What the 200 threshold means in practice
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.
Two conditions, both required
The premises must be used wholly or mainly for one of the purposes listed in Schedule 1 to the Act, and 200 or more people must reasonably be expected present at the same time.
Fail either and the premises is out of scope. A small office is out of scope because of its use; a 90-seat cafe is out of scope because of its size.
Being just under is a live position, not a settled one
A site at 180 is out of scope today. Add a function room, change the layout, or take on more staff for a busy season and it is in scope.
Treat a figure near the line as something to revisit, and write down the assumption it rests on. The cost of being wrong is a duty you did not know you had.
Excluded premises
Some premises are outside the Act regardless of size. Open-air recreational land such as parks and recreation grounds is excluded where there are no entry controls — though ticketed events and controlled facilities within them are not.
Transport premises already covered by an aviation, railway, Channel Tunnel, port facility or port security plan are excluded, as are parliamentary and devolved government premises.
Enter your premises and expected occupancy. You get the tier for each site and the reasoning behind it. Free, no account.