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Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017

Miscellaneous and enforcement provisions - Regulations

191: Regulations relating to fire safety and evacuation procedures in relation to buildings

You could also call this:

"Rules to Keep You Safe from Fires in Buildings"

Illustration for Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017

The Governor-General can make rules about fire safety and evacuation procedures in buildings. You need to follow these rules to stay safe in case of a fire. The rules can include things like keeping escape routes clear and having evacuation procedures in place. The Governor-General can also make rules about fire prevention and controls on open flames in buildings. You must follow these rules when storing goods or materials that can catch fire easily. If you own a building, you must make sure people can escape safely in case of a fire. If you break these rules, you can get in trouble with the law. You can even go to prison or get a big fine if you do not follow the rules. The rules are called secondary legislation, and you can learn more about them by reading Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019. You should know that the rules apply to different types of buildings. The Governor-General makes these rules to help keep you safe. The rules are important to follow so you can stay safe in case of a fire.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6888455.

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Part 4Miscellaneous and enforcement provisions
Regulations

191Regulations relating to fire safety and evacuation procedures in relation to buildings

  1. The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations relating to 1 or more matters specified in subsection (2).

  2. Regulations under subsection (1) may be made prescribing duties in relation to specified types of buildings, relating to—

  3. the maintenance of escape routes in buildings (including the duty to keep escape routes free of flammable materials):
    1. having evacuation procedures in place:
      1. the taking of fire prevention precautions for systems and appliances in buildings:
        1. controls on open flames in buildings:
          1. the packing and unpacking of goods in flammable packaging materials inside buildings:
            1. the storage of spontaneously combustible materials inside and outside of buildings:
              1. the storage of goods in flammable packaging materials inside and outside of buildings.

                1. A building owner commits an offence if the owner knowingly fails to maintain a means of escape from fire in the building if the building is of a kind prescribed for the purposes of this provision by regulations made under subsection (1).

                2. A person who commits an offence under subsection (3) is liable on conviction,—

                3. in the case of an individual, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding $75,000, or both; or
                  1. in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $150,000.

                    1. Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

                    Notes
                    • Section 191(5): inserted, on , by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7)