Fire Safety Certificate
A Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) is a certificate issued by the local Building Control Authority (typically
your County or City Council) that confirms the design of a proposed building, if constructed in
accordance with the submitted plans and specifications, will comply with Part B (Fire Safety) of the
Second Schedule to the Building Regulations.
Fire Safety Certificates
In Ireland, under the Building Control Act 1990/2007, a Fire Safety Certificate is required where the requirements of Part B of the Building Regulations will apply. This includes most new buildings (except a single dwelling house), where certain works to existing buildings is carried out and where a material alteration or change of use applies. We have the expertise to assist you in applying to the local authority for a Fire Safety Certificate.
Why is a Fire Safety Certificate needed?
The primary reason for an FSC is to ensure a proposed building's design meets the required fire
safety standards as set out in the Building Regulations. This is a legal requirement for certain types of
buildings and works to ensure:
-Life Safety: Adequate means of escape in case of fire.
-Containment: Measures to limit the spread of fire both internally and externally.
-Access: Provision of access and facilities for the Fire Service.
Legal Requirements and When to Obtain One
Legal Requirement
The Building Control Act 1990 (as amended) and subsequent Building Control Regulations mandate that a person shall not carry out works that require a Fire Safety Certificate until a certificate has been granted by the Building Control Authority.
When to Obtain a Fire Safety Certificate? A standard Fire Safety Certificate must be applied for and granted before work commences on site.
You cannot lodge your Commencement Notice to start construction until you have received your FSC. There are also different types of certificates for specific circumstances:
– Revised Fire Safety Certificate: Required if significant revisions are made to a design for
which a standard FSC has already been granted.
-Regularisation Certificate: Required retrospectively where building works that needed an
FSC were commenced or completed without one. This involves a much higher fee and is a
chance to rectify a breach of the regulations.
– 7 Day Notice: This is a mechanism that allows a person to submit a Commencement Notice
and begin construction before the Fire Safety Certificate is granted, provided it is submitted
not less than 7 days before starting work and is accompanied by a valid FSC application and a statutory declaration of compliance. This incurs a higher fee.