COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, February 28, 2022

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

"To ask the CEO to confirm actions he is taking in respect of concerns in Tallaght regarding Fire Safety in multi-storey apartments; is he stressing to the Chief Fire Officer the clear need for proper equipment to be provided and available at the Tallaght Fire Station and will he make a statement?"

REPLY:

Dublin Fire Brigade train all operational fire fighters and Officers to deal with a full range of incidents including fires in tall and complex buildings. Dublin Fire Brigade invest in a broad range of specialised equipment to provide for the response in buildings. This equipment includes 2 aerial appliances of 30-meter reach plus an aerial platform. Dublin Fire Brigade are expecting the delivery of a new 42-meter ladder in the coming weeks and have placed an order for an additional new 42 metre ladder.

There is also a broad range of rescue equipment such as breathing apparatus and importantly, personal protective equipment for our crews. All of the equipment and procedures are underpinned with appropriate training and operational guidelines.

Dublin Fire Brigade receive fire safety certificate applications for all types of buildings including residential accommodation. The applicant must demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations 1997-2019, and our decisions will be to grant, either grant with conditions or refuse these proposals.

Guidance on compliance with Building Regulations is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the form of Technical Guidance Document B and other guidance.  Buildings of the type in question must be fitted with fire safety features to provide for means of escape, control of the internal and external spread of fire and for firefighting facilities to achieve compliance with Building Regulations 1997-2019.

Fires in high-rise buildings are principally designed to be fought from an internal protected stairwell as well as utilising external resources as required.