1. Code of Practice for Fire Safety in New and Existing Community Dwelling Houses
Eamon O’ Boyle

2. CODE STRUCTURE
Legal provisions
Fire Safety Management
Fire Safety Measures
Appendices

3. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP The committee was selected from the following
disciplines:
HSE Estates Department
HIQA Representative
External Fire Safety Consultants
Architects
Department of the Environment
Chief Fire Officers Association
Service Users
Private Providers

4. Guidance on Fire Safety in Community Dwellings Currently 3 categories
PURPOSE OF CODE
Guidance on Fire Safety in Community Dwellings
Currently 3 categories
Residential (Dwellings);Purpose Group 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c)
Residential (Institutional) ; Purpose Group 2(a)
Other Residential; Purpose Group 2 (b)
Purpose groups not suitable for providers of Community Buildings
Create domestic atmosphere
Need for new purpose group

5. SCOPE OF PROPOSED NEW CODE OF PRACTICE
Dwellings covered by code:
These dwellings would normally be served by a single staircase
Maximum number of bedrooms: 8 (6 residents – 2 carers).
Dwelling Type (Existing and new buildings) 1 2 3
Single storey community dwelling
Two storey community dwelling (ground and first floor level)
Three storey community dwelling (ground, first and second floor level)
Buildings with basements are not included under this Code of Practice.

6. BUILDING USERS DEFINED
Typical users:
Children with disabilities
People with mental health issues
People with intellectual disability
People with physical disability
Residents professionally assessed

7. INTERPRETATION OF CODE OF PRACTICE
Guide for new and existing premises /low/medium support
Code flexible and adaptable to variety of situations
Professional judgement + common sense assumed

8. LEGAL PROVISIONS A. Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003;
B. Technical Guidance Document B (Fire Safety) to the Building Regulations, – Volume 2;
C. Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005;
D. Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013.

9. APPLICATION OF THE CODE OF PRACTICE
Premises must be suitable with appropriate features
Guidance has two main areas:
Fire Safety Management
Fire Safety Measures

10. MANAGEMENT OF FIRE SAFETY
Fire Services Act Duty of Care (Section 18 FSA) by owners and occupants;
The guide provides for a standardisation of fire safety programme and day-to-day management.

11. MANAGEMENT OF FIRE SAFETY
FIRE SAFETY PROGRAMME
Monitored on a day to day basis
Good Housekeeping
Striving for continued improvement

12. MANAGEMENT OF FIRE SAFETY
Fire Prevention
Staff Training
Emergency Procedures and Evacuation Drills
Equipment Testing and Maintenance
Maintenance of Escape Routes
Fire Brigade Liaison
Records (See Appendices)

13. BUILDING REGULATIONS
Principle of fire safety measures:
Smoke travel
Building Services
Furniture + Fittings
Emergency Services

14. FIRE SAFETY MEASURES
Guidance on the principal fire safety measures are outlined as:
Horizontal Escape Routes
Vertical Escape Routes
General Provisions for Means of Escape
Internal Fire Spread (Linings)
Internal Fire Spread (Structure)
External Fire Spread
Access and Facilities for the Fire Service.

15. FIRE SAFETY MEASURES
Travel distance
< 10m in a bedroom
Protection of escape routes
Corridors / walls / door / ceilings
Fire doors
Self closing except bathrooms and service ducts (locked)

16. FIRE SAFETY MEASURES Windows and Rooflights
Windows required for new adaptions i.e. TGD- B compliant
Replacement windows should be suitable for escape
Door and escape routes
Simple fastenings (no key)
Minimum 750mm
Secure doors override in direction of escape
Electrical powered doors return to unlock position

17. FIRE SAFETY MEASURES Portable Fire Extinguishers
First Aid Fire Fighting
Located appropriately
Need for training
Fire Blankets
1x heavy duty fire blankets
2x heavy duty heat protective blankets
Hose Reels – Not necessary

18. FIRE SAFETY MEASURES Internal fire spread (linings)
Linings do not start fire but can contribute;
Limit by proper selection of linings.
Thermoplastic materials
Significant hazard;
Limited provision.
General Provisions
Room Type
Class of Lining
National
European
Circulation spaces
Toilets /Bathrooms
All other rooms
Class 1
Class 3
 Class 1
Class C – s3, d2
Class D – s3, d2
 Class C – s3, d2

19. FIRE SAFETY MEASURES Structural fire precautions Requirements:
Structural elements capable of withstanding fire impact
Subdivision of building
Openings protected
Voids subdivided

20. FIRE SAFETY MEASURES External fire spread
External wall need to have resistance to fire spread
Spread of fire from one building to another needs to be restricted
Permitted unprotected areas in small residential buildings
Min. distance between side of building and relevant/notional boundary
Maximum total area of unprotected areas (m2)
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
5.6 12 18 24 30
No limit

21. ACCESS AND FACILITIES FOR THE FIRE BRIGADE
Requirements
Enable fire appliance access near the building
Provide access into the building
Water supply
Fire Mains
Building < 1000m² no internal mains
Vehicle access within 45m

22. DIRECT COMPARISON OF MINIMUM STANDARDS BY BUILDING TYPE
ELEMENT
INSTITUTIONAL BUILDING
DOMESTIC DWELLING HOUSE
COMMUNITY DWELLING
Fire Resistance of Floors
60/60/60 mins
non-combustible
compartment construction
30/30/30 mins [3 storey dwelling]
30/15/15 mins [2 storey dwelling]
30/30/30 mins.
[all new builds and existing 3 storey dwellings]
Enclosure of Escape Stairs
60/60/60 min. protected shaft
30/30/30 mins
[uncontrolled fire load in stair enclosure]
30/30/30mins
[No unprotected storage cupboards allowed in stair]
Separating Walls
60/60/60 mins.
Fire Detection and Alarm System
Category L1 System
Grade D
Category LD1 System
[toilets/en-suites subject to risk assessment]
Emergency Lighting
Maintained/Sustained System in accordance with IS 3217:2013
No requirement
Non-Maintained/Switch-Maintained in accordance with IS 3217:2013
Management
Strictly regulated
Up to individual
Buildings with the height of top storey not more than 20m [3 storey maximum - Table A2 – of Technical Guidance Document B]

23. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Able to accommodate people in a domestic setting to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes
Provides a framework to use domestic dwellings that achieve the requirements of the second schedule of the building regulations for accommodating people with disabilities
Provides a framework for demonstrating compliance with the Fire Services Act