Public Consultation on the additional guidance to Technical Guidance Document B, 2006

The Minister for Housing and Urban Development Mr. Damien English, T.D., has announced a public consultation on his intention to provide additional guidance to Technical Guidance B 2006, in relation to open plan flats, and extended corridors in buildings containing flats, to ensure the delivery of quality and durable housing solutions that will meet the needs and expectations of consumers in a manner that is safe and sustainable.

The overall impact of this additional guidance will provide additional guidance on the fire safety provisions applicable to open plan flats and provide clarity to current industry practice.

Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations sets out the legal requirements for the means of warning and escape from a building, as well as the control of fire spread both internally and externally and the means of access for the fire services.

In addition to the provisions relating to open plan flats, and extended corridors in buildings containing flats, a number of minor clarifications have been introduced in relation buildings containing flats, specifically relating to refuges and firefighting shafts.

To enable focused input into the technical aspects of the additional guidance (highlighted in red text in the Draft Technical Guidance Document), the Department is interested in your views, specifically and limited to the proposed amendments, prior to finalisation.

Make a Submission

Submissions and comments on the additional guidance to TGD B should be submitted on the Templates for Submissions only and sent by email to buildingstandards@housing.gov.ie

The closing date for the receipt of submissions and comments is no later than 5:30 p.m. on 23rd of August 2019.

All submissions and comments submitted to the Department for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007- 2014. Submissions are also subject to Data Protection legislation.

Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in your submission and it will be presumed that all information contained in your submission is releasable under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

Responses will inform the finalisation of the 2019 revision of Technical Guidance Document B. Please note that submissions received may be made available on the Department’s website. In any event, all submissions received will be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection legislation. See also the Privacy Statement under the Documents link above.