Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Dec 1990

Vol. 404 No. 2

Written Answers. - Fire Safety Legislation.

Richard Bruton

Question:

103 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the management regulations which have been made under section 37 of the Fire Services Act, 1981 which will ensure that (a) all existing buildings comply with high standards in respect of (1) wall linings (2) floor coverings (3) warning and detector systems (4) sprinkler systems (5) wiring of emergency lighting (6) the display of plans (7) the presence of hose reels and (8) the isolation of kitchens and (b) adequate management systems are in place to deal with fire.

Richard Bruton

Question:

105 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment whether he has made regulations which would require management of places of entertainment, with capacity over 100, to inform patrons of the location of exits at least once every three hours during the period when the public are on the premises.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 105 together.

I refer to three publications on fire safety which I issued last year. These were, a Code of Practice for Fire Safety of Furnishings and Fittings in Places of Assembly, a Code of Practice for the Management of Fire Safety in Places of Assembly and a Guide to Fire Precautions in Hotels, Guesthouses and Similar Premises. These documents relate to a wide range of premises to which the public has access and their recommendations deal in a comprehensive manner with fire safety in those buildings.

While consideration is currently being given to the most appropriate manner in which legal backing might be given to the recommendations, I would point out that it is the responsibility of persons having control over premises of this type to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on the premises and to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire.