Fire Safety & Access Ireland FSAi

Fire Safety FAQ

A Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) is a certificate issued by the Building Control Authority confirming that the proposed building or works to which the application relates, if constructed in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted, will comply with the requirements of Part B (Fire) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. 

Under Building Control Regulations S.I. 497 of 1997 (as amended) Part III Article 11(1), the following works or developments require a Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) (see exemptions below):

a) works in connection with the design and construction of a new building,
 
b) works in connection with the material alteration of: 
    1. a day centre.
    2. a building containing a flat.
    3. a hotel, hostel or guest building.
    4. an institutional building / care facility building.
    5. a place of assembly.
    6. a shopping centre.

but excluding works to such buildings, consisting solely of minor works..

c) works in connection with the material alteration of a shop, office, industrial building (normal / high hazard) or a storage building (normal / high hazard) where:

    1. additional floor area is being provided within the existing building, or
    2. the building is being sub-divided into a number of units for separate occupancy,

 

d) works in connection with the extension of a building by more than 25 square metres,

e) a building as regards which a material change of use takes place,

to which the requirements of Part B of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations apply.

Under Building Control Regulations S.I. 497 of 1997 (as amended) Part III Article 11(2), the following works or developments are exempted from the requirement to obtain a Fire Safety Certificate (FSC):

a) a single storey building which –

  1. is used exclusively for the storage of materials or products, for the accommodation of
    plant or machinery or in connection with the housing, care or management of livestock,
  2. is used solely for the purpose of agriculture, and
  3. is a building in which the only persons habitually employed are engaged solely in the
    care, supervision, regulation, maintenance, storage or removal of the materials,
    products, plant, machinery or livestock in the building,

and which is either attached to another such building or detached from any other building,

b) a building used as a dwelling other than a flat,

c) a single storey building used as a domestic garage,

d) a single storey building (other than one described in (c)) ancillary to a dwelling (such as a summer house, poultry-house, aviary, conservatory, coal shed, garden tool shed or bicycle shed) which is used exclusively for recreational or storage purposes or the keeping of plants, birds or animal for domestic purpose’s and is not used for the purposes of any trade or business or for human habitation,

or to works in connection with such a building provided that, after the works are carried out, the building is or continues to be a building referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) above.

Under Building Control Regulations S.I. 497 of 1997 (as amended) Part III Article 11(3) & (4), the requirement of Article 11 for the requirement of a Fire Safety Certificate is not applicable to works carried out in compliance with a notice served under Section 20 of the Fire Services Act 1981, or works to Tier 1 or Tier 2 buildings carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Remediation of Fire Safety Defects.

Under Building Control Regulations S.I. 497 of 1997 (as amended) Part IIIA Article 20B(1)(a), a Revised Fire Safety Certificate (RFSC) is required of works or developments:
  1. where the original application for a fire safety certificate was submitted prior to the grant of planning permission, if necessitated by the subsequent grant of such planning permission, for the purpose of ensuring that the revised design arising from the grant of planning permission (including any conditions attached to it) complies with the requirements of Part B of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations, or
  2. where significant revision is made to the design or works of a building or an extension of, a material alteration to or a material change of use of a building in respect of which a fire safety certificate has been granted by a building control authority.

Under Building Control Regulations S.I. 497 of 1997 (as amended) Part III Article 20B(1)(aa), the requirement of Article 20B(1)(a) for the requirement of a Revised Fire Safety Certificate is not applicable to works to Tier 1 or Tier 2 buildings carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Remediation of Fire Safety Defects.

Under Building Control Regulations S.I. 497 of 1997 (as amended) Part IIIA Article 20C(1), a Fire Safety Regularisation Certificate is required of works or developments where works have been commenced or completed without having obtained a required Fire Safety Certificate (FSC), in respect of the construction of a building or an extension of or a material alteration to a building. (This part is not applicable to Material Change of Use).

A Regularisation Certificate application process is similar to that of a Fire Safety Certification (FSC) application. However, it must include a Statutory Declaration form declaring that the submitted documents are true and accurate and correctly reflect the actual existing building.

Access FAQ

A Disability Access Certificate (DAC) is a certificate issued by the Building Control Authority confirming that the proposed building or works to which the application relates, if constructed in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted, will comply with the requirements of Part M (Access & Use) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. 

Under Building Control Regulations S.I. 497 of 1997 (as amended) Part IIIB Article 20D(1), the following works or developments require a Disability Access Certificate (DAC) (see exemptions below):

a) works in connection with the design and construction of a new building,

b) works in connection with the material alteration of:

  1. a day centre.
  2. a hotel, hostel or guest building.
  3. an institutional building / care facility building.
  4. a place of assembly.
  5. a shopping centre.


but excluding works to such buildings, consisting solely of minor works,


c) works in connection with the material alteration of a shop, office, industrial building
(normal / high hazard) or a storage building (normal / high hazard) where –

  1. additional floor area is being provided within the existing building or
  2. the building is being sub-divided into a number of units for separate occupancy,

 

d) works in connection with the extension of a building by more than 25 square metres,

e) a building as regards which a material change of use takes place, where a building which was not being used as –

  1. a day centre, becomes so used, or
  2. a hotel, hostel or guest building, becomes so used, or
  3. an institutional building / care facility building, becomes so used, or
  4. a place of assembly, becomes so used, or
  5. a shop (which is not ancillary to the primary use of the building), becomes so used, or
  6. a shopping centre, becomes so used,

 

to which the requirements of Part M of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations apply.

Under Building Control Regulations S.I. 497 of 1997 (as amended) Part IIIB Article 20D(2), the following works or developments are exempted from the requirement to obtain a Disability Access Certificate (DAC):

a) a building which –

    1. is used exclusively for the storage of materials or products, for the accommodation of plant or machinery or in connection with the housing, care or management of livestock,
    2. is used solely for the purpose of agriculture, and
    3. is a building in which the only persons habitually employed are engaged solely in the care, supervision, regulation, maintenance, storage or removal of the materials, products, plant, machinery or livestock in the building, and which is either attached to another such building or detached from any other building,

 

b) a building used as a dwelling other than a flat,

c) a building used as a domestic garage,

d) a building (other than one described in (c)) ancillary to a dwelling (such as a summer house, poultry-house, aviary, conservatory, coal shed, garden tool shed or bicycle shed) which is used exclusively for recreational or storage purposes or the keeping of plants, birds or animal for domestic purpose’s and is not used for the purposes of any trade or business or for human habitation,

e) a building used solely to enable inspection, repair or maintenance of fixed plant, building
services, or machinery,

or to works in connection with such a building provided that, after the works are carried out, the building is or continues to be a building referred to in paragraphs (a) to (E).

Under Building Control Regulations S.I. 497 of 1997 (as amended) Part IIIB Article 20E(1), a Revised Disability Access Certificate (RDAC) is required where significant revision is made to the design or works of a building or an extension of, a material alteration to or a material change of use of a building in respect of which a disability access certificate has been granted by a building control authority.