Approved Codes of Practice and Guides

Various fire safety guidance documents have been published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that provide recommendations relating to the provision, design and informational content of fire service intervention plans, fire alarm zone charts, and fire escape plans. These documents are intended to give the necessary guidance to persons having control (PHC) of premises to which members of the public are admitted as to the measures necessary to discharge their statutory obligations under Section 18(2) of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003.

Section 5.5.3 of The Fire Safety Guide for Building Owners and Operators (2022) provides guidance for building owners/managers having the duty of care given under section 18(2), and has the following recommendation for the provision and content of a fire service intervention plan:

In larger or more complex premises plans of the building may be made available to the fire brigade upon their arrival. Such plans may indicate the following:

• Staircases and escape routes
• Fire protection facilities including water sources
• First aid fire-fighting equipment
• Gas and electricity supply shut-off points
• Storage of gas cylinders and other hazardous materials
• The control panel for the automatic detection and alarm system and the control device for any ventilation systems

Section 5.3.3 has the following recommendation for the provision of fire safety instructions and a diagramatic floor plan for the occupants of a building:

In addition to instructions for staff, written instructions on the action to be taken by building occupants on the discovery of a fire or on hearing the fire alarm should be displayed in prominent positions throughout the building. Instructions should be accompanied by a simple floor plan showing schematically the location of storey exits. Particular attention should be drawn to the general advice that lifts should not be used in the event of fire.

Appendix C 1 recommends provision of fire safety instructions (and a diagramatic floor plan) for residents of apartments as follows:

Instructions for escape in the event of fire should be posted on the back of each apartment entrance door. The instructions should also include a floor plan and the following information:

• The action to be taken in the event of fire
• The action to be taken on discovering a fire or hearing the fire alarm
• The procedure for calling the fire brigade
• The location of all relevant escape routes from the building (on the floor plan)
• The location of fire alarm call points and the fire alarm control panel(s)
• The location of firefighting equipment

Section 6.2 has the following recommendation for the provision of a zone chart for the fire detection and alarm system:

A zone plan drawing should be displayed on a wall next to the fire alarm panel. This should indicate the locations of the fire detection and alarm zones in layout form for all floors throughout the building.

Section 1.6 of the Code of Practice for the Management of Fire Safety in Places of Assembly has the following recommendation for wall-displayed fire service intervention and fire evacuation plans:

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.

The Code applies to all premises that are put to any of the following uses: The Code also applies to the premises listed above 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 applies to any pre-school, play group, day nursery, creche, day-care or other similar service which caters for children under 6 years of age, and has the following recommendation:

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 recommendation 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 recommendation for a fire service 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 recommendation:

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 recommendation:

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 recommendation:

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.