Fire Safety Certificates

What is required to be submitted in a Fire Safety Certificate Application?

Article 13 of the Building Control Regulations 1997 https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1997/si/496/front/revised/en/html  outlines the form of application for a Fire Safety Certificate Application. Every application should contain: 

• A completed application form.
• A fire safety report / compliance document addressing compliance with Part B of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations.
• Relevant drawings outlining the works to which the application relates. The drawings should illustrate compliance with the Building Regulations and correlate to the fire safety report / compliance document submitted.
• The appropriate fee.

The extent to which plans, and compliance document will be required to establish compliance with Building Regulations will vary in individual cases depending on the type, size and complexity of the building concerned, but the information in the following paragraphs can be used as a guideline. Where relevant, all the plans and information listed below should be supplied. 

 

Maps & Plans

These should be submitted in duplicate and should, where appropriate, include the following:

• Site Location Map:
  • Clearly define location to a scale of either one to one thousand (1:1000), one to two thousand five hundred (1:2500) or 1” inch to ½” is also acceptable.

• Layout Plan: to a scale of not less than one to five hundred (1:500) should show:
  • the boundaries of any land belonging to the building/works.
  • all roadways including widths within the boundaries.
  • locations of gateways or other restrictions to width of vehicular access at or within the boundaries.
  • locations of bridges, arches, cables, or other overhead restrictions to the height of vehicular access.
  • all access points to the building.
  • location and diameter of any watermain or hydrant adjacent to or within the boundaries.
  • all materials being stored.
  • location and type of isolation devices for building services, including ESB installations.
  • location and diameter of internal rising fire watermains and foam inlet pipes, if applicable.
  • location and type of control devices for active fire control systems, if applicable.
  • distances of buildings to boundaries.

• General Drawings Including: A dimensioned plan of each floor, a section through each storey/floor and roof of the building, together with drawings of each elevation should show all to an appropriate scale with all dimensions expressed in metric figures:
  • all materials used in construction.
  • periods of fire resistance of elements of structure and fire resisting doors.
  • intended use and floor area of each room / space.
  • fire compartmentation.
  • protected stairways/protected shafts.
  • barriers to passage of fire and smoke in cavities.
  • principal service ducts.
  • areas of high fire risk.
  • location and type of manual firefighting equipment.
  • firefighting shafts.
  • smoke ventilation provisions.
  • internal fire main outlets.

• The north point should be indicated on any Site Location or Site Layout plans.

Compliance Document

Calculations and details submitted in respect of the following:

• Section B1 Means of Escape in Case of Fire.
• Section B2 Internal Fire Spread (Linings).
• Section B3 Internal Fire Spread (Structure).
• Section B4 External Fire Spread.
• Section B5 Access and Facilities for the Fire Service.

Where the application is submitted as part of a 7 Day Notice Application additional certificates, forms and a statutory declaration are required as set out in the third schedule of the Building Control Regulations 1997 (as amended). Where the application is submitted as part of a Regularisation Certificate Application a statutory declaration is also required as set out in the third schedule of the Building Control Regulations 1997 (as amended).