Approved Codes of Practice and Guides

Various fire safety codes of practice and guidance documents have been published by the Department of the Environment and Local Government that have specific requirements relating to the design and informational content of fire brigade intervention plans and fire escape plans. These codes of practice and guidance documents are enforced by the 37 local fire authorities throughout Ireland.

Section 1.2 of the Code of Practice for the Management of Fire Safety in Places of Assembly states that it is -

"...intended to give the necessary guidance to persons in control of places of assembly as to the measures necessary to discharge their existing statutory obligations under Section 18(2) of the Fire Services Act 1981."

Section 1.6 has the following requirements for a wall-displayed fire emergency intervention plan of the premises that is intended for use by the members of the fire brigade and for wall-displayed fire escape floor plans that are intended for use by the members of the public.:

A plan of the premises should be displayed permanently inside the main entrance(s) where it will be clearly visible to persons entering the building showing the basement, ground floor, and each upper storey as applicable. This plan should clearly indicate the location of staircases and escape routes, firefighting equipment, gas, electricity and ventilation shut off devices, the control panel for any fire detection and alarm system, installations such as fuel tanks, boiler houses and areas of high fire risk such as kitchens, projection rooms and scenery stores by reference to the point at which the plan is displayed - that point should be clearly identified on the plan and designated by the words "You are here".

A copy of this plan should be kept on the premises for the information of the officer-in-charge of the fire brigade.

A floor plan should be displayed in a prominent position on each floor indicating the escape routes and the location of firefighting equipment by reference to the point at which the plan is displayed - that point should be clearly identified on the plan and designated by the words "You are here".

All plans should be displayed on durable material, be easily legible, and drawn to a suitable scale.

It applies to all premises that are put to any of the following uses:

• Amusement arcade
• Art gallery
• Assembly hall
• Bingo hall
• Casino
• Concert hall
• Conference hall
• Cinema
• Dance hall (including discotheque)
• Ecclesiastical building
• Exhibition hall
• Funfair building
• Grandstand
• Gymnasium
• Indoor bowling alley
• Indoor games court
• Library to which the public are admitted
• Museum
• Non-residential college or school
• Non-residential club
• Premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor other than an off-licence
• Radio or television studio to which the public are admitted
• Restaurant, cafe, canteen
• Riding school
• Skating rink
• Sports pavilion
• Stadium
• Swimming baths (including any swimming pool, changing rooms, or similar facilities)
• Tent or marquee to which the public are admitted
• Theatre

It should be noted that it also applies to these premises where they are part of premises used primarily for other uses e.g. a restaurant, dance hall or premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor etc. contained within a hotel.

The Guide to Fire Safety in Pre-Schools has the following requirement:

A plan of each floor of the premises should be included in the Fire Safety Register. The plan should ideally be in A4 or A3 size format.

Section 11.5 (ii) of the Guide to Fire Precautions in Existing Hotels, Guesthouses, and Similar Premises has the following requirement for fire escape plans:

Precise instructions on the action to be taken by guests in the event of a fire should be prominently posted in each bedroom in the premises. These instructions should be in other languages where appropriate, and use internationally accepted symbols. The instructions should be accompanied by a simple floor plan showing schematically the location of the room in relation to the escape routes, stairways and/or exits. Particular attention should be drawn to the fact that lifts should not be used in the event of fire, except for lifts reserved for the disabled and which are specially protected from fire.

Section 11.9 (C) has the following requirement for a fire brigade intervention plan:

A plan of the hotel/guesthouse should be lodged with the fire authority which should indicate the location of:

• Stairways and escape routes
• Fire protection facilities
• First aid firefighting equipment
• Gas and electricity supply shut-off points
• Where appropriate:
  • The control device for ventilation systems
  • The control panel for the automatic detection and alarm system

This type of plan, which would normally be similar to that required to indicate escape routes to guests, should be of a suitable scale, and cover a floor or compartment per sheet.

Section 3.6 of the Guide to Fire Safety in Hostels has the following requirement:

Written instructions on the action to be taken by the occupants on the discovery of a fire or on hearing the fire alarm should be displayed in a prominent position in each dormitory, bedroom, kitchen and common room. These instructions should be multi-lingual as appropriate. Instructions should be accompanied by a simple floor plan showing schematically the location of alternative storey exits.

Appendix D specifies that the floor plan should include -

...a ground level plan of area surrounding the premises indicating the assembly points, Indicating : You are Here, Escape Routes, Alarm Points, Extinguishers

Section 2.4 of the Guide to Fire Safety in Guest Accommodation has the following requirement:

A notice of the procedures to be followed by guests in the event of a fire should be provided in all guest bedrooms, displayed on the back of each bedroom door. This should concentrate on evacuation of the premises when hearing the fire alarm or other warning and drawing attention to the means of escape. Instructions should be clear and concise and should preferably be multi-lingual to cater for foreign guests. As guests are unlikely to be familiar with the internal layout of the premises, the instructions should include a simple location map, indicating the escape routes relative to each room.

Section 4.6 of the Guide to Fire Safety in Flats, Bedsitters and Apartments has the following requirement:

A drawing of each floor should be displayed inside the entrance door to each flat, showing all escape routes from the building.

Section 4.10 elaborates:

The following information should also be provided on the floor plan of the building, as appropriate:

• The location of all relevant escape routes from the building.
• The location of fire alarm call points and fire alarm control panel.
• The location of firefighting equipment.