Written answers

Monday, 11 September 2017

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Fire Safety

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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2026. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is satisfied that every high rise and multi-unit development has been appropriately inspected for fire safety and is fully in compliance with all fire safety regulations, in view of the Grenfell fire disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38186/17]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Under Section 18(2) of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003, there is a standing responsibility for fire safety in buildings of all kinds to which this legislation applies on the “person having control” of the premises.  In addition, the design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014 and the primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations, including fire safety, rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings. 

Auditing and enforcement of the provisions of the Fire Services Act and Building Regulations is a function of the 31 local authorities, who have a suite of enabling and enforcement powers under both legislative codes.

In response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy and in recognition of fears expressed for fire safety, on 27 June 2017, I tasked the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in my Department with co-ordinating a high-level Task Force to lead Ireland’s re-appraisal of fire safety. The Task Force was requested to oversee and report on a number of initial steps and to consider urgently any potential life safety issues arising and appropriate responses.  The Task Force is reviewing and re-appraising existing arrangements and systems for fire safety and related issues which impact on fire safety in Ireland. As it carries out its work, the Task Force will continue to take into account information and developments arising in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire. 

In addition to establishing the Task Force, I requested that a number of initial actions be taken, including reviews of fire safety in social housing and fire safety in medium and high rise buildings. The Task Force is preparing an initial report for me by the end of September 2017, with a further report setting out further proposals for my consideration in 2018.

Local authorities were requested to review fire safety in the multi-storey social housing sector. Initial research undertaken in response has not identified any residential buildings in Ireland directly comparable, or of a similar scale, to Grenfell Tower. The responses from all 31 local authorities indicated that there are 1,250 multi storey social housing buildings in Ireland, containing 17,060 flats. Initial assessments of fire safety features in these buildings indicated a high level of presence of appropriate fire safety features and action has been initiated by the local authorities to rectify specific identified concerns.  

Local authorities have confirmed also that they commenced a process of engagement with management companies of privately-owned multi-storey buildings where social housing is being provided in relation to the fire safety responsibilities of those companies as the ‘person having control’ of the building. 

The Task Force Working Group on Social Housing will continue to analyse the returns received and identify issues which merit further consideration or action.

Local authorities were also requested to carry out a preliminary survey to identify buildings of more than six storeys, or more than 18m in height, fitted with external cladding or rain screen systems, with or without insulation, that may be a cause for concern in respect of potential for rapid fire spread, and to consider whether use of the power to require a fire safety assessment is warranted, in respect of identified buildings.  This request covered residential accommodation and other buildings.  Residential buildings include flats or maisonettes, residential institutional uses (hospitals, nursing homes, homes for old people or children, schools or other similar establishments providing accommodation) and other residential uses (including hotels, hostels, guest buildings, residential colleges, halls of residence). 

A total of 847 such medium to high rise buildings have been identified in these categories, including 372 residential and 475 ‘other’ uses. Of these, the presence of cladding has been noted in 86 residential and 160 non-residential buildings. For 86 residential buildings and 111 non-residential buildings, local authorities have decided to request the persons having control over the building to carry out a fire safety assessment (under section 18(6)(a) of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 & 2003) on buildings with cladding systems and concealed spaces (cavities) in the external wall construction and its potential impact on fire safety in the building.

As the work of the Fire Safety Task Force progresses, the issue of reviewing buildings less than 18m in height will be considered. The 18m height threshold for initial consideration was chosen as this is the height at which specific additional fire safety requirements are triggered in building regulations. This is also seen as the maximum height at which external fire-fighting is possible.

I will consider all issues emerging, including regulatory arrangements, in line with developments and the reports of the Task Force and, particularly, as further information becomes available in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire.

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