CONDITIONS CONSISTENT WITH OPERATING SCHEDULE
The conditions applicable to places holding cinema performances are applicable to this licence and are attached.
The total number of persons accommodated in the auditorium shall not exceed…….
AUTHORISED SEATING CAPACITY
Screen 1 … … … … 307
Screen 2 … … … … 229
Screen 3 … … … … 174
Screen 4 … … … … 95
Screen 5 … … … … 95
Screen 6 … … … … 95
Additional Conditions
Not applicable
Cinematograph (Safety) Regulations 1955
Part 1
General requirements in connection with cinematograph exhibitions
Application of Part I
1. Subject to the provisions of subsection (4) of section seven of the Cinematograph Act 1909, and of section five of the Cinematograph Act 1952 (which relate to exemptions in favour of certain exhibitions to which the public are not admitted or are admitted without payment), the provisions of this Part of these Regulations shall apply in connection with the giving of all cinematograph exhibitions other than those to which Part III of these Regulations applies, and to the premises used in connection with the giving of such exhibitions and to the parts thereof and the fittings, furniture, furnishings and equipment therein in this Part of these Regulations mentioned.
2. Exits
(1) The premises shall be provided with an adequate number of exits, so placed and maintained as to afford the public ready and ample means of safe egress.
(2) In the case of premises built or substantially altered in structure after the date on which these Regulations came into operation the number of exits from each floor and tier in the auditorium shall be determined in relation to the number of persons who may be accommodated on that floor or tier and shall not be less than the appropriate number set out in Column 2 of the subjoined Table.
Column 1 Column 2
Number of persons Number of exits
1- 60 1
61- 600 2
601-1000 3
1001-1400 4
1401-1700 5
1701-2000 6
2001-2250 7
2251-2500 8
2501-2700 9
(3) All exits for use by the public in leaving the auditorium shall be clearly indicated with the words ‘Exit’ or ‘Way Out’.
(4) All passages, courts, ramps and stairways to which the public have access, and which lead from the auditorium to outside the premises, shall at all times when the public are on the premises be kept free from obstructions.
(5) Every door in the building for use by members of the public going from the auditorium to outside the building shall be so constructed and maintained as -
(a) to open outwards, unless the licensing authority shall have been satisfied that this is impracticable in the circumstances of the particular case; and
(b) to open easily and fully in such manner that the door when open does not restrict the egress of the public.
3. Seats
(1) The seats in the auditorium shall be so arranged as to allow free access to the exits of the auditorium.
(2) All such seats shall be securely fixed to the floor except in boxes
accommodating not more than eight persons.
(3) No sitting shall be allowed in the auditorium during a cinematograph exhibition except in the seats provided.
(4) (a) No standing shall be allowed in the auditorium during a cinematograph exhibition except in such places and within such numbers as may be specified by the licensing authority.
(b) Where persons are permitted to stand in any gangway, sufficient room shall be left in the gangway to allow other persons easily to pass along the gangway.
(5) Subject to the last preceding paragraph, all gangways in the auditorium shall, while the public are on the premises, be kept free from obstructions.
(6) Notwithstanding paragraphs (2), (3) and (5) of this Regulation, invalids may be permitted, with the consent of and subject to any conditions of such consent imposed by the licensing authority, to sit in the auditorium in invalid chairs, other than petrol-driven invalid chairs.
4. Staff
(1) The licensee or some responsible person nominated by him in writing, being a person under twenty-one years of age, shall be in charge of and present in, the premises at all times when the public are on the premises.
(2) If the licensee or the person so nominated is the operator, some other responsible person nominated in writing by the licensee and not being a person under twenty-one years of age, shall be on duty to pay special attention, during the period that the operator is in charge, to those matters affecting the safety of the public which the operator by reason of his duties in the projection room is unable to superintend.
(3) The number of attendants on duty to assist persons entering or leaving the auditorium shall, in any case, not be less than one for every two hundred and fifty or part of two hundred and fifty, persons present in the auditorium; and -
(a) if the number of persons present on any floor or tier does not exceed one hundred, there shall be at least one attendant on duty on that floor or tier,
(b) if the number of persons present on any floor or tier exceeds one hundred there shall be at least two attendants on duty on that floor or tier.
(4) Every member of staff shall be instructed by the licensee or by some person nominated by the licensee in the safety precautions to be observed in the premises so far as those precautions relate to his duties, and in the action to be taken by him in the event of fire or other emergency.
5. Fire Precautions
(1) The premises shall be provided with fire appliances suitable to the fire risks in the premises.
(2) The fire appliances shall be maintained in proper working order and be available for instant use.
(3) The licensee, persons nominated under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of Regulation 4 of these Regulations and at least one member of the staff shall be properly instructed in the protection of the premises from fire, the use of the fire appliances provided, and the method of summoning the fire brigade.
(4) All curtains and similar hangings shall be of such material or so treated and maintained that they will not readily catch fire.
(5) No inflammable substance shall be used for cleaning any film or film projector.
(6) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Regulation 33 of these Regulations any inflammable film in the premises shall be kept in closed metal containers and shall be kept stored elsewhere than -
(a) in the fuel store;
(b) in any part of the premises habitually used by the licensee or members of the staff;
(c) in any part of the premises where there is a naked light, excessive heat, or any risk of fire or explosion from the electrical or heating equipment therein; or
(d) in any part of the premises forbidden to be used for the purpose in the licence granted by the licensing authority and the place wherein it is stored shall be kept locked.
6. Fire precautions, further provisions
(1) No smoking shall be permitted in any projection or rewinding room or in any room in which film is stored or in which electrical batteries are installed or charged.
(2) In and immediately outside any such room notices shall be posted stating that smoking is prohibited.
(3) No readily inflammable substance, other than inflammable film, or naked light, other than arc lights in the lanterns of film projectors, spotlights effects lamps or other electrical apparatus for the production of lighting or optical effects, shall be permitted to be in any such room:
Provided that -
(a) where an inflammable substance is used in repairing or jointing film, there may be kept in the projection and rewinding rooms not more than two fluid ounces thereof which shall be kept in a stoppered container; and
(b) there may be kept in the projection and rewinding rooms a reasonable quality of wax for the purpose of lubricating film.
7. Projection and rewinding rooms
(1) Subject to the provisions of Regulation 9 of these Regulations, film shall not be projected, rewound, cleaned, or otherwise manipulated except in a projection or re-winding room.
(2) Projection rooms, re-winding rooms and any part of the building to which there is direct access from a projection or rewinding room shall be well ventilated with fresh air.
(3) No doorway or hatchway of a projection room or re-winding room shall communicate directly with the auditorium or any other part of the building to which the public are admitted.
(4) (a) All doorways and hatchways of projection or re-winding rooms shall be provided with doors or hatches.
(b) Such of the said doors and hatches as open upon any room, lobby or space communicating directly with the auditorium or with any other part of the building to which the public are admitted shall be close-fitting so as to prevent, so far as practicable, the passage of smoke.
(c) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (2) of Regulation 12 of these Regulations, all holes (other than doorways and hatchways) in the walls, ceilings or floor of projection or rewinding rooms through which smoke might pass directly into another part of the building shall be so sealed as to prevent the passage of smoke.
(5) The doors and hatches of projection or rewinding rooms, other than those communicating directly with the open air or allowing direct communication between a projection room and another projection room or a rewinding room, shall except when in immediate use be kept closed while the public are on the premises.
(6) Subject to the provisions of section four of the Cinematograph Act 1909 (which relates to powers of entry for inspection), no person unless authorised by the person in charge of the premises shall be permitted to enter, or remain in a projection or rewinding room while the public are on the premises.
8. Projection rooms
(1) Projection rooms shall be large enough to enable the operators to work freely at the film projectors and any other equipment therein.
(2) The openings in the front face of a projection room -
(a) shall not be fitted with windows of plate glass; and
(b) shall not be larger than is necessary for effective projection and observation.
(4) The supply of electricity to the film projectors and other equipment in a projection room, not being telephone, signal or other equipment using only electricity of low energy, shall be capable of being cut off by switches or other means of control placed in the projection room.
(5) (a) Subject to the provisions of [ ] 1 Regulation 8A and of paragraph (7) of Regulation 31 of these Regulations, whenever a film projector is working in a projection room a competent operator who has attained the age of eighteen years shall be in charge of, and present in, the projection room.
(b) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph the said operator may leave the projection room for a short period in case of need so long as an assistant being a person who has attained the age of seventeen years, is left in charge of, and present in, the projection room and the operator remains on the premises.
[Substituted by S.I. 1976 No. 1315] 1
8A. Automatic control of projectors
(1) This Regulation shall apply in relation to a projection room where -
(a) there is no inflammable film in the premises other than film stored and locked up in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 5(6) of these Regulations;
(b) the operator in charge of that projection room remains within the rooms and other places mentioned in sub-paragraph (c) (i) of this paragraph; and
(c) every film projector working in the projection room during the absence of the said operator is controlled by equipment which will automatically extinguish the source of light in the projector lantern, stop the projector mechanism and cause to sound continuously -
(i) alarm signals clearly audible in that projection room and in every room, lobby or place in the vicinity thereof commonly used or visited by the operator on duty;
(ii) an alarm signal audible in a place in the premises where a member of the staff, not being an operator or assistant operator, is normally stationed while the public are on the premises immediately on the untoward occurrence of any of the events specified in the next following paragraph
(2) The events referred to in sub-paragraph (c) of the last foregoing paragraph are:
(a) the film in the projector breaking or stopping;
(b) the projector mechanism stopping or operating at less than half its normal speed;
(c) any switch or contractor controlling the source of light in the projector lantern or the motor driving the projector mechanism and controlled by any such control equipment as aforesaid failing to break in due time an electrical circuit controlled by it;
(d) any failure of the light in the projector lantern which is not immediately and automatically made good; or
(e) any failure in the supply of electricity to any such control equipment as aforesaid.
(3) Where this Regulation applies then, notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation 8(5)(a) of these Regulations, the operator in charge of the projection room may from time to time leave that room without leaving an assistant in charge of, and present in, that room but no period of absence shall exceed fifteen minutes unless the projector room is fitted, to the satisfaction of the licensing authority, with equipment which will automatically give warning of the presence of smoke or warning of the presence of fire (whichever the licensing authority shall judge to be more appropriate in the circumstances) by means of alarm signals sounding continuously and audible as mentioned in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(c) of this Regulation.
(4) Any such equipment as is referred to in paragraph (1)(c) or (3) of this Regulation and any equipment associated therewith or controlled thereby shall be tested once a year by a competent engineer appointed by or on behalf of the occupier of the premises and a certificate stating the condition of the equipment shall, after each test, be sent to the licensing authority by or on behalf of the occupier of the premises.
9. 16mm film
(1) The provisions of paragraph (1) of Regulation 7 of these Regulations shall not apply in relation to film which does not exceed sixteen millimetres in width and which is not inflammable film.
(2) No inflammable substance shall be used in repairing or jointing film in the auditorium or any part of the premises to which the public are admitted while the public are present there.
(3) When such film as aforesaid is projected in the auditorium the following provisions shall apply -
(a) the film projector shall be surrounded by a clear space at least three feet wide which persons, not authorised by the person in charge of the projector or under section four of the Cinematograph Act 1909 (which relates to powers of entry for inspection), are prevented from entering by the erection of a barrier or other effective means;
(b) no smoking shall be permitted within the said clear space;
(c) the film projector shall be in the charge of a competent person who shall be present within the said clear space whenever the projector is working;
(d) (i) no illuminant, other than electric light in hermetically sealed lamps, shall be used in the film projector;
(ii) the illuminant shall be separately encased in such a way as to prevent it accidentally coming in contact with the film;
(e) electrical conductors used for the film projector shall, so far as practicable, be placed out of reach of the public.
10. Projectors1
(1) Unless the source of light in a film projector is an electric discharge lamp which will not light or remain lit when the projector is not running, the projector shall be fitted with a metal shutter which, when the projector stops running, automatically cuts off the source of light from the film gate.
(4) The foregoing provisions of this Regulation shall not apply to film projectors constructed to use only film not exceeding sixteen millimetres in width and of which the illuminant complies with the provisions of sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph (3) of Regulation 9 of these Regulations.
[Paragraphs 1-3 repealed and substituted by S.I. 1976 No. 1315] 1
(5) All the mechanisms of a film projector shall be guarded except in so far as this is not reasonably practicable in the particular circumstances.
11. Electrical supply for projectors and other equipment
The supply of electricity to film projectors, spotlights, effects lamps or other electrical apparatus for the production of lighting or optical effects shall be by way of a circuit or circuits separate from any circuit used for supplying electricity for the general lighting or the safety lighting.
12. Sealing of Walls
(1) Where a pipe, duct, or conductor enters a building at or below ground level, the hole through which the pipe, duct or conductor enters the building shall be so stopped as to prevent leakage of gas into the building through the hole.
(2) The holes by which pipes, ducts or conductors pass through a fire-resisting wall, floor or ceiling within a building shall be so sealed as to prevent the passage of fire and smoke.
13. Gas Valves
The main valves and cocks controlling the supply of gas to the premises shall, if situated within a building, be placed as near as practicable to a door situate on the ground floor and easily accessible from outside the premises; and such valves and cocks shall if accessible to the public be secured against unauthorised interference.
14. Inspection of ceilings
All ceilings in those parts of the premises to which the public are admitted shall be inspected at least once in every five years by a competent person appointed by, or on behalf, of the occupier of the premises, and a certificate concerning the condition of the ceilings shall after each inspection be forwarded to the licensing authority by, or on behalf of, the occupier.
15. General Lighting
(1) In all parts of the building to which the public are admitted in all passages, courts, ramps and stairways to which the public have access and which lead from the auditorium to outside the premises there shall be provided means of illumination (in these Regulations referred to as ‘general lighting’) by electricity or gas capable of illuminating those parts clearly.
(2) All notices indicating exits from any part of the premises to which the public are admitted shall be illuminated by the general lighting at all times when the public are on the premises (unless these notices are self powered notices).
(3) (a) The means by which the general lighting is controlled -
(i) shall be so situated as to be easily accessible to those members of the staff who may be required to operate them;
(ii) shall be so situated or concealed that members of the public are unlikely to interfere with them;
(iii) shall not, in the case of electrical switchgear, be situated in a rewinding room unless that room is also a projection room;
(iv) shall not, in the case of gas taps and cocks, be situated in a projection room or a rewinding room.
(b) The means by which the general lighting of the auditorium is controlled shall, in addition to complying with the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, be so constructed and arranged that when the auditorium is not clearly illuminated by the general lighting it can be quickly so illuminated.
(c) If switchgear controlling the electricity for the general lighting of the auditorium is situated in a projection room, other means of control -
(i) situated outside the projection room and also complying with the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall be provided; and
(ii) shall be so constructed and arranged that when the auditorium is not clearly illuminated by the general lighting it can be quickly so illuminated notwithstanding that the means of control in the projection room may be switched off or inoperable.
(d) All taps and cocks controlling gas for general lighting shall, in the case of the taps of individual lamps, be secured against unauthorised interference and, in the case of all other such taps and cocks, be situated in a place to which the public are not admitted or, if this is not practicable, be secured against unauthorised interference.
16. Safety Lighting
(1) In addition to the general lighting, mean of illumination adequate to enable the public to see their way out of the premises without assistance from the general lighting (in these Regulations referred to as ‘safety lighting’) shall be provided -
(a) in the auditorium and all other parts of the building to which the public are admitted;
(b) in all passages, courts, ramps and stairways to which the public have access and which lead from the auditorium to outside the premises;
(c) for the illumination of all notices indicating exits from any part of the premises to which the public are admitted [unless these notices are self-powered notices].
(2) The safety lighting shall be kept on at all times when the public are on the premises except in those parts of the premises which are lit equally well by daylight.
(3) Subject to the provisions of Regulation 17 of these Regulations, the safety lighting shall be supplied from a source other than that which supplies the general lighting and shall be by electricity or gas:
Provided that the safety lighting may be by colza oil or nightlights if:-
(a) electricity and gas are not both supplied to the premises; or
(b) there is a failure of the ordinary safety lighting
(4) An electrical conductor used for the safety lighting shall not be contained in the same protective covering as a conductor used for any other purpose.
(5) (a) If the safety lighting is by electricity the means of control thereof shall be situated in a place to which the public are not admitted.
(b) If the safety lighting is by gas -
(i) the taps of individual lamps shall be secured against unauthorised interference and all other taps or cocks controlling gas for safety lighting shall be situated in a place to which the public are not admitted or, if this is not practicable, shall be secured against unauthorised interference;
(ii) taps or cocks controlling gas for safety lighting shall not be situated in a projection or rewinding room.
(6) Any circuit used for supplying electricity for use in a projection or rewinding room, other than a circuit used to supply electricity to film projectors, spotlights, effects lamps or other electrical apparatus for the production of lighting or optical effects, shall not be connected to a circuit used for supplying electricity for the safety lighting unless it is so arranged and protected that the occurrence of any electrical fault therein would not affect the last-mentioned circuit.
17. Batteries for safety lighting
(1) Any battery supplying the safety lighting shall be fully charged before the public are first admitted to the premises on any day and, unless it is a battery mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Regulation, shall be of such capacity and so maintained as to be capable of supplying at normal voltage the full load of the safety lighting during the whole time that the public are on the premises.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (3) of Regulation 16 of these Regulations one or more floating or trickle-charged batteries supplied with electricity from the same source as supplies the general lighting may be used to supply electricity for the safety lighting if -
(a) the batteries are fully charged before the public are first admitted to the premises on any day;
(b) the rate of charging the batteries is so regulated that the batteries will not discharge except on failure of the supply of electricity to the batteries;
(c) the batteries will not discharge through the supply circuit in the event of a failure of the supply of electricity to the batteries;
(d) the capacity of the batteries is sufficient to supply at normal voltage the full load of the safety lighting for not less than three hours;
(e) in the case of trickle-charged batteries, there are provided automatic change-over contractors so designed and maintained as to operate immediately and efficiently in case of need, and which are tested on each day there is a cinematograph exhibition and before the public are admitted to the premises in order to ensure that they are in proper working order.
18. Batteries
(1) A battery having cells or containers of celluloid shall not be permitted to be in the premises.
(2) A battery of a type which cannot be recharged to full capacity shall not be used to supply electricity for the general lighting or the safety lighting.
(3) Where the batteries are used to supply electricity for either the general lighting or the safety lighting -
(a) such parts of the conductors connecting the batteries one to another or connecting the batteries to the fuses, circuit-breakers, or other similar devices protecting the circuits going out from the batteries, as are situated within the room in which the batteries are installed shall not be enclosed in ducting or conduit;
(b) such parts of the said conductors as are situated within the said room shall, unless suitably insulated, be properly supported and separated so that they are kept apart;
(c) the fuses, circuit breakers and similar devices aforesaid, unless situated within the said room, shall be situated as near as is practicable to the point where the said conductors emerge from that room.
(4) Any battery used to supply electricity for either the general lighting or the safety lighting shall supply electricity only for the general lighting or the safety lighting as the case may be.
(5) Any battery used to supply electricity for either the general lighting or safety lighting shall, at least once in every six months, have its capacity tested by a person appointed by, or on behalf of, the occupier for the premises and the date and result of the test shall be entered in a register to be kept for the purpose and available for inspection by persons authorised in that behalf by the licensing authority.
19. Failure of lighting
(1) (a) If there is a failure of the general lighting and the general lighting is by gas, the public shall be instructed to leave the premises forthwith.
(b) If there is a failure of the general lighting and the general lighting is by electricity, the public shall, if the general lighting is not restored within one hour, be instructed to leave the premises at the end of that hour.
(2) (a) If there is a failure of the safety lighting and the safety lighting is not by electricity, all parts of the premises in which means of illumination are provided in accordance with paragraph (1) of Regulation 15 of these Regulations shall be clearly illuminated by the general lighting and the public shall be instructed to leave the premises forthwith.
(b) If there is a failure of the safety lighting and the safety lighting is by electricity, all parts of the premises in which means of illumination are provided in accordance with paragraph (1) of Regulation 15 of these Regulations other than the auditorium, shall forthwith be clearly illuminated by the general lighting and, if at the end of one hour safety lighting is not restored, the auditorium shall be clearly illuminated by the general lighting and the public shall then be instructed to leave the premises forthwith.
20. Fuses, switches and earths
(1) Every electrical main circuit and sub-circuit in the premises shall be protected against excess current by fuses, circuit-breakers, or other similar devices which will operate automatically at current values which are suitably related to the safe current ratings of the circuit and of the equipment connected to the circuit.
(2) (a) Every circuit supplying electricity for the control equipment of electric discharge-lamps having a rated electrical input exceeding 500 watts, or for electronic equipment shall, where the fuses, circuit-breakers or other similar devices aforesaid do not afford adequate protection, be provided also with electrical or therm-electrical devices to break the circuit automatically on any dangerous rise in the temperature of the said equipment or of the transformers, chokes or smoothing devices used in connection therewith.
(b) Any such electrical or thermo-electrical devices shall be tested once a year by a competent electrical engineer appointed by, or on behalf of, the occupier of the premises.
(c) The foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not, until the first day of January 1958, apply in relation to electronic equipment or control equipment of electric discharge lamps in use in the premises before the date on which these Regulations come into operation.
(3) (a) Every main circuit and sub-circuit in the premises shall be provided with earth-leakage protective devices which on the occurrence of an earth fault will disconnect the defective circuit from the supply of electricity.
(b) Sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph shall not apply where the possible earth fault leakage current from the circuit substantially exceeds that required to operate the fuses, circuit breakers or other similar devices aforesaid.
(4) All metal work not intended ordinarily to conduct electricity but liable to become charged with electricity if the insulation of a conductor should become defective or if a defect should occur in any electrical equipment shall be earthed.
(5) The supply of electricity to all electric signs, notices or advertising devices and to all electric discharge-lamp installations shall be capable of being cut off by switches or other means of control so situated as to be easily accessible to members of the staff but so as not to be easily accessible to the public.
(6) (a) Every socket outlet, other than for deaf aids, in any part of the premises to which the public are admitted shall be controlled by a switch adjacent to the socket outlet.
(b) All plugs and socket outlets, other than for deaf aids, in any part of the premises to which the public are admitted shall be so constructed that the pins of the plugs and the socket outlets cannot be touched while they are live.
(7) Switchgear controlling a main circuit or sub-circuit, and not being in the auditorium, shall be clearly and legibly labelled to indicate which circuit it controls.
21. Electric discharge-lamps
(1) All electric discharge-lamp installations shall comply with the following requirements -
(a) control equipment for electric discharge-lamps and the transformers, chokes and smoothing devices used in connection therewith shall be so placed that there is adequate ventilation and adequate access thereto for the purpose of inspection and maintenance.
(b) Fixed electric discharge-lamps shall be placed out of reach of the public or so protected that if a lamp is broken no live electrode can be touched.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (5) of Regulation 20 of these Regulations the supply of electricity to electric discharge-lamp installations on the outside of a building, or used within a building when the public are not admitted, and in which the voltage between any two points of the installation exceeds 650 volts shall be capable of being cut off by one or more switches or other means of control situated outside any building and so as to be accessible to members of the fire brigade but so as not to be easily accessible to the public.
22. Wiring and ventilating duct
(1) All electric wiring shall be suitably insulated.
(2) All electric wiring shall have a protective covering over the insulation thereof and, except where it is necessary that it should remain flexible, shall be kept securely fixed in position.
(3) The protective covering shall be -
(a) made of metal or other material of such rigidity as to afford substantial protection against mechanical injury;
(b) made of material which does not readily ignite or decompose;
(c) if made of metal, effectively earthed;
(d) in the case of writing in premises which are built or wholly or mainly rewired after the date on which these Regulations come into operation, not made of lead.
(4) Where it is necessary for wiring to remain flexible its protective covering shall be flexible and the following provisions shall apply in lieu of the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Regulations -
(a) the protective covering of such wiring used in connection with arc lamps, spotlights, effects lamps or other electrical equipment for the production of lighting or optical effects and exposed to excessive heat shall be of asbestos or other material which will prevent the heat damaging the conductor or its insulation;
(b) the protective covering of such wiring, other than that referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, shall be such as to give a degree of protection not less than that afforded by tough rubber sheathing;
(c) the protective covering of such wiring shall not be made of lead, and if made of metal, shall be effectively earthed;
(d) such wiring shall not be longer than is necessary;
(e) such wiring shall be securely fixed, and its protective covering reinforced, at the point of entry into the equipment, plug or other fitting to which it is connected.
(5) (a) The foregoing provisions of this Regulation shall not apply to such parts of the conductors mentioned in paragraph (3) of Regulation 18 of these Regulations connecting the batteries one to another or connecting the batteries to the fuses, circuit-breakers or other similar devices protecting the outgoings circuits, as are situated within the room in which the batteries are installed:
(b) The provisions of paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of this Regulation shall not apply to -
(a) wiring, intended to conduct only electricity of low energy, of telephones, signals systems, deaf aids, public address equipment, depolarizer circuits for electric torch batteries and other similar equipment;
(b) audio circuit wiring;
(c) internal wiring of electric organs not intended to conduct electricity at a voltage exceeding 100 volts;
(d) conductors for electric discharge-lamp installations in which the voltage between any two points of the installation exceeds 650 volts if the conductors are so placed that they cannot be touched by the public and are suitably insulated and protected;
(e) temporary wiring if the licensing authority is satisfied that the wiring is so insulated and so protected or placed as to be reasonably safe in the circumstances.
(7) No electric wiring, other than wiring for the purpose of operating or lighting the ventilating system and having its own protective covering, shall, after the date upon which these Regulations come into operation, be placed (otherwise than by way of repair of wiring already installed) in any ventilating duct.
(8) Any lighting fitting or other electrical apparatus installed in any ventilating duct after the date upon which these Regulations come into operation shall be totally enclosed.
23. Generators, transformers and switchgear
(1) Electricity generating plant and main supply transformers shall be placed in a room or rooms -
(a) separate from the auditorium;
(b) of substantial construction;
(c) of which the walls, floors and ceilings (except for windows, skylights and openings therein communicating directly with the open air) and doors shall be so constructed or lined as to be fire-resisting;
(d) not communicating directly with the auditorium or with any part of the building to which the public are admitted:
Provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall apply only where such equipment is installed or moved from one room to another after the date on which these Regulations come into operation, or where a room in which such equipment has been installed is altered in structure after the said date.
(2) The switchgear and fuses controlling or protecting the main supply of electricity shall be placed in a room to which the public are not admitted and any door thereof which communicates directly with any part of the premises to which the public are admitted shall be kept locked.
24. Heating Appliances
(1) Every heating appliance used in the premises which is so situated as to be within reach of any member of the public shall be fitted with guards which comply with the standards of construction and fittings required by the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Regulations 1953 in the case of a heating appliance of a type which is so designed that it is suitable for use in a dwelling-house or other residential premises.
(2) Every heating appliance used in the premises shall be situated sufficiently far from any woodwork, hangings, or other materials or substances liable to catch fire for there to be no likelihood of fire by reason of their proximity to the heating appliance.
(3) Every heating appliance situated in a part of the premises to which the public are admitted shall be fixed in position.
(4) Every heating appliance situated in a projection or rewinding room shall be so constructed and enclosed that there is no likelihood of film igniting or decomposing by reason of contact with, or proximity to, the heating element.
(5) (a) No oil-burning heaters other than those forming part of boiler installations shall be used in the premises.
(b) No gas fire shall be used in a projection or rewinding room.
25. Electrical apparatus generally
Electrical apparatus and equipment in the premises shall not be used for such a purpose or in such a manner or when it is in such a condition as to cause danger of electric shock, fire or explosion.
26. Supervision of electrical installations
Any person who has attained the age of twenty one years and who has received sufficient training for the purpose shall be made responsible for ensuring that the electrical installations and equipment in the projection room are maintained in a good serviceable condition.
27. Inspection of electrical installations
All electrical installations shall be inspected once a year by a competent electrical engineer appointed by, or on behalf of, the occupier of the premises, and a certificate stating the conditions of the installations shall, after each inspection, be forwarded to the licensing authority by, or on behalf of, the occupier of the premises.
Part II
Additional requirements in connection with cinematograph
Exhibitions for which inflammable film is used
28. Licence to be necessary
Any means of producing pictures for a cinematograph exhibition which includes the use of inflammable film is by this Regulation specified as a means of involving risk such that it is inexpedient that paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section five of the Cinematograph Act 1952 (which provides that a licence shall not be required in the case of certain exhibitions to which the public are not admitted or are admitted without payment) should have effect in the case of cinematograph exhibitions where the pictures are produced by such means.
29. Application of Part II
Subject to the provisions of sub section (4) of section seven of the Cinematograph Act 1909 (which exempts exhibitions in private dwelling-house to which the public are not admitted), the following provisions of this Part of these Regulations shall apply in addition to the provision of Part I of these Regulations in connection with the giving of cinematograph exhibitions for which any inflammable film is used and to the premises used in connection with the giving of such exhibitions and to the parts thereof and the fittings, furniture, furnishings and equipment therein in this Part of these Regulations mentioned.
30. Fire precautions
All persons employed in connection with cinematograph exhibitions who may be called upon to handle or use inflammable film shall be warned of the special dangers attaching to inflammable film and shall be instructed in the special precautions applicable to their particular duties which should be taken in connection with its handling and use.
31. Projection and rewinding rooms
(1) Separate rooms shall be provided as a projection room and as a rewinding room respectively and inflammable film shall not be projected except in the projection room, or rewound, cleaned, or (except in the ordinary course of projection) otherwise manipulated, except in the rewinding room.
(2) The walls, floors and ceilings (except for windows, skylights, and openings therein communicating directly with the open air) and doors of the projection and rewinding rooms shall be so constructed or lined as to be fire-resisting.
(3) All fittings, fixtures, furniture and furnishings (other than floor coverings) in the projection and rewinding rooms shall be of metal, hardwood, or such other material or so treated and maintained as not readily to catch fire.
(4) (a) Every communicating doorway between the projection and rewinding rooms shall be fitted with a close-fitting, self-closing door, so constructed and maintained that it can be opened easily from either side, and the door shall be kept closed when not in immediate use.
(b) Every other opening allowing direct communication between the projection and rewinding room shall be fitted with a close-fitting, fire resisting hatch or shutter which shall either be secured in a closed position or be so constructed and maintained as to be self-closing.
(5) All doorways of the projection and rewinding rooms, other than communicating doorways between them, shall be fitted with self-closing doors so constructed and maintained that they will open easily on being pushed from inside and can be opened from outside the projection or rewinding room.
(6) (a) One entrance to the projection room shall be from the open air.
(b) Each projection or rewinding room shall be provided with a door-way and also, unless the licensing authority shall have been satisfied that this requirement is impracticable or unreasonable in the circumstances of the particular case, an alternative way of egress for the operators whether a doorway, hatchway or window.
(7) (a) Whenever inflammable film is being projected a competent operator who has attained the age of twenty-one years shall be in charge of, and present in, the projection room.
(b) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph the said operator may leave the projection room for a short period in case of need, so long as an assistant, being a person who has attained the age of seventeen years, is left in charge of the projection room and the operator remains on the premises and within call.
(8) Subject to the provisions of section four of the Cinematograph Act 1909 (which relates to powers of entry for inspection), no person shall be permitted while the public are on the premises to enter or remain in the projection or rewinding room unless his presence there is necessary or desirable for the purpose of the exhibition or for the purpose of instruction and is authorised in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (6) of Regulation 7 of these Regulations.
31(A) Projection room shutters
(1) The openings in the front face of a projection room in which inflammable film is used shall be fitted with metal shutters so constructed that -
(a) they can be closed from a point within the projection room near the projectors and also from a point outside the projection and rewinding rooms which is accessible to members of the staff;
(b) they can, if required, be closed simultaneously; and
(c) when closed, they fit closely over the openings.
(2) The shutters aforesaid and the mechanism for closing them shall be tested on each day on which there is a cinematograph exhibition, and before the public are admitted to the premises.
31(B) Projectors listed for inflammable film
(1) A film projector in which inflammable film is used shall have a (metal shutter in addition to and operating independently of that required by Regulation 10(1) of these Regulations) capable of cutting off the source of light from the film gate; and the shutter shall either be such that it operates automatically when the projector stops, or that it can be readily operated by hand:
Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to:
(a) a projector in which the source of light is an electric discharge lamp which will not light or remain lit when the projector is not working; or
(b) a projector constructed to use only film not exceeding 16 mm in width and in which the source of light is a hermetically sealed electric lamp.
(2) A projector in which inflammable film is used shall be so constructed and maintained that the film gate of that projector is not liable to become overheated.
(3) The openings above and below the film gate of a projector in which inflammable film is used shall be sufficiently narrow to prevent flame travelling upwards or downwards.
32. Spools and spool-boxes
(1) Each film projector in which inflammable film is used shall be fitted with one or more metal spool-boxes of substantial construction, and when the projector is working the film shall be made to pass from such a spool-box either to the same or to another such spool-box.
(2) The spool-boxes shall be so constructed as to prevent, as far as practicable, the possibility of flame passing to or from the inside thereof when the spool-box is closed, and they shall be kept closed when the projector is working.
(3) The spools upon which inflammable film is wound shall be substantially constructed of material which does not readily ignite or decompose with heat and shall be designed to accommodate not more than 2,050 feet of film.
33. Inflammable film
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (6) of Regulation 5 of these Regulations inflammable film in current use and not exceeding 21,000 feet in all may be kept in the projection and rewinding room.
(2) Inflammable film in a projection or rewinding room shall be kept at all times, subject to the exigencies of its use, in closed metal containers of robust construction.
(3) Inflammable and non-inflammable film shall not be wound on the same spool.
(4) Inflammable film shall not be used if it is in such a condition as to be likely to jam or break while passing through the film projector.
34. Equipment in projection and rewinding rooms
(1) The lighting of the projection and rewinding room shall be by electricity or daylight.
(2) All transformers, resistances, choke coils, motors and the illuminants of viewing devices for the examination of film, in the projection or rewinding rooms which are liable to attain a temperature at which inflammable film will ignite or decompose shall without preventing their proper ventilation be so guarded or enclosed as to prevent the ignition or decomposition of film by accidental contact with any of them or with any part of the equipment to which their heat may be communicated.
(3) All metal work of equipment used in rewinding film shall be earthed so as safely to discharge static electricity.
4) No electrical equipment shall be allowed in the rewinding room except -
(a) equipment for lighting or heating the room, rewinding machines, and viewing devices for the examination of film; and
(b) telephones, signal systems, and hand torches using only electricity of low energy.
Part III
Requirements in connection with cinematograph exhibitions in premises used only occasionally
35. Application of Part III
(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4) of section seven of the Cinematograph Act 1909, and of section five of the Cinematograph Act 1952 (which relate to exemptions in favour of certain exhibitions to which the public are not admitted or are admitted without payment), the provisions of this Part of these Regulations shall apply -
(a) in connection with the giving of cinematograph exhibitions in an auditorium where seating is provided for not more than four hundred persons, in premises which have not been used on more than three days in any week in the current calendar year for cinematograph exhibitions (not being exempted exhibitions within the meaning of section five of the Cinematograph Act 1952), and during which there is no inflammable film in the premises;
(b) in connection with the giving of cinematograph exhibitions in premises for which there is no licence in force, and to which subsection (2) of section seven of the Cinematograph Act 1909 applies and during which there is no inflammable film in the premises;
(c) in connection with the giving of cinematograph exhibitions in any building or structure of a moveable character to which subsection (3) of section seven of the Cinematograph Act 1909 applies and during which there is no inflammable film in the premises;
(d) subject to paragraph (2) of this Regulation, in connection with the giving of cinematograph exhibitions in premises which are (or in a part of premises which is, as the case may be), while the cinematograph exhibition is being given, used for another purpose or purposes to which the giving of the cinematograph exhibition is incidental or subsidiary (not being exempted exhibitions within the meaning of section five of the Cinematograph Act 1952), and by means which include the use of electro-magnetic tape or disc recording of vision,
and to the premises used in connection with the giving of such exhibitions and to the parts thereof and the fittings, furniture, furnishings and equipment therein in the Part of these Regulations mentioned.
(2) In the case of a cinematograph exhibition to which sub-paragraph (d) of the last preceding paragraph relates (whether or not any sub-paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of that paragraph also relates thereto), the provisions of this part of these Regulations shall apply with the exception of Regulations 37, 40 and 41.
36. Exits
Regulation 2 of these Regulations shall apply in connection with the giving of cinematograph exhibitions to which this Part of these Regulations applies with the exception of paragraph (5) thereof.
37. Seats
(1) Where the audience exceeds two hundred and fifty persons all seats in the auditorium shall, except in boxes accommodating not more than eight persons, be either securely fixed to the floor or battened together in lengths of not less than four or more than twelve.
(2) Regulation 3 of these Regulations shall apply in connection with the giving of cinematograph exhibitions in which this Part of these Regulations applies, with the exception of paragraph (2) thereof.
38. Staff
(1) A responsible person who has attained the age of twenty-one years, being the licensee or some person nominated in writing by the licensee, shall be in charge of the premises at all times when the public are on the premises.
(2) At least two attendants, neither of whom shall be a person in charge of a projector, but of whom one may be the person in charge of the premises as aforesaid unless he is also in charge of a projector, shall be on duty to assist persons in entering and leaving the auditorium.
(3) Every member of the staff shall be instructed by the licensee of the premises or by some person nominated by the licensee in the safety precautions to be observed in the premises so far as those precautions relate to his duties, and in the action to be taken in the event of fire or other emergency.
39. Fire precautions
(1) Fire appliances suitable to the fire risks in the premises shall be provided.
(2) The fire appliances shall be maintained in proper working order and be available for instant use.
(3) No inflammable substance shall be used for cleaning any film or film projector.
(4) Any metal work of a film projector liable to become charged with electricity if the insulation of a conductor should become defective or if a defect should occur in any film projection equipment shall be effectively earthed.
40. 16mm film
(1) The provisions of this Regulation shall apply in relation to film which does not exceed sixteen millimetres in width.
(2) No inflammable substance shall be used in repairing or jointing film in the auditorium or in any part of the premises to which the public are admitted while the public are present there.
(3) If a film projector is placed in the auditorium or elsewhere than in a projection room -
(a) the film projector shall be surrounded by a clear space at least three feet wide which persons, not authorised by the person in charge of the projector or under section four of the Cinematograph Act 1909 (which relates to powers of entry for inspection), are prevented from entering by the erection of a barrier or other effective means;
(b) no smoking shall be permitted within the said clear space;
(c) the film projector shall be in the charge of a competent person who shall be present within the said clear space whenever the projector is working;
(d) (i) no illuminant, other than electric light in hermetically sealed lamps, shall be used in the film projector;
(ii) the illuminant shall be separately encased in such a way as to prevent it accidentally coming in contact with the film;
(e) electrical conductors used for the film projector shall be suitably insulated, and provided with a suitable protective covering over the insulation and shall, so far as practicable, be placed out of reach of the public.
41. Projection and rewinding room
(1) Film which exceeds sixteen millimetres in width shall not be projected, rewound, cleaned or otherwise manipulated except in a projection or rewinding room to which the public are not admitted.
(2) Projection rooms shall be large enough to enable the operators to work freely at the film projectors and any other equipment therein.
(3) Whenever a film projector is working in a projection room a competent person shall be in charge of, and present in, the projection room.
42. Lighting
(1) In all parts of the building to which the public are admitted means of illumination shall be provided capable of illuminations those parts clearly.
(2) (a) Means of illumination adequate to enable the public to see their way out of the building shall be kept on at all times when the public are on the premises -
(i) in those parts of the building to which the public are admitted except those which are lit equally well by daylight; and
(ii) for the illumination of all notices indicating exits for use by the public in leaving the auditorium (unless these notices are self-powered notices).
(b) Means of illumination provided under paragraph (1) of this Regulation may be used for the purpose of this paragraph.
(3) If at any time there is a failure of the means of illumination mentioned in sub paragraph (a) of paragraph (2) of this Regulation, and that means of illumination is either by electricity or by gas, the parts of the building and notices mentioned in the said sub paragraph (a) shall immediately be illuminated by some alternative means of illumination adequate to enable the public to see their way out of the building.
Part IV
Additional requirements in connection with television exhibitions
43. Application of Part IV
Subject to the provisions of subsection (4) of section seven of the Cinematograph Act 1909, and of section five of the Cinematograph Act 1952 (which relate to exemptions in favour of certain exhibitions to which the public are not admitted or are admitted without payment), the provisions of this Part of these Regulations shall apply, in addition to the provisions of Part I or Part III of these Regulations, as the case may require, in connection with the giving of cinematograph exhibitions by means of television equipment and to the premises used in connection with the giving of such exhibitions and to the television equipment therein.
44. Voltage and amperage
The applied voltage of electricity used in television equipment shall not exceed 150,000 volts and the prospective fault current shall not exceed one ampere at any voltage exceeding 650 volts.
45. Television Equipment
Television equipment shall comply with the following requirements -
(a) every circuit supplying electricity for high tension television equipment shall be provided with electrical or thermo-electrical devices to break the circuit automatically on any dangerous rise in the temperature of the equipment or of the transformers, chokes, or smoothing devices used in connection therewith;
(b) the television projector shall be so screened and the projector light beam shall be so directed, screened or filtered that no person shall be subjected to a radiation of X rays of a rate exceeding 0.5 Rontgen units during seventy hours’ continuous operation.
46. Television recording equipment
No inflammable film shall be used in connection with any television recording equipment in the premises.
47. Notice of installation
Television equipment shall not be installed in the premises unless two weeks’ notice shall have been given to the licensing authority and shall not be used unless a reasonable opportunity shall have been given for any inspection or consultation which the licensing authority may think fit to undertake or require.
Part V
Miscellaneous
48. Exhibitions of Regulations
Copies of these Regulations shall be exhibited in premises used in connection with the giving of cinematograph exhibitions to which any of the foregoing Parts of these Regulations applies so that they can easily be seen by members of the staff.
Cinematograph (Children) (No.2) Regulations 1955
1. (1) These Regulations apply to cinematograph exhibitions other than exhibitions given in a private dwelling-house to which the public are not admitted whether on payment or otherwise and exempted exhibitions.
(2) In these Regulations the expression ‘exempted exhibitions’ means exempted exhibitions within the meaning of section five of the Cinematograph Act 1952, including exhibitions which by virtue of subsection (3) of that section are to be treated as such, but excluding exhibitions which by virtue of sub section (2) thereof are not to be treated as such.
2. No child apparently under the age of five years shall be admitted to a cinematograph exhibition unless the child is accompanied by and in the charge of a person who appears to have attained the age of sixteen years.
3. No child apparently under the age of twelve years shall be admitted after the hour of seven in the evening of any day to a cinematograph exhibition at any premises in the course of which there is to be shown any film or portion of a film, being a film or portion of a film, which shall have been shown to the public at those premises on that day before the hour of seven in the evening, unless the child is accompanied by and in the charge of a person who appears to have attained the age of sixteen years.
4. At a cinematograph exhibition organised wholly or mainly as an exhibition for children under the age of sixteen years there shall be stationed on the lower floor of the auditorium not less than one attendant who has attained the age of sixteen years for every hundred persons or part of one hundred persons present there and on each floor of the auditorium above the lowest floor not less than one such attendant for every fifty persons or part of fifty persons present there, and the number of such attendants stationed on any floor of the auditorium to which the children are admitted shall not be less than the number of exits for use by members of the public in leaving that floor.