The Ministry for Housing, Local Government and Heritage launched a consultation on Part B of the Building Regulations for Ireland and is seeking submissions, observations and comments on a proposed amendment.
The review of Technical Guidance Document B is being undertaken in response to:
changes in the design and construction of buildings, with taller and larger, more complex layouts the use of new and innovative building systems and materials changes in the provision of heating, ventilation, and access for the health and safety of occupants improvements in energy performance.
In addition, Housing for All includes the review of the building regulations as a key action (action 25.6) to drive compliance and standards through regulatory reform (policy objective 25).
Under the building regulations, fire safety is dealt with under Part B of the second schedule and the associated Technical Guidance Document B (TGD B).
The review has also taken into account:
• common and emerging building trends
• developments and events from a global perspective
• matters relating to external fire spread
• external fire resistance
• internal fire resistance
• cladding systems
• sprinklers
• the review into the Grenfell fire.
Full details of the Review, a draft of the revised technical guidance and the draft Regulations are available below:
Draft Regulations - Building Regulations (Part B Amendment) Regulations 2023
Review of Part B Preliminary Impact Analysis
Building Regulations Draft Technical Guidance Document B - Buildings other than dwelling houses
The consultation runs until mid April 2023 and CIBSE Ireland is forming a working group to prepare a response.
The deadline to express an interest in the working group was Friday 17 February 2023.