, was expressed at the chief fire officers’ annual conference.

In a prepared statement, the association said that in a number of instances laws and regulations adopted had practical weaknesses readily obvious to qualified fire engineers.

For instance, the recentlyadopted fire code for children’s homes had no requirement for emergency lighting in the event of nighttime fire.

The association also referred to a recent amendment to the Factories Act; which provided that local! authorities would now have the responsibility of inspecting factories in their areas! to see that means of escape* and fire alarm warnings; were adequate and, if satis-, fled, local authorities would' issue fire safety certificates “We consider that fire authorities are the only organisations qualified to carry out such inspections! and decide on fire safety ; standards,” the association said.