This FOI is about Escalator Protection Sprinkler System (ESPS) 1. What is the function of the ESPS? 2. How often is the ESPS inspected? 3. Who carries out this inspection? 4. Where the outcome of the inspection is recorded? 5. What procedure is implemented at Green Park station if there is ESPS failure in the escalator 1, 2 and 3 (Piccadilly line) machine room? 6. When was the last time this was reported faulty before 17 December 2017? Please provide the date. When was this repaired? Please provide the date. 7. Is it a criminal offence to falsely record ESPS status? Please provide the relevant laws.

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TfL Ref: FOI-3336-1819

Thank you for your email of 6^th March 2019 asking for information about escalator protection sprinkler systems on the London Underground.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. Note that the Freedom of Information Act relates to recorded information only, and we are only obliged to answer in relation to recorded information held by TfL. We do not believe that all of your questions are requests for information under the terms Act. That said, we have answered them all as best we can within the time allowed for responding to FOI requests (twenty working days). I have separated the response below into those questions we believe fall under FOI (questions 5 and 6) and those that do not (the remainder).

FOI requests:

Question 5: What procedure is implemented at Green Park station if there is ESPS failure in the escalator 1, 2 and 3 (Piccadilly line) machine room?

Answer: We are not obliged to provide you with the procedures regarding ESPS failure in the escalator 1, 2 and 3 (Piccadilly line) machine room as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information, under Section 38(1)(b) of the FOI Act – the part of the Act that relates to Health and Safety. In this instance the exemption has been applied as disclosure of the information would be likely to adversely affect the safety and security of TfL employees and the travelling public. Whilst we make no suggestion that you would use this information for anything other than you own interest, disclosure of information under FOI has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’. The information you seek details how London Underground responds to operational incidents and emergencies, and how it operates the railway more generally. It would not be appropriate for this information to be in the public domain, which could then be used to cause incidents or disruption to the network. The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance we believe that the public interest in applying the exemption, in order to minimise risk to operational resilience and the welfare of staff and the public, outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Question 6. When was the last time this was reported faulty before 17 December 2017? Please provide the date. When was this repaired? Please provide the date.

Answer: We have no record of a fault reported before (or after) 17 December 2017 for escalators 1-3.

Non-FOI requests:

Question 1: What is the function of the ESPS?

Answer: To protect escalators from fire.

Question 2. How often is the ESPS inspected?

Answer: As a minimum, once every 12 months.

Question 3: Who carries out this inspection?

Answer: The contracted maintainer, Engie.

Question 4: Where the outcome of the inspection is recorded?

Answer: The contracted maintainer retains records.

Question 7. Is it a criminal offence to falsely record ESPS status? Please provide the relevant laws.

Answer: From liaising with colleagues, so far as I can ascertain in the time available, it would appear that this would be an enforcement issue with the London Fire Brigade as the enforcement authority, therefore please contact https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/ for more information.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely,

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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