Disability Access Certificates

FiSCA provides a professional, reliable and economic on-line service for the procurement of Disability Access Certificates compliant with Technical Guidance Document M, 2010 for a pre-agreed fee with prices commencing from €175 + Vat.

 

How do I get a quote?

E-mail the project drawings, as dwg, dxf, pdf, jpg or png files to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   If you only possess hand drawings, print off a set and post them to FiSCA at the address in the bottom left corner of this page. If you e-mail the drawings to us, you’ll have an e-mail response within 24hrs of your enquiry and a signed copy in the post thereafter. If you post drawings you’ll receive a response in the same time frame, upon receipt as if you’d e-mailed them.

 

If I’m happy with the quote, what next?

FiSCA will prepare the drawings and an accompanying access report having sought pertinent information from you. The Disability Access Certificate application will then be sent to you via e-mail for your approval prior, so that you may discuss & perhaps alter changes that may have been necessary. Once you’re happy with the proposed documents FiSCA will lodge the submission.

 

Is it really that simple?

Naturally, there’ll be some information to be provided, in addition to the drawings, but the idea is to make it as simple as possible for you. FiSCA wants your custom and will work hard to secure it and to keep it. You will receive a reliable and dependable service if you choose to use it. Please see the testimonial/endorsement page for any reassurance you may require.

 

What projects need a Disability Access Certificate?

Short answer:-

All new projects including the shared areas of apartment blocks, except single domestic dwellings require a Disability Access Certificate. All projects where a material alteration or extension takes place, except single domestic dwellings, require a Disability Access Certificate. A change of use development does not require a Disability Access Certificate providing no material alterations are made.

 

What projects need a Disability Access Certificate?

Long Answer:-

The Disability Access Certificate (DAC) was introduced through SI 351 of 2009 dated 4 September 2009, in order to improve compliance of buildings with Part M of the Building Regulations, currently Part M 2000.  A DAC is required for new buildings other than dwellings (including apartment buildings) and certain works (as set out in Article 20 D (1) of SI 351) to which the Requirements of Part M apply, which commence or take place on or after 1 January 2010.

It should be noted in this context, that the Requirements of Part M

  • apply to all works in connection with a material alteration or an extension, without requiring any further work to the existing building,.
  • do not apply to a material change of use, except where a material alteration or extension is associated with the material change of use, in which case refer to the previous point.

 

S.I. No. 351 of 2009, Building Control (amendment) Regulations 2009 defines a material alteration as:-

 

“material alteration” means an alteration (other than a repair or renewal),

where the work, or any part of the work, carried out by itself would be

subject to a requirement of Part A or B of the Second Schedule to the

Building Regulations;

 

S.I. No. 351 of 2009, Building Control (amendment) Regulations 2009 defines a material alteration as:-

 

“material change of use” means—

(a) a change of use, deemed by section 3(3) of the Building Control Act 1990 (No. 3 of 1990) as amended by the Building Control Act 2007 (No. 21 of 2007); to be a material change of use, takes place, or

 

(b) a building which was not being used as—

(i) a day centre, becomes so used, or

(ii) a hotel, hostel or guest building, becomes so used, or

(iii) an industrial building, becomes so used, or

(iv) an institutional building, becomes so used, or

(v) an office (which is not ancillary to the primary use of the

building), becomes so used, or

(vi) a place of assembly, becomes so used, or

(vii) a shop (which is not ancillary to the primary use of the

building), becomes so used, or

(viii) a shopping centre, becomes so used;

 

“minor works” means works consisting of the installation, alteration or

removal of a fixture or fitting, or works of a decorative nature;

 

How long will it take to lodge the submission

If we say it’ll be three weeks, it’ll be three weeks. You’ll be told how long it will take before instructing FiSCA or when you confirm you want FiSCA to undertake the work.

 

Is FiSCA insured?

We have full Professional Indemnity and Public Liability cover. Copies available upon request.

 

Is FiSCA Tax compliant?

We are Vat registered and a Tax Clearance Certificate issued by the Revenue Commissioners is available upon request.

 

Experience

Disability Access Certificates only came into being on the 1st January, 2010. FiSCA’s experience to date includes Disability Access Certificates for the following types of premises.

 

Abbey (Religious Congregation), Amusement Arcade, Apartments, Chemists’ shops & Pharmacies, Church, Clinics, Club houses (social & sports), Crèches and Childcare facilities, Credit Union, Coast Guard Station, Commercial premises, Community Centres, Cookery School, Doctors’ surgeries, Educational facilities (schools & adult training centre), Enterprise Centres,  Exhibition Spaces, Food processing plants, Health Centres, Industrial Units, Institutional Residences, Medical Centres, Mixed Use Developments, Montessori School, Museum, Nursing Homes, Offices of all varieties, Restaurants, Retail & Wholesale Warehousing, Resource Centres, Schools, Special needs buildings, Sports & Leisure Centres, Supermarkets, Timber frame construction, Various types of shops & retail developments, Ware-housing and a number of Youth Centres.

 

What is a Disability Access Certificate?

A Disability Access Certificate is a certificate of compliance issued by the Building Control Authority with respect to requirements under Part M of the Building Regulations.

A Disability Access Certificate or an Application for a Disability Access Certificate must be submitted to the Planning Authority when a Commencement Notice is submitted. 

 

Do I need a Disability Access Certificate?

A Disability Access Certificate is required for new buildings other than dwellings (including apartment buildings) and certain other works (as set out in Article 20 D (1) of SI 351 of 2009) to which the Requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations apply, which commence or take place on or after 1 January 2010.

 

What do I need to submit with an application for a Disability Access Certificate?

1.  The following in duplicate: Drawings (including a site or layout plan ) suitably marked, noted, highlighted (e.g. coloured, toned or other) and such other particulars (e.g. a report) as are necessary to:

(a) identify and describe the works or building to which the application relates, and

(b) demonstrate how the Building or works comply with the Requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations, in particular in relation to the following, where applicable;

 

  • Approach to a Building
  • Access to a Building
  • Circulation within a Building
  • Use of facilities within a Building
  • Bedrooms in hotels and other guest accommodations
  • Sanitary conveniences
  • Audience or spectator facilities
  • Apartments in a building.

 

Sufficient information should be provided to enable the building control authority to assess whether the works or building would, if constructed in accordance with the said plans and other particulars, comply with the requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations.  2 copies of everything should be submitted.

 

2.  Completed application form (in duplicate)

3. Appropriate application fee

 

Revised Disability Access Certificate.

A Revised Disability Access Certificate shall be required where significant revision is made to the design or works of a building or an extension of, a material alteration to or a material change of use of a building in respect of which a disability access certificate has been granted by a building control authority. An application for a Revised Disability Access Certificate shall be on the appropriate form and accompanied by:

(i)  such revised plans, (including a site or layout plan) and such other revised particulars as are necessary to—

 (all in duplicate)

  • identify and describe the works or building to which the application relates,
  • enable the building control authority to assess, whether the said works or building would, if constructed in accordance with the said plans and other particulars, comply with the requirements of Part M of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations,
  • identify the nature and extent of the proposed use and, where appropriate, of the existing use of the building concerned, and

 

(ii) Appropriate application fee.

 

How much does a Disability / Revised Disability Access Certificate cost and what projects are exempt City/Council fees?

With the exception of certain buildings as outlined in the legislation below the fee for a disability/revised access certificate is €800 per building.

S.I. 351 of 2009 introduces Disability Access Certificate applications. On Page No 18 of said S.I. under the heading of exemptions it states:-

 

“(2) Article 22(1) of the Principal Regulations is amended by inserting “,

revised fire safety certificate, regularisation certificate, disability access certificate, revised disability access certificate” after “fire safety certificate”. “

 

The Principal Regulations are defined as S.I 496 of 1997.

 

Article 22 (2) of the Principal Regulations states:-

 

            “(2) Subsection (1) applies where a building control authority is of the opinion that—

 

(a) in the case of a voluntary organisation, the building concerned is—

 

(i) intended to be used for social, recreational, educational or religious purposes by inhabitants of a locality generally or by people of a particular group or religious denomination and is not to be used mainly for profit or gain,”