Fire safety for building owners

The main form of legislation in Ireland that applies in relation to fire safety is the Fire Service Act 1981. This legislation covers the duties of the owner of premises.

A fire at the Stardust Disco in Dublin 1981, causing the loss of 48 young lives, resulted in a complete overhaul in fire protection and fire prevention in Ireland. The Fire Services Act was introduced in the hope that events like this will never occur again in Ireland.

The most relevant sections of fire legislation for building owners in Ireland are:

Fire Service Act 1981 Section 18 (2)

• It shall be the duty of every person having control over premises to which this section applies to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on such premises
• To ensure as far as reasonably practicable the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire

Fire Service Act 1981 Section 37

• Enables the Minister of the Environment to make regulations in relation to the premises to which section 18 applies
• Requires the owner of a premises to have a fire safety program for the premises
• Requires the owner of a premises to appoint a person to take charge of it (a Fire Warden)
• Requires the owner of a premises to guard against the outbreak of fire and ensure the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire