Overview

The Fire Safety (Schools) Bill mandates the installation of automatic fire sprinklers in all newly built educational establishments in England and Wales by 31 December 2010. The bill outlines the process for implementing these regulations and sets penalties for non-compliance.

Description

This bill requires the Secretary of State to create regulations for mandatory automatic fire sprinkler installation in all new educational buildings in England and Wales by December 31st, 2010. These regulations can include transitional provisions as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State. The regulations will be subject to parliamentary approval. The bill incorporates existing penalties from the Building Act 1984 for non-compliance with building regulations, applying these penalties to any violations of the new sprinkler regulations. The bill will come into effect immediately upon its passage and applies only to England and Wales.

Government Spending

The bill does not explicitly state the cost of implementation. The financial burden of installing sprinklers will fall primarily on developers and builders of new educational establishments. Indirect government costs could arise from potential enforcement and legal processes related to non-compliance.

Groups Affected

• Developers and builders of educational establishments: Will incur costs associated with installing fire sprinklers in new buildings.
• Educational institutions: Will benefit from enhanced fire safety measures in new buildings.
• Pupils and staff in educational establishments: Will be directly impacted by the improved safety and reduced risk of fire-related harm.
• Government agencies: Responsible for enforcing the regulations and potentially dealing with non-compliance cases.

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