Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2009
595 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason fire safety applications prepared according to British Standard BS9999 are not being accepted by his Department; when it will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15688/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for assessment of Fire Safety Certificate applications is vested in the 37 local Building Control Authorities. Applications for fire safety certificates are made to the authorities under the Building Control Regulations, 1997. When applications are validated and assessed, Building Control Authorities may grant, grant with conditions or refuse to grant a fire safety certificate. An applicant may appeal a decision of the authority to An Bord Pleanála.
My Department has published technical guidance documents to assist those involved in the design and construction of buildings in regard to compliance with the Building Regulations, including the fire safety requirements. Where works are carried out in accordance with this guidance, this will, prima facie, indicate compliance with the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations.
It is also open to designers to use an alternative approach, generally using a fire safety engineering approach, to meeting fire safety requirements, provided compliance with the requirements of the Regulations can be demonstrated. In this regard, my Department recently sought comments from local authorities and the Building Regulations Advisory Body on the use of British Standard BS 9999: 2008 — Code of Practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings as a further basis for showing compliance with the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations. A number of submissions were received and are currently under consideration.
