Vol. 525 No. 3
283 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider introducing regulations or primary legislation to make smoke alarms compulsory in both residential homes and places of employment. [24925/00]
Part B (fire safety) of the Building Regulations, 1997, sets out requirements in relation to fire safety in the design and construction of new buildings and the extension, material alteration or change of use of existing buildings. These requirements cover an extensive range of fire safety measures including the provision of smoke alarms in domestic dwellings and, where appropriate, more extensive fire detection and alarm systems in other building types.
I issued technical guidance document B in December 1997 to provide guidance on complying with the requirements of the building regulations. It provides extensive guidance on the provision of smoke alarms in dwelling houses and fire detection and alarm systems in other building types. The nature and extent of the provisions required depend primarily on the size and occupancy use of the buildings concerned, including use as residential homes and places of employment.
The Fire Services Act, 1981, places a general duty of care in relation to fire safety on persons in control of buildings to which the Act applies, excluding private dwelling houses. This duty extends to the provision of appropriate fire safety measures including fire detection and alarm systems in the buildings concerned where these are appropriate, irrespective of when the buildings were originally constructed. My Department has published a series of fire safety guidance documents for different occupancy types, hotels and guesthouses, flats, nursing homes, hostels, pre-schools, etc., to assist persons in complying with this statutory requirement.
Fire safety in the home is the responsibility of the individual householder. Better awareness of the dangers of fire and of fire hazards, with simple common sense fire prevention practices and the installation of smoke alarms, can help to prevent and reduce the number of fires and the consequent tragic fatalities and injuries. Accordingly, the National Safety Council actively encourages fire safety in the home as part of its ongoing fire safety education and publicity campaigns. Particular emphasis has been placed in recent media campaigns on the routine tasks to be carried out nightly to guard against fire and on the value of smoke alarms which, if properly installed and maintained, can provide early warning of fire and save lives. In addition, local authorities have been asked by my Department to consider the provision of smoke alarms in all their rented dwellings.
I have no proposals to introduce further legislation.
