The Fire and Rescue Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs organised a briefing on the Fire Safety Order 2016 for shop and business owners at Seri Kenangan Hall, Tutong District Civic Centre.

The briefing, presented by Acting Senior Superintendent of Fire and Rescue Awang Taib bin Haji Abdul Kahar, the Acting Assistant Director of Technical at the Fire and Rescue Department, was attended by shop managers, building owners, architects and consultants from the Tutong District.

The Fire and Rescue Department stated that the enforcement of the order aims to improve the ease of doing business, ensure new buildings including those undergoing have fire safety and emergency measures and provide legal jurisdiction for enforcement officers from the department to inspect a certain building.

The event also provided information on the enforcement of the law which included the type of offences or violations and legal punishments.

Among the matters raised during the briefing included concerns of fire hydrants, bogus distress calls, and fire safety systems.

The public has been urged to abide by the regulations and not misuse their permits such as by using private housing as residence for foreign workers or as business premises without a permit from relevant agencies.

The new ordinance gives power to the Fire and Rescue Director to approve or disapprove any proposed fire safety works. Under the new Order, the director is also given attentions to issue closure notice to buildings or demolish part of a building found to be at fire risk if necessary.

Section 34 of the Fire Safety Order 2016 states that building owners could be liable to a fine of not exceeding B$10,000 or serve a jail term of not more than six months if they fail to comply with the order.

Those who make bogus or false calls will be fined under the new order. Perpetrators can be fined not more than B$5,000 or sentenced to serve a jail term not exceeding three months.

A fine not exceeding B$5,000 also will be imposed on those who damage or conceal fire hydrants or fire protection systems.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]