Apartment building fire extinguishers??

suicide_circus

Hi all

I live in an apartment in Dublin city centre. On the landing of each floor, there is a space, wall mounting and safety info plaque where a fire extinguisher clearly used to be. There are no fire extinguishers or hoses in my building.

What is the legal position here? Are the management company obliged to install and maintain fire extinguishers? I dont know if the extinguishers were stolen or what but they sure aint there now!

Paulw

suicide_circus wrote: »

Are the management company obliged to install and maintain fire extinguishers? I dont know if the extinguishers were stolen or what but they sure aint there now!

Yes, they are responsible to install and maintain them. However, theft or vandalism is not uncommon with fire extinguishers.

suicide_circus

Ok do you know what legislation or by-laws i can quote at the management company to encourage them to reinstall fire extinguishers?

djimi

A call to your local fire marshall may be more effective...

Mountjoy Mugger

The relevant legislation is here, under Duties of Care.

Cathmandooo

Are you renting?

Your landlord is obliged to provide a fire extinguisher in the apartment.

djimi

Cathmandooo wrote: »

Are you renting?

Your landlord is obliged to provide a fire extinguisher in the apartment.

Are they? I thought they were obliged to provide a fire blanket, but Im not sure about an extinguisher?

Cathmandooo

djimi wrote: »

Are they? I thought they were obliged to provide a fire blanket, but Im not sure about an extinguisher?

Sorry, my bad, fire blanket and fire alarms you're quite right. Extinguisher was provided in my place, not a blanket though!

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting_a_home/repairs_maintenance_and_minimum_physical_standards.html

MrPicante

yes, the landlord is officially obligated to provide a fire extinguisher, fire blanket and a smoke detector (preferably a heat detector in the kitchen). In addition, you are not insured in the event of any such incident from a fire.
I have include a link to the fire regulation laws here

djimi

MrPicante wrote: »

yes, the landlord is officially obligated to provide a fire extinguisher, fire blanket and a smoke detector (preferably a heat detector in the kitchen). In addition, you are not insured in the event of any such incident from a fire.
I have include a link to the fire regulation laws here

Unless Im missing something (which is entirely possible as Im not wearing my glasses!) nothing in that link refers to a private dwelling or to private rental.

Jocelynel

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,19428,en.pdf

i'm a landlord, a fire blanket and extinguisher must be provided. just doubled checked my contract there to be sure before posting

djimi

Jocelynel wrote: »

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,19428,en.pdf

i'm a landlord, a fire blanket and extinguisher must be provided. just doubled checked my contract there to be sure before posting

That link doesnt mention a fire extinguisher; just a smoke alarm, fire blanket and emergency lighting and evactution plan in the case of a multi unit building.

Jocelynel

my contract does state it and it's a direct contract with the county council, them being the biggest landlord in the country....they must be right? eh!

djimi

There is also no mention of a fire extinguisher on the Citizens Information site: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting_a_home/repairs_maintenance_and_minimum_physical_standards.html

And from: http://www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,21710,en.pdf

“Fire Safety
11. (1) Subject to sub-article (2), the house shall contain a fire blanket and either a mains-wired smoke alarm or at least two 10-year selfcontained battery-operated smoke alarms.
(2) Each self-contained house in a multi-unit building shall contain
a mains-wired smoke alarm, a fire blanket and an emergency evacuation plan.
(3) Emergency lighting shall be provided in all common areas within
a multi-unit building.”,

djimi

Jocelynel wrote: »

my contract does state it and it's a direct contract with the county council, them being the biggest landlord in the country....they must be right? eh!

What contract are you referring to?

If it is a multi unit building then fire extinguishers must be provided, but thats an issue for the management company; its got nothing to do with landlords and their obligations towards their tenants.

MrPicante

Found this online - http://www.wexford.ie/wex/Departments/Housing/PrivateRentedLandlords/

Fire Safety
Fire safety is a crucial responsibility for landlords both in single unit household accommodation and multi unit dwellings.

Compliance with fire safety, i.e. provision of fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and smoke alarms are provided for within the Standards Regulations.

For multi unit dwellings more compliance is needed, such as emergency lighting, special smoke detection and alarms, hallway lighting, etc. Landlords must contact their local Fire Service for more information on this matter.

Other Safety Matters
Landlords must ensure the electrical fittings, oil burners, gas burners are safe to use. Annual maintenance of such appliances to ensure safety of use and proper ventilation etc. is required to ensure the safety of tenants.

Richard Dower

From my experience, RAS - the LL must provide a small kitchen fire extinguisher, suitable for chip pan fire etc., a fire blanket, and a smoke detector in every room. My LL also provided a small first aid kit - not in regulations but he did it off his own back.

The council insisted these be installed to be RAS compliant.