Apply for a Fire Safety Certificate

Dublin Fire Brigade receives over 1400 fire safety certificates applications every year. Find out when you need one and how to get one for your building.

A fire safety certificate application is required for the construction of a building, extensions to a building a material alteration to a building or a material change of use of a building.

Please see The Building Standards section of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on Gov.ie for more information on the legislation https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/95d00-building-standards/  

A fire safety certificate is granted after the plans and specifications for a new building are assessed by a fire officer for compliance with Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations. When you receive a fire safety certificate in relation to a proposed design it means that your building, if built in accordance with the proposed design, complies with. Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations

There are number of types of fire certificate applications.  Please see below for the different types.

Fire Safety Certificate

This is required where the applicant proposes a new building, an extension, material alterations to an existing building or a change of use of an existing building.

Revised Fire Safety Certificate

This is required in respect of works that have already been granted a fire safety certificate, but where significant revisions occur during the construction of the building.

Fire Safety Certificate with a 7 Day Commencement Notice 

The submission of a fire safety certificate application can be accompanied by a 7 day commencement notice. This is used where a person intends to commence building works before the relevant fire safety certificate is granted.

Regularisation Certificate

This is required where building works requiring a fire safety certificate were commenced or completed after 1 June 1992 without an associated fire certificate application.

If you build without a fire safety certificate, you will leave yourself open to prosecution under building control legislation. It can also lead to other issues. For example, if you decide to sell the building at a later date, the buyer's solicitor will look for a copy of the building's fire safety certificate. If you are unable to produce one, you may find it difficult to sell. Also, if you build or extend a public house or licensed premises without a fire safety certificate, your licence may not be renewed.

However, if this does occur, you can apply for a regularisation fire safety certificate after building works have been commenced or completed.

How to make a Fire Safety Certificate application

To submit plans for review and apply for a fire safety certificate, applicants must submit the following documentation through the online Building Control Management System (BCMS):

1. A completed Application Form https://nbco.localgov.ie/ 

Please note that application forms are created in the BCMS and must be printed off, signed and uploaded again.

1. Relevant drawings showing, **(see below for further details)
   1. Plans outlined and delineated clearly Indicating the extent of the “relevant floor area “ and “ floor area” as defined in the Building Control Regulations for measurement of the fee , gridlines as appropriate
   2. Dimensioned site location map,
   3. Dimensioned Site layout plan
   4. Dimensioned plans
   5. Elevations and
   6. Sections.
2. A fire safety report, including calculations and specifications demonstrating compliance with the relevant Building Regulations
3. Particulars of the nature and extent of the proposed use and where appropriate existing use of the building.
4. Proof of payment of the appropriate fee

**Further commentary on information required as part of Fire Safety Certificate Application

Dimensioned Plans to include the following at a minimum, but to be modified to suit each particular case. ;-

1. Site Location Map with appropriate North point and showing buildings and roads and identifying features, if possible include and Eircode.
2. Dimensioned Site layout
   1. Boundaries of land applying to the buildings
   2. Distances form the boundary
   3. Access points to the building
   4. Location and diameter of any water main or water storage
   5. Location of internal mains
3. Floor plans – relevant number and identifier
   1. Outlined and delineated clearly Indicating the extent of the “relevant floor area” and “ floor area” as defined in the Building Control Regulations for measurement of the fee , gridlines as appropriate.
   2. Principal dimensions and travel distances
   3. Periods of Fire resistance and forms of construction
   4. Passive fire safety features
   5. Use of each space and occupancy proposed
   6. Areas of high fire risk
   7. Internal fire mains and services risers
   8. Any other significant or pertinent detail
4. Sections – relevant number and identifier
   1. At locations sufficient to indicate relevant features of the building to demonstrate compliance
5. Elevations- relevant number and identifier
   1. Sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance

Fire Safety Certificate Guidance

A fire safety certificate application is made by a fire safety consultant, architect or engineer who is familiar with the Building Regulations and the procedure for making the application.

The content of the application should be as indicated above and should be comprehensive in nature. A person preparing a fire safety certificate application should have a sound knowledge of building construction and fire safety design. If the application submitted is lacking in information or drawings, then it will be considered INVALID and it will be returned to you together with your fee.

7 Day Commencement Notice accompanying a Fire Cert application

• A completed 7 day commencements notice should be accompanied by signed original statutory declaration. Please note that these forms are created in the BCMS and must be printed off, signed and uploaded again.
• A fire safety certificate application.
• The appropriate 7 day notice fee.

With the enactment of S.I 229 of 2021 Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2021, your signed statutory declaration can be submitted through the BCMS system. However, applicants must retain the original statutory declaration and shall produce the original for inspection where required to do so by the Building Control Authority.

Associated Fees

When applying for a Fire Safety Certificate, the following application fees apply and should be made payable to Dublin City Council:

Please note when paying for a Fire Safety Certificate that will be accompanied by a 7 Day Notice payment of €5.80 per m2 can be made when submitting the FSC OR when submitting the 7 Day Notice. Payment in full with both applications is not necessary.  €2.90 per m2 for the FSC and €2.90 per m2 for the 7 Day Notice application.

Fee Exemptions

Development works by certain organisations are exempt from paying fire certificate application fees, including certain classes of voluntary organisations and not-for-profit accommodation of homeless persons. You can find the full list of exemptions under Section 22 of the Building Control Regulations 1997 – 2014 https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/si/496/made/en/print#article22

Where a fee exempt application is submitted, the applicant must detail how the proposed building is subject to the conditions set out in the regulations.

Partial Refund of Fees for Subsequent Applications

In situations where subsequent applications have been made, for example where a granted fire certificate application is followed within 12 months by a revised application for the same development, there is provision to refund three-quarters of the fee for the subsequent application. In this case, the applicant pays the full application fee, but three quarters of it is later refunded.

The subsequent application must be for works which are substantially of the same design and construction and are located on the same site or same part of the site as the works covered by the first application. Full details of qualifying applications are outlined in Section 26 of the Building Control Regulations 1997, as amended by Section 15 of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2009.

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/si/496/made/en/print#article26  

Any applicant who believes their application qualifies for a refund of fee is advised to notify us when submitting their application.

Appeals

There is provision to appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the decision of a building control authority in relation to a fire safety certificate application. To do this, you will need to view or order a copy of your fire safety certificate application file.

How to view Fire Safety Certificate Application files (inc. reports and drawings)

The following information only applies to applications within Dublin City Council's administrative area.

1. Contact Dublin Fire Brigade on [email protected] below to obtain the application reference number for the relevant files and an estimate of costs for ordering the files.
2. You will then be sent a declaration, which must be signed and returned to fire prevention.
3. You must pay the fee for ordering your files. You can pay by credit or debit card by calling (01) 222 6600 and giving the reference 'FBFSC', your file number and the amount payable to our customer service agent. Alternatively, you can make a cheque payable to Dublin City Council.
4. Email a copy of your receipt and the file number you're requesting to Dublin Fire Brigade using the email address below.
5. Your files will then be ordered. Once available, you will be sent a link to the requested files by email. You must download the files using this link within 14 days.

In terms of fees, it will cost €60 to obtain the first file, but the fee for each subsequent file (made within the same order) will be €10.

How to order a copy of a fire safety certificate

The following information only applies to applications within Dublin City Council's administrative area.

1. Contact Dublin Fire Brigade on [email protected] below to obtain the application reference number for the relevant application and an estimate of costs for ordering the certificate.
2. You must pay the fee for ordering your certificate. You can pay by credit or debit card by calling (01) 222 6600 and giving the reference 'FBFSC', your file number and the amount payable to our customer service agent. Alternatively, you can make a cheque payable to Dublin City Council.
3. Email a copy of your receipt and the file number you're requesting to Dublin Fire Brigade using the email address below.
4. Following proof of payment you will receive a soft copy of the requested fire safety certificate

The fee for a copy of a fire safety certificate is €12.50 per certificate.

How Dublin Fire Brigade Can Help

Making Dublin safe from fires is at the heart of Dublin Fire Brigade's work. If you have any questions regarding fire safety, contact us below.

Contact Details

Dublin Fire Brigade - Fire Prevention and Community Fire Safety

Telephone Number

(01) 222 4000

Email Address

[email protected]