FAQs

Frequently asked questions.

 

Does our tender documentation cover all the relevant fire & access works?

FiSCA will review your tender documentation for a small pre-agreed fee.

 

Can FiSCA certify compliance with the Fire Safety Certificate & Disability Access Certificate?

Yes, we can inspect the completed project and sub-contractors Certificates and issue a Certificate of Compliance as appropriate.

  

Can I get a fire safety or disability access certificate without hiring a consultant?

Although you are not legally obliged to hire a consultant unless you have a good background in building construction it is very unlikely that you will be able to prepare a valid application. Poorly prepared applications are not assessed but simply returned as invalid.

 

How much is the Local Authority’s Disability Access Certificate fee?

€800 per building, regardless of size.

 

There are 3No types of Fire Safety Certificate applications & fees.

 

Type No 1

Making a normal Fire Safety Certificate application or a revision to an existing Fire Safety Certificate. In this case work cannot commence until the Fire Safety Certificate is granted and for 14 days after a commencement notice is served. The local authority fee of €2.90/m² up to a maximum of €12,500 still applies.

 

Type No 2

A 7 Day (Commencement) Notice application, where the applicant notifies the local authority of their intention to start work in 7 days time. The notice must be accompanied by:-

(a) A valid Fire Safety Certificate Application

(b) An Application form

(c) A 7 Day Statutory Declaration Form. This effectively is a declaration that any works carried out before the grant of the Fire Safety Certificate will comply with the Building Regulations and an undertaking to carry out any modifications required under the grant.

The local authority fee of increases to €5.80/m² with a maximum fee of €25,000.

 

Type No 3

A Regularisation Fire Safety Certificate Application. This type of application applies where works have started or completed, without either a normal Fire Safety Certificate Application or a 7Day Notice application. Unlike an application for a design, this will need to confirm that the completed building complies with the Building Regulations. The local authority can also inspect the premises.

A statutory declaration is also required stating that the works carried out to date do comply with the Building Regulations and that the applicant will comply with any modifications or conditions imposed by the local authority.

In addition the local authority fee in this case increases to €11.60/m² up to a maximum of €50,000.

 

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

This is dependent on a number of factors. The quickest way is to get the application correct in the first instance. A pre-submission meeting may help curtail the statutory period the Building Control Office are allowed.  The statutory period allowed to process Fire Safety Certificate and Disability Access Certificate applications, is two months. Factors such the size of the project and the quality of the submission all effect the turn around time of an application.

 

I want to get started before my FSC or DAC is granted. Can I go ahead?

Yes, under the following conditions.

 

  1. You commence works after submitting a valid application with a 7 Day Commencement Notice, seven days after the Local Authority have received the application.
  2. You are not permitted to open the building for it’s intended use until you have received a Fire Safety Certificate and a Disability Access Certificate. You don’t have to submit a Disability Access Certificate application when you commence works, except in Dublin City Council’s jurisdiction, but you would be wise to do so. Dublin City Council require you to provide a Disability Access Certificate when you submit your Commencement Notice in their jusisdiction, contrary to the legislation!

 

What if I don’t bother applying for a Fire Safety Certificate and build anyway?

You can seek a Regularisation Certificate, but as mentioned above, you cannot open your building until it has a Disability Access Certificate.

 

I want to carry out minor works to my premises. Do I need a Fire Safety Certificate?

Minor works such as repairs and renewals are exempted from having to apply for a fire safety certificate. Care should be taken though when deciding on what constitutes minor works. The Planning Act defines what is exempted and what requires permission.

 

I want to build three separate buildings on my site. Will the one Fire Safety Certificate application cover the three buildings?

No. Building control legislation requires that a Fire Safety Certificate is obtained for each building. This applies even if the three buildings to be built are all identical to each other.

Do I have to wait for my planning permission to come through before I can apply for my Fire Safety Certificate?
No. You can apply for both concurrently. Doing this will also save you time. If you wait for your planning permission before applying for your Fire Safety Certificate, you will have to wait for a further two months before you can commence works, unless you use the 7Day Notice application.