Clause 20

If it appears to the Building Authority that a building is not provided with such means of escape in case of fire as the Building Authority considers satisfactory, regard being had to the purposes for which the building is used and the number of persons likely to resort to the building at any one time, the Building Authority may by order require the owner of the building to execute such work and make such provision as may be necessary to remedy the defect and if the owner fails to comply with the order, the Building Authority may execute the order in such manner as he thinks fit and may recover all expenses reasonably incurred by him in doing so from the owner in default.

If the Building Authority is satisfied that the safety of the public requires that immediate action should be taken in the case of any building as respects which he has given an order under subsection (1), he may by further order in writing served on the owner of the building require the closing of the building to, or restricting its use by, the public and if the owner fails to comply with the order, the Building Authority may execute the order in such manner as he thinks fit and recover all expenses reasonably incurred by him in doing so from the owner in default.

Without prejudice to the right of the Building Authority to exercise his powers under subsection (1) or (2), any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with an order served on him under subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day during which the offence continues after conviction.

The owner of any building shall take steps to secure that the means of escape in case of fire within the building are kept free and unobstructed and if he fails to do so, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.