Straight answers on who is in scope and what each tier requires — including the duties the Act does not impose, which is where most of the confusion is.
Premises expecting 200 to 799 people are standard tier. 800 or more is enhanced tier. Standard tier means notifying the SIA and having public protection procedures. Enhanced tier adds registration, documented public protection measures, and a security document that must be re-provided within 30 days of every revision.
Use the number of individuals who may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time, including staff. It is a judgement about realistic peak occupancy, and you must be able to justify how you reached it.
Premises are in scope where they are used wholly or mainly for a qualifying purpose and 200 or more individuals may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time, staff included. Below 200, no duties apply.
Standard tier does not require you to buy equipment, install physical security measures, produce a documented risk assessment, submit anything to the SIA beyond notification, or run training or drills. None of those are requirements of the Act.
Yes, where 200 or more people may reasonably be expected present at the same time. But places of worship are held at standard tier by statute regardless of capacity, so even a cathedral holding thousands does not become enhanced tier on size alone.
A village hall or community centre is in scope where 200 or more people may reasonably be expected present at the same time. Most are below that and out of scope entirely. Those in scope are almost always standard tier.
Further education is held at standard tier regardless of capacity. Higher education is not. A university venue expecting 800 or more people falls into the enhanced tier, with registration, documented measures and a security document.
Sports grounds are a qualifying use. In scope from 200 present at the same time, and enhanced tier at 800 or more. Existing ground safety certification does not remove the duty, though much of the groundwork will already exist.
A qualifying event is in scope only where 800 or more people may reasonably be expected present at the same time and there are entry controls such as tickets or checks. There is no standard tier for events, and the rules do not apply where the premises is already enhanced duty premises.
The duty sits with the person who has control of the premises for its qualifying use. That is usually the operator rather than the freeholder. Enhanced duty premises must also name a designated senior individual responsible for compliance.