Public Consultation on the Draft Fire Safety Guide for Building Owners and Operators

Guide for Persons having Control under Section 18(2) Fire Services Acts 1981 & 2003

A public consultation has been launched, in respect of a draft document, prepared as part of the response to the recommendations in Fire Safety in Ireland, the report of the Fire Safety Task Force (2018).

The documentation can be found here:  https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/c5eea-public-consultation-on-the-draft-fire-safety-guide-for-building-owners-and-operators/

The draft Fire Safety Guide for Building Owners and Operators – Guide for Persons having Control under Section 18(2) Fire Services Acts 1981 & 2003 – addresses Task Force recommendations in respect of guidance for those with section 18(2) responsibilities, and testing & servicing of fire safety measures.

 

Forest Fire Danger Rating

Arising from current dry weather patterns and high temperatures a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist. This risk phase is expected to peak on Friday, July 2nd, 2021.

Higher visitor activity levels at recreational sites can be expected in line with fine weather and summer holiday usage patterns. Members of the public intending to visit forests and other recreational sites are reminded to adhere to regulations introduced to limit the spread of Covid-19. Vehicles must not be parked at site entrances or impede emergency service access to forest roads.  Forest visitors should not use barbeques or open fires at any stage.

Fire behaviour and spread rates are likely to be moderated by higher live fuel moisture levels in vegetation, but near drought conditions may exist on some site types, particularly on lowland peat sites and in eastern regions.

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Winter Ready Campaign

Its winter time again, and through a dedicated website www.winterready.ie, advice is being made available from a number of sources including Government Departments, An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive, Local Authorities and the transport providers. The advice has been categorised under various headings including: the Home, Road Safety, Schools, the Farming Community and the Business Sector. A synopsis of the information available has been compiled into a booklet which can be downloaded from the website.

The main objectives of the ‘Be Winter-Ready’ campaign are:

  • To provide practical advice on how best to prepare for the coming winter.
  • To ensure the public are aware of where advice and help can be found, if needed.
  • To reassure the public that preparations are being made and arrangements have been put in place to ensure that there will be a coordinated response to severe weather events.

For more information email Monaghan County Council at info@monaghancoco.ie.

Bí Ullamh Don Gheimhreadh
Bí Ullamh Don Gheimhreadh (Adobe PDF, 2,034kb)

Be Winter Ready
Be Winter Ready (Adobe PDF, 2,023kb)

National Fire Safety Week 2018: 1st – 8th October 2018

This year’s theme is “STOP Fire – Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Fit smoke alarms today and make sure they are in good working order. Working smoke alarms will warn you if there is a fire.

Remember: Your sense of smell does not work when you are asleep, and smoke can put you in a deeper sleep.

Smoke alarms may be tested by pressing the test button with the handle tip of a floor brush.

Replace the batteries when they are not working and once a year in standard alarms, or as soon as you hear the warning beep.

If you have 10-year smoke alarms, you need to replace the whole alarm after 10 years.

Get at least one smoke alarm for each floor in the home. Fit them between the sleeping areas and the kitchen & living rooms – one in the hallway at ground floor, and one at each upper level, in the landing. For an enhanced level of protection, consideration may also be given to fitting alarms in living rooms and kitchen, in bedrooms used by vulnerable people, or in bedrooms where there is a television or large electrical appliance (such as a computer). (Heat alarms may be considered where fumes from cooking or smoke from cigarettes or open fires could lead to unwanted alarms.)

Position smoke alarms at ceiling level in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

Vacuum the smoke alarms regularly and wipe the cover. If they get clogged with dust they may not work properly.

Many years on, the message regarding fire prevention and fire safety is as relevant today as it ever was.
Play your part during National Fire Safety Week. Check out www.firesafetyweek.ie and find out how you can help to prevent and detect fires in your home. It could save your life one day!