Schedule B LONDON BOROUGH OF ISLINGTON ... - Islington Council

Schedule B
LONDON BOROUGH OF ISLINGTON
MARRIAGE ACT 1994
The Marriages (Approved Premises) Regulations 1995
SAFETY STANDARDS FOR APPROVED PREMISES AND ISSUES RELATING TO
ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Prior to the issue of any approval document, the advice of technical officers will be
taken on safety and disability access relating to the premises.
Safety Standards
The following is a summary of the Standards that will need to be met but applicants
will appreciate that conditions specific to their premises may be imposed: advice
from the Council's technical officers will be available to assist applicants towards
meeting safety standards:
1. The premises must be provided with adequate means of escape which would
normally comprise the minimum of 2 exits (including main entrance).
2. The number of persons accommodated at any one time in the approved
room, shall not exceed the number specified on the approval document.
3. All doorways and any corridors, staircases or external passageways intended
for exit purposes shall be kept entirely free from obstruction.
4. All exit doors shall be kept immediately available for use and those not fitted
with panic bolts shall be kept unfastened with the fastenings rendered
inoperable to the Council's satisfaction.
5. All floor coverings shall be so maintained that they will not be likely to ruck or
to be in any way a source of danger.
6. Fire extinguishers of approved patterns and capacity or size must be provided
and placed in suitable positions in the premises and shall be ready for instant
use all to the satisfaction of the Council.

Schedule B
7. Unless otherwise permitted by the Council seating shall be in the form of rows
with no more than 14 seats in a continuous row where there is a gangway at
each end and not more than 7 seats in a row where there is a gangway at
one end only. Gangways shall be of adequate width for the number of seats
served but shall in no case be less than 1 metre wide.
8. All gangways shall be kept free from obstruction.
9. The Fire Brigade shall be called to any outbreak of fire however slight.
Issues relating to access for people with disabilities
It is the policy of the Council that facilities for people with disabilities should be
provided, wherever possible, and Occupiers are therefore, strongly encouraged to
provide such facilities so as to enable the admission of people with disabilities.
Applicants should be aware that the Government has stated in their document
"Ending discrimination against disabled people" that they propose to introduce a
right of access to goods and services. Subject to Parliamentary approval this would
directly affect premises approved for Civil Marriages.