Chris Barry B.Sc. ,M.Sc. ,Pg. Dip. FSP, H.N.C . National Directorate for Fire and

1. Fire Safety in New and Existing Community Dwelling Houses Chris Barry B.Sc. ,M.Sc. ,Pg. Dip. FSP, H.N.C. National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management. May 2019

2. Presentation Overview • ·         Building Regulations • · Background to the development of the code • · TGD B Vol 2 Dwelling Houses 2017 - general provisions • ·     Definition of a Community Dwelling House • ·COP Fire safety measures • ·COP Management provisions • ·         COP Risk Assessment • ·        Conclusion

3. Building Control Acts1990 & 2007 • Building Control Regulations 1997-2017 • TGD Parts A-M • Part B – Fire Safety • Building Regulations 1997-2018 • Commencement notice • Lodgement of Plans • Fire Safety Certificate • Technical Guidance Document • Part B Fire Safety 2006 • Vol.2 Dwelling Houses • Certificate of compliance on completion T.G.D. Part B Regulatory Framework

4. Building Regulations • Building regulations provide for Life safety • Smoke is the primary threat to life, where fires occur in buildings.  Smoke can result from combustion of a variety of building contents, including furniture, and building fabric.  • FDAS give early warning in the event of fire, and enable people to exit from the building at as early a stage as possible.  • Emergency Lighting • Protected means of escape • Fire Doors • Compartmentation

5. Legislation/Structure • Legislation/Structure; • New two volume structure: • Vol.1 Buildings other than dwellings(including Apts) • Vol 2 Dwelling houses • Publication of TGD B Vol 2: new S.I. 57/2017 Building Regulations(Part B Amendment) Regulations 2017 . • Allows changes in legislation to accommodate reference to means of warning and new definition of dwelling house • New additional functional requirements of the building regulations B6-B10 arranged in Section 0 - Section 5 of TGD B Volume 2 • Commencement date 1st July 2017 • www.housing.gov.ie/housing/building-standards/tgd-part-b-fire-safety/technical-guidance-document-b-fire-safety-volume-2

6. Policy Background • “National housing strategy for Persons with a Disability 2011-2016”: Department of Environment Community and Local Government • “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings: A Strategy for Community Inclusion” • Report of the Working Group on Congregated Settings, H.S.E. June 2011 • “Statement of Strategy 2015-2017” Department of Environment Community and Local Government: • The Health Act 2007 • The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’

7. Code of Practice for fire safety in new and existing Community Dwelling Houses Published by the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management September 2017 Gives further advice about Type 1(d) Community Dwellings Downloadable from: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/code_of_practice_for_fire_safety_in_community_dwelling_houses_2017_0.pdf

8. TGD B Vol.2 Dwelling Houses TGD B provides that where works are carried out in accordance with this document this will Prime Facie indicate compliance with the Part B of the Second schedule to the building regulations . 1.3.5 Community Dwelling Houses P.G. 1(d) “A Dwelling house with a maximum of 8 bedrooms which may have no more than one storey, the floor level of which is more than 4.5m above ground level occupied as a group home, under the management of a statutory or voluntary organization providing supported living and residential services.”

9. TGD B Vol.2 Dwelling Houses • A new purpose group has been added 1(d) Community dwelling houses. • Limited to 3 storey • Limited to 8 bedrooms • Special fire requirements above the normal dwelling apply. • Do not attract a Fire Safety cert or Disabled access cert

10. Building Control Regulations 1997-2015 Building Regulations 1997-2017 Fire Services Acts 1981&2003 Planning and Development Acts 2000 TGD Part B – Fire Safety Provide Prime Facia compliance with requirement of building regulations Building Control Acts 1990 & 2007 Vol. 2 B6-B10 provisions for meeting functional requirements. Pg 1(d) Community Dwelling houses Code of practice for fire safety in new and existing Community Dwelling houses Planning and Development Regulations 2001 Part III, Section 18(1) Single family dwelling “excluding premises consisting of a dwelling house occupied as a single dwelling” Material alteration invoked only where works taking place involve Parts A,B,M Section 14(f): Exempt from planning permission “group home…….not exceeding 6 +2 carers“ Exemption from FSC allowed under SI 496 Part III , Article 11(2) (b) “buildings used as a dwelling other than a flat “ No DAC required Sections 18 -23 may be applied -including Powers of inspection duties and responsibility of persons in control Section 5: Exempt from planning permission <40m2/to rear of dwelling Material change of use invoked only where a non-dwelling is to be converted to a community dwelling house Material change of use occurs only where a non-dwelling is to be changed to a community dwelling house No requirement to carry out works Opt out from S19 under SI 364 2015 allowed from assigned certifier requirements : single dwelling on a single unit development

11. Code of Practice for fire safety in new and existing Community Dwelling Houses • Management role: • Note: 0.1.6: The Building. Regulations s do not relate to the management of fire safety in buildingsGuidance is based on assumption of an adequate level of fire safety management of the building in use • Fire Services Acts 1981 & 2003 • Person in control • HSWWA 2005 • The Health Act

12. TGD Part B Fire Safety 2006 • Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 • Section 18.2 • (2)It shall be the duty of every person having control over a premises to which this section applies to- • Take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on such premises • Provide reasonable fire safety measures for such premises and prepare and provide appropriate fire safety procedures for ensuring the safety of persons on such premises • Ensure that the fire safety measures and procedures referred to in paragraph (b) are applied at all times, and • ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire whether such outbreak has occurred or not

13. Person in Control Building Control Act. Building Regulations: Fire Safety Part B T.G.D Building Control Regulations Professional Advice Health Act 2007 Person in control Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 H.S.W.W. Act 2005 Legal Responsibility

14. Community Dwelling Houses(P.G.1(d)) • Height limited to 3 stories, • No basements’ • No open plan • 30min. fire resistance to corridors/stairs enclosure regardless of no. of storeys(modified 30min in existing dwellings(30/15/15) • Free swing doors allowed • Emergency luminaires required – 3.3.13 • Exit Signage- required if escape route not apparent • Reference to C.O.P. – management-risk assessment • LD1 FDAS to I.S. 3218 + control switch • Increased coverage -Bedrooms+ attics+ other spaces

15. Fire Detection and Alarm System Provision of LD1 category F.A.D.S. to I.S.3218 2013 for 1(d) purpose group Category LD1: Interconnected self-contained mains powered/battery backed Smoke/Heat Alarms (as Grade D ) shall be suitably located in:  all circulation areas that form part of an escape route within the dwelling, and all high fire risk areas/rooms e.g. kitchen, living rooms, garages, utility rooms and all bedrooms. also includes all rooms and areas (including attics/lofts/other spaces) Additionally a fire alarm control switch should be installed in conjunction with the LD1 FDAS to facilitate testing of the system.

16. Doors on Escape Routes • Should only be fitted with a lock or fastening which is readily operated, without a key, from the side approached by people making their escape. • All new Fire Doors should comply with Appendix B TGD B2017 • Doors/frames/hardware in existing buildings may meet equivalent standard only if assessed a competent person • Secure doors operated by a code, combination, swipe or proximity card, biometric data or similar means, should also be capable of being overridden from the side approached

17. Compartmentation

18. Compartmentation

19. Appendices Appendix A: Risk Assessment Methodology Appendix B: Fire Action Notice Appendix C:Fire Safety Register

20. Appendix A -Risk Assessment • Methodology • Evaluation • Risk Matrix • Action Plan • Fire Safety Register • Systems maintenance

21. Appendix B- Fire Action Notice

22. Appendix C- Fire Safety Register

23. Conclusion • Building Regulations –Legislative requirement • Background • TGDB Volume 2 2017 • Management • Legal Responsibility • COP- New and Existing • Provisions • Risk Assessment/Fire Actions/Fire Safety Register

24. Thank you chris.barry@housing.gov.ie ENSURE YOUR HOME HAS A WORKING SMOKE ALARM