Vol. 551 No. 2
344 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the provisions for the accessibility of fire fighting equipment or sprinklers in multi-occupancy buildings which are being newly erected; and if his Department has under consideration measures to increase the standard of requirement on such buildings. [9763/02]
The Building Control Act, 1990 and associated regulations apply minimum standards to the design and construction of new buildings, extensions, alterations and prescribed changes of use of existing buildings. Part B of the Building Regulations, 1997 details the fire safety requirements to be complied with. Technical Guidance document B, fire safety, 1997 provides guidance on how to comply with the requirements of part B of the building regulations, including guidance on the provision of access where buildings are fitted with sprinkler systems, technical guidance document B states that the sprinkler system should meet the relevant recommendations of BS 5306: Part 2: 1990, fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises, specification for sprinkler systems.
While fire safety regulations are constantly under review, there are no measures currently under consideration in my Department to amend the standards of requirement on such buildings.
