Construction act focuses on fire safety

NEW buildings will have to prove a new level of adherence to fire and disability access regulations under planned changes to the Building Construction Act expected to come into law next spring.

While Ireland has always had a strong regulatory framework in this area, it was self regulating whereas under planned changes, all buildings will have to be signed off on before they can allow the public entry.

The incoming president of the Irish Institute of Fire Engineers, Peter Bluett, has said that the move is to be warmly welcomed, but that they were interested to see how the plans would be enforced.