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UNIFORMITY OF LAWS ACT - SECT 2

Short title.

2. This Act may be cited as the Uniformity of Laws Act (Northern Ireland),
1922.

First Schedule rep. by 1939 c.5 (NI) s.2(2). Second Schedule rep. by SLR (NI)
1953; SLR (NI) 1954. Third Schedule rep. by 1958 c.27 (NI) s.73 sch.4 Pt.I.
Fourth Schedule rep. by SLR (NI) 1953; 1967 c.6 (NI) s.44(3) sch.7 Pt.III

General safety provisions.

1.(1) No premises shall be used for any purpose to which this Act applies

(a)unless the occupier has furnished to the [district council] in writing a
statement of his name, the address of the premises, and the nature of the
business there carried on:

(b)unless the premises are provided with such means of escape in case of fire
as the [district council] may reasonably require, and such means of escape are
maintained in good condition and free from obstruction;

(c)if the premises are situated underneath premises used for residential
purposes;

(d)if the premises are so situated that a fire occurring therein might
interfere with the means of escape from the building of which they form part
or from any adjoining building;

(e)where the premises form part of a building, unless such part either:

(i)is separated from any other part of the building by fire-resisting
partitions (including fire-resisting ceilings and floors) and fire-resisting
self-closing doors; or

(ii)is so situated and constructed that a fire occurring therein is not likely
to spread to other parts of the building, and its use for the purposes to
which this Act applies is sanctioned in writing by the [district council] and
any conditions attached to such sanction are complied with;

(f)unless the regulations set out in the First Schedule to this Act are duly
observed:

(g)unless any regulations are duly observed which may be made by the Ministry
of Home Affairs for Northern Ireland (hereinafter referred to as "the
Ministry") with respect to the use upon the premises of any cinematograph or
other similar apparatus.

(2) In the case of premises used for any purpose to which this Act applies at
the date of the commencement of this Act, the provisions of this section
requiring the occupier to furnish a statement to the [district council] shall
take effect at the expiration of two months after the commencement of
this Act, and the provisions of this section requiring means of escape in case
of fire to be provided shall not take effect until the expiration of such
period as may be reasonably necessary for enabling the occupier to comply with
any requirements of the [district council] in that respect.

(3) Any person aggrieved by any requirement of a [district council], or the
refusal of the [district council] to grant any sanction, or by the conditions
attached to any such sanction, may, within seven days after being notified of
such requirement, refusal or conditions, appeal to a court of summary
jurisdiction, provided that he has given not less than twenty-four hours
notice in writing of such appeal and of the grounds thereof to the [district
council], and the court on any such appeal may make such order as appears to
the court to be just, including any order for the payment of costs.

(4) The Ministry may by order, made in accordance with the provisions
contained in the Second Schedule to this Act:

(a)make regulations with respect to the use of any cinematograph or similar
apparatus upon any premises used for any purpose to which this Act applies;
and

(b)modify or add to the regulations set out in the First Schedule to this Act,
and those regulations shall thereupon have effect as so modified or added to.

An order made under this section may apply either generally, or to such
classes or descriptions of premises as may be mentioned in the order.2. The
purposes to which this Act applies are:

(1) the keeping or storing of raw celluloid

(a)in quantities exceeding at any one time one hundredweight; or

(b)in smaller quantities unless kept (except when required to be exposed for
the purpose of the work carried on in the premises) in a properly closed metal
box or case; and

(2) the keeping or storing of cinematograph film:

(a)in quantities exceeding at any one time twenty reels, or eighty pounds in
weight; or

(b)in smaller quantities unless each reel is kept (except when required to be
exposed for the purpose of the work carried on in the premises) in a separate
and properly closed metal box or case:

Provided that

(i)for the purposes of this Act, cinematograph film shall be deemed to be kept
in any premises where it is temporarily deposited for the purpose of
examination, cleaning, packing, re-winding or repair, but celluloid or
cinematograph film shall not be deemed to be kept or stored in any premises
where it is temporarily deposited whilst in the course of delivery, conveyance
or transport; and

(ii)the provisions of this Act shall not, except in the cases referred to in
paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of subsection (1) of section one thereof, apply to
premises to which the Factory and Workshop Acts, 1901 to 1920, apply; and

<(iii)the provisions of this Act shall not apply to premises licensed in accordance with the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1909.3.(1) In the event of any contravention in or in connection with any premises of the foregoing provisions of this Act, the occupier shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding ten pounds for each day on which the offence is continued after conviction thereof.


(2) In the event of the contravention by any person employed on any premises
of any regulation contained in the First Schedule to this Act or of any
regulation made under this Act, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a
fine not exceeding five pounds.

(3) The provisions of section one hundred and forty-one of the Factory and
Workshop Act, 1901 (which relates to the power of an occupier to exempt
himself from fine on the conviction of the actual offender), shall apply to
offences under this Act as it applies to offences under that Act.4.(1) It
shall be the duty of [district councils] to see that the provisions of
this Act are duly complied with.

Subs.(2) rep. by 1972 NI 16 art.63(3) sch.19; SRO (NI) 1973/341

(3) The occupier of premises in respect of which a statement is required to be
furnished to the [district council] shall pay to the [district council] when
furnishing such statement and on the first day of January of every year
thereafter, so long as the premises are used for any purpose to which this Act
applies, such fees as the Ministry may prescribe.5.(1) An officer duly
authorised by a [district council] may, at all reasonable times, enter and
inspect any premises which are used, or which such officer has reasonable
cause to believe are used, wholly or in part for any purpose to which this Act
applies.

(2) Every such officer as aforesaid shall be furnished with a certificate of
his authorisation by the [district council] and when visiting any such
premises as aforesaid shall, if so required, produce the said certificate to
the occupier of the premises.6. An officer duly authorised by a [district
council] may, at any time, take for analysis sufficient samplny material which
he suspects to be or to contain celluloid.7. If any person refuses to permit
any officer authorised under this Act to enter or inspect any premises, or
hinders or obstructs any such officer in the execution of his duty under
this Act, or refuses to allow any officer to take samples in pursuance of the
last preceding section or to give him facilities for the purpose, that person
shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty
pounds.8.(1) If any occupier of premises is prevented by any agreement from
carrying out any structural alterations which are necessary to enable him to
comply with the provisions of this Act, and is unable to obtain the consent to
those alterations of the person whose consent is necessary under the
agreement, he may apply, in accordance with rules of court, to the county
court, and the court, after hearing the parties and any witnesses whom they
may desire to call, may make such an order setting aside or modifying the
terms of the agreement as the court considers just and equitable in the
circumstances of the case.

(2) Where in any premises any structural or other alterations are required in
order to comply with the provisions of this Act and the occupier alleges that
the whole or part of the expense of the alterations ought to be borne by the
owner, the occupier may apply, in accordance with rules of court, to the
county court, and the court, after hearing the parties and any witnesses whom
they may desire to call, may make such order concerning the expenses or their
apportionment as the court considers just and equitable in the circumstances
of the case, regard being had to the terms of any contract between the
parties, or in the alternative the court may, at the request of the occupier,
determine the lease.9. For the purposes of this Act:

The expression "celluloid" means and includes the substances known as
celluloid and xylonite and other similar substances, containing nitrated
cellulose or other nitrated products, but does not include any substances
which are explosives within the meaning of the Explosives Act, 1875:

The expression "raw celluloid" means:

(a)celluloid which has not been subjected to any process of manufacture; and

(b)celluloid scrap or waste:

The expression "cinematograph film" means any film containing celluloid which
is intended for use in a cinematograph or any similar apparatus:

Definition rep by SRO (NI) 1973/34110. This Act may be cited as the Celluloid
and Cinematograph Film Act, 1922, ...Sections

The following regulation shall be observed in or in connection with premises
where raw celluloid is kept or stored:

All such celluloid shall be kept or stored in a fire-resisting store-room, and
subject to the regulations applying to such store-rooms.

The following regulations shall be observed in or in connection with premises
where cinematograph film is kept stored or manipulated:

1. All stock except when actually being used or manipulated shall be kept
either in a fire-resisting store-room and subject to the regulations applying
to such store-rooms, or in fire-resisting receptacles which shall not be used
for any other purpose and shall be plainly marked "Film."

2. Every reel of film shall, except when required to be exposed for the
purposes of the work carried on in the premises, be kept in a separate and
properly closed metal box.

3. Not more than 10 reels or 40 pounds of film shall be exposed at any one
time.

4. The following provisions shall apply to every room used:

(a)for the storing, or

(b)for the examination, cleaning, packing, re-winding or repair of film:

(i)the room shall be used for no other purpose;

(ii)the room shall be kept properly ventilated;

<(iii)adequate means of extinguishing fire, having regard to the amount of film on the premises, shall be kept constantly provided and readily available;


<(iv)the furniture and apparatus shall be so arranged as to afford free egress to persons in the room in the event of fire;


(v)no open light or fire shall be allowed;

<(vi)the fittings shall, so far as is practicable, be of non-inflammable or fire-resisting material;


<(vii)the doors shall be self-closing, and shall, except in the case of sliding doors, be so constructed as to open outwards;


(viii)no person shall smoke in or take matches into the room;

<(ix)there shall be kept posted up in large characters in the room:


(a)a printed copy of Parts II. and III. of this Schedule;

(b)full instructions as to the action to be taken in case of fire; and

(c)full directions as to the means of escape from the room in case of fire.

5. All celluloid waste and scrap on the premises shall be collected at
frequent intervals and placed either in a fire-resisting store-room, or in a
strong metal receptacle fitted with a hinged lid and marked "Celluloid Waste."

The following regulations shall apply to fire-resisting store-rooms:

1. The store-room shall be constructed of fire-resisting material in such
manner as to prevent as far as is reasonably practicable any fire occurring in
the store-room from spreading to other parts of the premises or to other
premises, and any fire occurring outside the store-room from reaching the
contents thereof.

2. The store-room shall be properly ventilated.

3. The fittings of the store-room shall, so far as is practicable, be of
non-inflammable or fire-resisting material.

4. Adequate means of extinguishing fire shall be kept constantly provided and
readily available.

5. No open light and no means of heating shall be allowed in the store-room.

6. If electric light is used, all conductors and apparatus shall be so
constructed, installed, protected, worked and maintained as to prevent danger.
Vacuum-type lamps only shall be used, and shall be in fixed positions and
fitted with substantial outer protecting globes.

7. No person shall smoke in or take matches into the store-room.

8. The doors of the store-room shall be self-closing and shall be kept
securely locked, except when articles are being placed therein or removed
therefrom.

9. The store-room shall not be used for any purpose other than the keeping of
celluloid or cinematograph film, and shall be clearly marked "Celluloid" or
"Film."

10. Not more than one ton of celluloid and not more than five hundred and
sixty reels or one ton of cinematograph film shall be kept in one store-room:

Provided that, where a store-room is divided into separate compartments by
separate fire-resisting partitions without any openings therein, each such
compartment may, for the purposes of this provision, be regarded as a separate
store-room.

11. When both celluloid and cinematograph film are stored in one store-room,
the aggregate quantity therein shall, at no time, exceed one ton.1. Before the
Ministry makes any order, it shall publish, in such manner as it may think
best adapted for informing persons affected, notice of the proposal to make
the order, and of the place where copies of the draft order may be obtained,
and of the time (which shall not be less than twenty-one days) within which
any objection made with respect to the draft order by or on behalf of persons
affected must be sent to the Ministry.

2. Every objection must be in writing and state

(a)the draft order or portions of the draft order objected to;

(b)the specific grounds of objection; and

(c)the omissions, additions, or modifications asked for.

3. The Ministry shall consider any objection, made by or on behalf of any
persons appearing to the Ministry to be affected, which is sent to it within
the required time, and it may, if it thinks fit, amend the draft order, and
shall then cause the amended draft to be dealt with in like manner as an
original draft.

4. Where the majority of the occupiers of the premises affected by the
proposed order dispute the reasonableness of the requirements in the proposed
order, and the Ministry does not amend or withdraw the draft order, the
Ministry shall, before making the order, direct an inquiry to be held in the
manner hereinafter provided. The Ministry may also direct an inquiry to be
held in regard to any objection, though not made by the majority of the
occupiers, if he thinks fit.

5. The Ministry may appoint a competent person to hold an inquiry with regard
to any draft order, and to report to it thereon.

6. The inquiry shall be held in public, and any person who, in the opinion of
the person holding the inquiry, is affected by the draft order, may appear at
the inquiry either in person or by counsel, solicitor, or agent.

7. The witnesses on the inquiry may, if the person holding it thinks fit, be
examined on oath.

8. Subject as aforesaid, the inquiry and all proceedings preliminary and
incidental thereto shall be conducted in accordance with rules made by the
Ministry.

9. The fee to be paid to the person holding the inquiry shall be such as the
Ministry may direct.

10. The order shall be laid as soon as possible before both Houses of the
Parliament of Northern Ireland, and, if either House within the next forty
days after the order has been laid before that House resolve that all or any
of the provisions of the order ought to be annulled, the order shall, after
the date of the resolution, be of no effect, without prejudice to the validity
of anything done in the meantime thereunder or to the making of any new order.
If any of the provisions of an order are annulled, the Ministry may, if it
thinks fit, withdraw the whole order.

11. Notice of any order having been made and of the place where copies of them
can be purchased shall be published in the Belfast Gazette.



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