Do I need a fire safety certificate?

With the exception of dwellings and certain agricultural buildings, a fire safety certificate is generally required for all new buildings, including apartments and flats. A certificate is also required for material changes of use and certain alterations and extensions to buildings. A fire safety certificate must be obtained before work commences.

Where do I get a fire safety certificate?

Before any work or a material change of use commences, A Fire Safety Application is submitted to the local building control authority and upon satisfaction a fire safety certificate is issued. An application will involve the following:

• Architectural Plans, calculations and specifications for works or building
• Details of the nature and extent of the proposed use and, where appropriate of the existing use of the building
• The appropriate fee, based on floor area.
• A technical report demonstrating that compliance with Part B of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations.

How long should it take to get a fire safety certificate?

Each Building control authority is allowed two months to process a fire safety certificate application. However, all the information must be made available to the local authority, so that they have sufficient  information to make a decision, before this statutory period starts. If the application documentation is incomplete, this will delay the processing the application.