COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, April 25, 2022

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

"To ask the CEO to detail further contacts he has had with the Chief Fire Officer regarding community concerns in respect of equipment available in Tallaght Fire Station; will he appreciate the concerns regarding High Rise Buildings particularly; will he give assurances and 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 have taken the delivery of a new 42-meter ladder and an additional 42 metre ladder has also been ordered. Training on this piece of equipment is well advanced and will go into service shortly.

There is also a broad range of rescue equipment such as breathing apparatus and importantly, personal protective equipment for all crews. All 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 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.