Fire Safety for Indoor Craft Fairs and Markets

Who is responsible?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places fire safety duties on the "responsible person" — for a venue, this is usually the owner or management committee. When you hire a venue for a craft fair, fire safety responsibility is shared:

• The venue is responsible for the building's fire safety infrastructure — fire alarms, exit signs, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, and the premises fire risk assessment.
• The event host is responsible for ensuring the event does not compromise that infrastructure. This means: not blocking fire exits with stalls, not exceeding the venue's capacity limit, ensuring clear walkways, and having an evacuation plan for the event.

In practice, the venue should already have a fire risk assessment. Ask to see it when you book. It will tell you the maximum occupancy, the location of exits, and any specific fire safety rules for the venue.

Stall layout and exits

The biggest fire safety risk at an indoor craft fair is stalls blocking escape routes. When planning your layout:

• All fire exits must remain unobstructed and unlocked throughout the event — including during setup and breakdown.
• Exit signage must be visible from all parts of the venue. If a stall would obscure an exit sign, move the stall.
• Maintain clear walkways between stall rows — a minimum of 1.5 metres is generally recommended for public aisles, wider if wheelchair access is needed.
• Do not place stalls in front of doors, even doors that are not designated fire exits.
• Consider the flow of people — if the venue has one main entrance, avoid creating bottlenecks near it.
• Know the venue's maximum occupancy and plan your event accordingly. Remember that stallholders, helpers, and their stock reduce the available space.

Electrical safety

Electrical faults are a common cause of fires in indoor settings. For craft fairs:

• Avoid daisy-chaining extension leads — plugging one extension lead into another increases fire risk.
• Do not overload sockets. If the venue has limited power points, consider whether all stallholders really need electricity.
• Keep cables secured and out of walkways — cable covers or gaffer tape help prevent trips and protect the cables from damage.
• PAT-tested equipment is advisable, and some venues require it. If a stallholder's equipment looks damaged or unsafe, ask them not to use it.
• Keep electrical equipment away from water — tea urns, water displays, and wet weather gear near plug sockets are a bad combination.

Open flames and cooking

Many indoor venues prohibit open flames entirely. Always check the venue's policy before allowing:

• Candle makers displaying lit candles — most venues will not permit this indoors.
• Gas cooking equipment (LPG) — typically prohibited inside indoor venues due to fire and carbon monoxide risks. If food vendors need to cook, electrical equipment on dedicated circuits is the safer option.
• Any cooking activity should have a fire extinguisher and fire blanket within easy reach.

If candle or wax melt makers want to use warmers or electric burners for demonstration, check whether the venue allows this and ensure the equipment is stable and supervised at all times.

On the day

Before the event opens:

• Walk the venue and check that all fire exits are clear, unlocked, and signposted.
• Check that fire extinguishers are present, accessible (not hidden behind stalls), and in date.
• Brief all stallholders on the evacuation procedure — where the exits are, the assembly point, and who is in charge if the alarm sounds.
• Identify a named person who will coordinate evacuation if needed.

During the event:

• Keep an eye on walkways — stallholders sometimes spread stock or bags into aisles during the day.
• Monitor the entrance if the venue is getting full. Do not exceed the capacity limit.
• If the fire alarm sounds, take it seriously. Evacuate immediately — do not wait to see if it is a false alarm.

These checks take ten minutes and could prevent a serious incident.