COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 14, 2019

QUESTION NO. 41

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive for a report in to fire safety in Council owned housing, specifically apartment blocks & traveller accommodation, to include how often assessments in regards to fire risk are done and what are the associated costs?

REPLY:

Multi-unit dwellings are required to contain a mains-wired smoke alarm, a fire blanket, emergency lighting in common areas and an emergency evacuation plan.  Rental units that do not form part of a multiple unit must have a fire blanket and either a mains-wired smoke alarm or at least two 10-year self-contained battery-operated smoke alarms.  The Council has a contract in place for the emergency lighting and fire alarm systems to be tested quarterly and for the replacement of heat and smoke detectors in communal areas.  

As part of the Accelerated Planned Maintenance Programme and having regard for best practice and legislative rental standards, it is proposed to commence new installations or upgrade of existing smoke/heat monitors, carbon monoxide monitors and window restrictors where required in Council rented dwellings. Previous works undertaken by the Council a number of years ago included providing ten-year self-contained battery-operated smoke/heat monitors in properties and these are now due for renewal.  In addition, where Council rented dwellings are vacant for refurbishment and re-letting, required monitors and window restrictors are installed in the property as standard.  Records of these works along with information in relation to new builds and acquisitions to housing stock provides a profile of homes requiring installation/replacement of monitors and/or window restrictors which will inform the safety works programme now being proposed across the Council’s housing stock. A provision of €1m has been included in the Accelerated Maintenance programme for safety works.

In relation to Traveller Accommodation, fire safety and other safety equipment (fire blankets, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms) were installed by Council staff for caravans/mobile homes in all residential caravan parks in 2016 while external fire alarm/sounders were installed on all day units on sites this year.  In addition, an external contractor is engaged to inspect (and renew where necessary) all fire extinguishers on sites every six months.