Workplace Fire Safety - 2024 Complete Guide for Ireland

In this article, we discuss who is responsible for fire safety and how businesses in Ireland can maintain a safe and protective environment for their staff and customers.

Businesses have always needed to protect the welfare of people who work on or visit their premises, regardless of which industry they are in. Of course, the activity on site does influence the level of risk associated with certain dangers such as injury from an accident or fire at work. Fire safety in the workplace is a prominent concern for all businesses, to create a safe environment and comply with fire regulations.

By the end, you’ll hopefully have a better understanding of what measures your business must take to ensure your property, assets, and staff are fully protected and compliant with the fire safety rules.

In the article, we’ll cover:

• Who is Responsible for Fire Safety in the Workplace in Ireland?
• What are the Governing Bodies for Fire Safety at Work in Ireland?
• What are the pieces of Legislation that govern the need for Fire Detection and Alarm Systems?
• What are the Standards to which Fire Detection and Alarm Systems should comply?
• What are the first steps every business must take for fire safety compliance?
• What Fire Safety Equipment will your business need?
• What to do next?

   

Who is Responsible for Fire Safety in the Workplace in Ireland?

The Fire Services Act 1981-2003 places the responsibility for fire safety on the "person having control of premises". This can be the owner or occupier of the building. For each business it will depend on who is designated person responsible for Fire Safety at the workplace. In cases where this has not been designated, like small businesses, the responsibility will lie mostly on the owner or occupier.

What are the Governing Bodies for Fire Safety at Work in Ireland?

Several pieces of legislation and standards govern fire safety in Irish workplaces. First, let's start with the regulating legislative bodies that oversee Fire Detection and Safety:

• Health and Safety Authority (HSA): The HSA acts as a watchdog, monitoring how employers manage fire risks in the workplace. They ensure compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. This includes conducting inspections and offering guidance to businesses on fire safety best practices.
• National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI): The NSAI sets the national standards for fire safety equipment in Ireland. These standards are crucial for ensuring the proper installation, operation, and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems. The most relevant standards for workplaces include:
  • I.S. 3218: 2013 - Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings - This standard outlines the design, installation, commissioning, servicing, and maintenance requirements for fire detection and alarm systems in all buildings, including workplaces. Following this standard ensures your system meets the necessary safety criteria.
  • I.S. 3217: 2013 - Emergency lighting - This standard specifies the requirements for emergency lighting systems in buildings, which play a vital role in safe evacuation during a fire incident.

What are the pieces of Legislation that govern the need for Fire Detection and Alarm Systems?
 

There are essentially two pieces of legislation that governs the need for a fire detection and alarm system in buildings, these are:

1. The Fire Services Act 1981-2003

This act lays the foundation for fire safety responsibilities in Ireland. Here's a breakdown of its role regarding fire detection and alarms:

• General Duty of Care: The act places the responsibility for fire safety on the "person having control of premises," which can be the owner or occupier of a building. This duty includes taking all reasonable measures to guard against fire outbreaks and ensuring the safety of occupants in the event of a fire. Fire detection and alarm systems play a crucial role in fulfilling this duty by providing early warning of a fire incident.
• Powers of Fire Authorities: The act empowers local fire authorities to conduct inspections of premises and enforce fire safety regulations. These inspections may include verifying the presence and functionality of fire detection and alarm systems.

2. The Building Regulations 1997-2017

These regulations set specific technical requirements for building construction and design, including fire safety measures. Here's how they impact fire detection and alarm systems:

• Prescriptive vs. Goal-Setting Approach: The regulations sometimes take a prescriptive approach, mandating specific types of fire detection and alarm systems for certain building types (e.g., high-rise buildings). However, they often adopt a goal-setting approach, requiring buildings to achieve a specific level of fire safety but allowing flexibility in how this is achieved. Fire detection and alarm systems are often a key element in meeting these fire safety goals.
• Compliance with Approved Documents: The regulations are supported by a series of Approved Documents which provide detailed guidance on how to achieve compliance. These documents likely include specific sections related to fire detection and alarm systems, outlining technical specifications, installation requirements, and maintenance procedures.

What are the Standards to which Fire Detection and Alarm Systems should comply?

Irish Standard I.S. 3218: 2013 “Fire detection and alarm system for buildings – system design, installations, commissioning, servicing and maintenance” is the standard for fire detection and alarm systems in Ireland. This standard covers both domestic (i.e. - dwelling house, apartments, maisonettes etc.) and commercial (i.e. shops, offices, industrial, places of assembly, storage and other similar building) systems.

The Workplace Chapter of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (the General Application Regulations) has fire safety requirements, e.g.

• Regulation 11 Doors and gates
• Regulation 12 Emergency routes and exits
• Regulation 13 Fire detection and fire fighting
• Regulation 18 cleanliness and accumulations of waste
• Regulation 25 Employees with disabilities

The Fire Services Act 1981-2003 specifies that it shall be the duty of every person having control of premises (i.e. owner or occupier) to ensure the safety of people on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire whether such an outbreak has occurred or not.

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What are the rules for Fire Safety at work?

According to the government rules, the person or team responsible for fire safety must carry out the following actions:

      1. Fire Risk Assessment

• Conduct Regular Assessments: Identify potential fire hazards and evaluate the risks.
• Review Regularly: Keep the assessment up-to-date, especially after any significant changes in the workplace. 
  • Yearly or as required

      2. Fire Safety Measures

• Install and Maintain Equipment: Ensure fire alarms, extinguishers, and emergency lighting are in place and functional.
  • Yearly service required 
• Clear Escape Routes: Keep exits and escape routes unobstructed.

      3. Emergency Planning

• Create an Emergency Plan: Develop a plan detailing actions to take in case of a fire.
• Conduct Fire Drills: Regularly practice fire drills to ensure everyone knows what to do.
  • Yearly or Quarterly depending on the workplace

      4. Training and Information

• Inform and Train Staff: Provide fire safety training and information to all employees.
  • Yearly or every 2 years for fire warden training.
• Designate Fire Wardens: Assign specific roles to individuals to manage fire safety and evacuation.

      5. Legal Compliance

• Follow Regulations: Comply with local fire safety laws and regulations, such as the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
• Coordinate in Shared Premises: If you share a building, coordinate fire safety plans with other responsible parties.

      6. Maintenance and Housekeeping

• Regular Checks: Perform regular checks and maintenance on fire safety equipment.
  • Monthly checks on fire extinguishers, escape routes, signage etc..
• Minimize Hazards: Properly store and handle flammable materials to reduce fire risks.

As you can see this list of responsibilities creates the framework for the measures your business must put in place for maintaining fire safety at work.

From that list, you can see that you’ll need to create a policy for working safely, which will also require training for employees and appropriate signage for any visitors. Your site must have the right equipment in place to provide adequate protection in the event of a fire emergency. You’ll also need to ensure that equipment and procedures are regularly tested and maintained. If you need help with any of these steps, feel free to contact our Security Expert to help with the matter.

What are the first steps every business must take for Fire Safety compliance?

As the government guidance advises, the first step all businesses should take is to conduct a thorough Fire Safety Risk Assessment and review of their current systems and protocols. If you’re starting from scratch (if it is a new business or you may be moving to new premises) or if you’re reviewing the existing measures you have in place, it is best to start with a survey of your site.

You will need to look out for fire safety hazards, some of which are obvious, like sources of ignition (heaters, naked flames). Others may be less obvious such as sources of oxygen, like open windows or doors, or even holes in your building due to damage.

The fire detection and alarm systems you have in place need to be in good repair and suitable for your building and the activity that occurs there. If you’re surveying an old building, you may need to arrange maintenance, upgrading or replacing old equipment.

You can also think about your safety protocols like the evacuation procedure while you walk around your site. Identify key exits and ensure they’re not blocked in any way, plan safe routes to exit your building and to your designated meeting point.

Due to the technical nature of a site survey, we recommend you hire a fire safety professional to help you identify key areas of concern. They’ll have more knowledge and experience to spot things you might otherwise miss. Speak to one of our experts at Securitas Technology about conducting a thorough professional assessment of your fire safety.

After a thorough audit of your site, you should know:

• what fire safety detection and alarm systems you need
• what measures for fire prevention you need (different types of extinguishers, fire blankets, sprinklers)
• what fire safety protocols you need to enforce and what training you’ll need to provide.