Apply for a Dangerous Substance Licence
If you own a petrol station or store petroleum products or explosives, you must apply for a licence and Dublin Fire Brigade will inspect your premises.
Dangerous substances are any substances present at work that could, if not properly controlled, cause harm to people as a result of a fire, explosion or the corrosion of metal. Dangerous substances include explosives, flammable gases, pressurised gases, paints, solvents and substances corrosive to metal.
Under the Dangerous Substances Acts 1972 and 1979, a licence is required to use dangerous substances. The fee for these licences is payable to the relevant local authority or harbour authority.
Dangerous Substance Licence
Dublin Fire Brigade administers applications for petroleum licensing for petrol stations and petroleum stores throughout Dublin's four local authority areas. It also receives licence applications from those storing explosives, such as fireworks, in the Dublin area.
Licences for Petrol Stores and Stations
To be eligible for a licence, petrol stations and stores must meet the requirements set out in the Dangerous Substances (Retail and Private Petroleum Stores) Regulations 1979 as amended. Find more information about these requirements below.
In cases where a local authority or harbour authority is the organisation that is storing petrol, they must apply to the Health and Safety Authority for a licence.
Licences for Explosives and Fireworks
Fireworks are dangerous and criminal penalties may apply if they are used without licence. Fireworks are separated into four categories depending on their risks and whether they require specialist knowledge to use. The least hazardous is Category 1 and the most hazardous is Category 4.
Category 1 fireworks include the likes of sparklers and Christmas crackers, which are on sale to the general public. All other categories are only available for use in organised displays by professional operators.
Because they are explosives, fireworks are regulated under national and EU legislation. They can only be imported under licence and stored and sold in accordance with the law. You can find out more about the relevant legislation and how to apply for an import licence on the Department of Justice's website.
If you are organising a fireworks display, you should notify Dublin Fire Brigade. If you are storing fireworks, you will need to apply for a licence.
How to Apply for a Licence
All applications must be made in writing and accompanied by the appropriate fee. You can find information on fees in the Dangerous Substances (Licensing Fees) Regulations, S.I. 301 of 1979, as may be amended.
For a first licence, applicants must also submit site plans, drawings and particulars of tanks, dispensing pumps, associated equipment and relevant buildings.
If you are reapplying for a licence, you should include your reference number. If it is a first application, please include the address of your business instead.
You can pay the relevant fee in three different ways:
1. By Bank Transfer
You can pay by electronic transfer to: AIB Dame Street, Dublin City Council Electronic Funds/Transfers/Current Account.
- Account number: 80134597
- Sort code: 93-20-86
- Swift code: AIB KIE 2D
- IBAN: IE 41AIBK 93 20 86 80134597
- VAT number: IE 4773215U
Be sure to include the reference “FBPLC”.
2. By Credit Card
You can pay by credit card by calling (01) 222 6600 and quoting the reference "FBPLC”.
3. By Cheque
You can also make a cheque payable to Dublin City Council and send it to:
Dublin Fire Brigade,
Fire Brigade Headquarters,
165-169 Townsend Street,
Dublin 2.
You should mark your cheque for the attention of District Officer, Fire Prevention. Once again, be sure to include the reference “FBPLC”.
How Long Does a Licence Last?
A dangerous substance licence is valid for one, two or three years, depending on the type of application sought. Licences for petrol stores and stations are valid for three years.
Applicants should re-apply for a new licence three months before the lapse of an existing one.
Further Information for Petrol Stores and Stations
For legislative purposes, there are three classes of petroleum:
- Class I petrol leaded and unleaded.
- Class II kerosene/paraffin.
- Class III diesel/DERV/central heating Oil.
The primary legislation in this area is the Dangerous Substances Act 1972 and various regulations detailed in the subsequent statutory instruments:
- Dangerous Substances Act, 1972 (Commencement) Order, 1979 – S.I. No. 297
- Dangerous Substances (Licensing Fees) Regulations, 1979 – S.I. No. 301
- Dangerous Substances (Retail and Private Petroleum Stores) Regulations, 1979 – S.I. No. 311
- Dangerous Substances (Petroleum Bulk Stores) Regulations, 1979 – S.I. No. 313
Amendments to petroleum licensing legislation include:
- S.I. No. 303 of 1988
- S.I. No. 424 of 1999
- S.I. No. 584 of 2001
- S.I. No. 624 of 2002
- S.I. No. 860 of 2004
Guidance for Petroleum Storage
The storage of petrol is governed by The Dangerous Substances (Retail and Private Petroleum Stores) Regulations and are made under the Dangerous Substances Act, No. 10 of 1972. This act requires that all petrol storage facilities must be licensed.
The regulations set out minimum requirements for the design, construction, installation, maintenance and management of petrol storage facilities. The likes of storage tank specifications, petrol dispense control measures, certification of electrical systems, emergency control measures, storage tank pressure testing and training are all outlined.
These requirements apply equally to private petrol stores and storage for the purpose of retail sale. Private petrol stores include petrol held at business premises, such as golf clubs, local authority sites and car dealerships, for their own use. It also includes petrol stores held by private individuals.
Petrol Vapour Recovery Requirements
If you are a petrol station owner or operator, you are also obliged to ensure that your facility is designed and operated in accordance with the Third Schedule of Air Pollution Act 1987 - Petroleum Vapour Emissions Regulations S.I. 375/1997.
The objective of these regulations is to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere from vehicle re-fuelling activities at service stations. This aims to reduce the adverse impact of VOCs on human health and the environment.
To meet the requirements of the regulations, a service station owner or operator is obliged to appoint an approved assessor to carry out tests on their station. This assessor will submit a report and fee to the Dublin Fire Brigade. If satisfied, Dublin Fire Brigade will issue a certificate of compliance with the above act. Certificates of compliance last up to three years and must be renewed on expiry.
Petrol Interceptor and Oil Separator Requirements
Regulation 15 of the The Dangerous Substances (Retail and Private Petroleum Stores) Regulations 1979 outlines requirements for petrol interceptors/oil separators.
The licensing authority will generally accept designs according to a functional class determined by IS EN 858-2 and performance criteria as determined by IS EN 858-1 as meeting the requirements of Regulation 15(4).
A dedicated interceptor/separator is required to process the run-off from forecourts and bulk delivery tanker hard-stand areas. The chosen separator must have an oil or petroleum retention capacity for the spillage risk in the designated coverage area.
If the interceptor/separator is for use in a forecourt dispensing area only, a petrol retention capacity comparable to the maximum amount of product that is likely to be spilled is sufficient. This is usually the maximum that can be dispensed in a single retail transaction.
For dispensing and tanker hard-stand areas, the interceptor/separator must be sized to fully retain the worst case scenario of a catastrophic failure of a petroleum storage compartment on a bulk delivery tanker. This is usually in the 5,000-7,000 litres range. The pass-through wastewater capacity is based on the peak rainfall falling on the designated surface area.
As one of the intended functions of a petrol separator is to retain a Class I petroleum spillage, it would in such circumstances be a temporary underground petrol storage tank. Therefore, a petrol interceptor must be installed and surrounded with secondary containment and feature petrol vapour vent management.
Under no circumstances should the wastewater from a vehicle wash be directed into a petrol separator. Vehicle wash wastewater must be processed separately in keeping with the effluent requirements of the overall site.
As well as meeting the regulatory requirements, a properly sized and maintained interceptor can reduce the risk of subsequent pollution in the event of an incident. In fact, a poorly maintained interceptor may be interpreted as a risk to the surrounding groundwater and may cause the initiation of legal proceedings under the Water Pollution Act. This would be separate from any sanctions that may arise from a proven breach of the Dangerous Substances Regulations and deemed to be an offence under the Dangerous Substances Act.
Contact Dublin Fire Brigade
If you need advice regarding licencing or have any concerns regarding the fire safety of your business, contact Dublin Fire Brigade for guidance.