Fire safety legislation in Ireland continues to evolve — and for businesses, property owners, landlords, facilities managers, and responsible persons, staying compliant has never been more important.
While many organisations already have fire safety measures in place, 2025 is bringing a stronger focus on documented fire risk assessments, fire safety management, evacuation planning, and ongoing compliance responsibilities.
The message is clear: fire safety is no longer just about having extinguishers on the wall or alarms installed. It’s about proving that your business has assessed risks properly, implemented suitable controls, trained staff, and can demonstrate ongoing management of fire safety.
For many businesses across Ireland, this means it’s time to review existing fire safety procedures — not wait until something goes wrong.
What Has Changed?
In 2025, there has been increased emphasis across fire safety guidance and building regulations on:
- More detailed and regularly reviewed fire risk assessments
- Greater accountability for building owners and employers
- Clear evacuation procedures and emergency planning
- Fire safety management as an ongoing responsibility
- Competency requirements for those carrying out assessments
- Protection of vulnerable occupants
- Proper documentation and record keeping
Although many fire safety duties already existed under Irish legislation such as the Fire Services Acts 1981 & 2003, enforcement and expectations around compliance are becoming stricter.
Businesses are increasingly expected to show evidence that fire risks are actively being identified, reviewed, and managed — not simply acknowledged.
Fire Risk Assessments Are Under Greater Scrutiny
A fire risk assessment is one of the most important fire safety documents a business can have.
It should identify:
- Potential fire hazards
- People at risk
- Existing fire safety measures
- Areas requiring improvement
- Emergency procedures
- Staff training requirements
- Maintenance and inspection processes
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) continues to emphasise risk assessment and fire prevention responsibilities for employers across Ireland.
In practice, businesses are now expected to ensure their assessments are:
- Written clearly
- Site specific
- Regularly reviewed
- Updated following significant changes
- Supported by evidence and action plans
For many organisations, older “tick-box” style assessments are no longer considered sufficient.
Written Records Are Essential
One of the biggest areas businesses are being caught out on is documentation.
It’s not enough to simply say procedures are in place — businesses should be able to demonstrate:
- Fire drill records
- Staff fire training records
- Maintenance certificates
- Emergency lighting tests
- Fire alarm servicing
- Extinguisher inspections
- Fire door inspections
- Evacuation plans
- Risk assessment reviews
If an incident occurs, poor documentation can quickly become a serious legal and insurance issue.
Emergency Planning Matters More Than Ever
Another major focus for 2025 is emergency preparedness.
Businesses should ensure:
- Escape routes are clear and usable
- Evacuation procedures are current
- Staff understand their roles during an emergency
- Fire wardens are trained
- Visitors and contractors are considered
- Vulnerable persons are accounted for
In higher-risk environments such as healthcare, education, warehousing, manufacturing, residential accommodation, and lithium-ion battery storage areas, expectations are significantly higher.
Lithium-Ion Battery Risks Continue to Grow
One of the fastest-growing fire safety concerns in Ireland is lithium-ion battery risk.
With the rise of:
- E-bikes
- E-scooters
- Power tools
- Warehouse equipment
- Backup power systems
- Portable electronics
Businesses are now facing new fire hazards that traditional fire safety arrangements may not fully address.
Lithium-ion battery fires can develop rapidly, spread aggressively, and reignite after appearing extinguished.
As a result, many organisations are now reviewing:
- Charging procedures
- Storage areas
- Fire containment measures
- Staff awareness training
- Specialist suppression and isolation equipment
This is becoming a major consideration within modern fire risk assessments.
Competency Is Becoming Increasingly Important
Another significant development is the growing emphasis on using competent persons for fire risk assessments and fire safety support.
Recent guidance and updated standards across the fire industry are placing greater responsibility on businesses to ensure assessors are appropriately qualified and experienced.
Choosing the cheapest option — or relying on outdated assessments — can leave businesses exposed.
A proper assessment should provide practical, realistic recommendations that genuinely improve safety and compliance.
Common Issues We Continue to See On Site
Across inspections and assessments, many of the same issues continue to appear repeatedly:
- Fire doors wedged open
- Escape routes partially blocked
- Staff unsure how to respond during an emergency
- Outdated fire risk assessments
- Missing maintenance records
- Inadequate fire warden training
- Lithium-ion charging risks unmanaged
- Poor housekeeping in storage areas
- Emergency lighting faults
- Fire extinguishers not suitable for the risks present
Often, the issue is not the absence of equipment — it’s the lack of ongoing management, awareness, and consistency.
What Businesses Should Do Now
If you haven’t reviewed your fire safety arrangements recently, now is the time.
Businesses should consider:
- Reviewing existing fire risk assessments
- Updating evacuation procedures
- Checking staff training records
- Inspecting fire doors and escape routes
- Reviewing lithium-ion battery risks
- Ensuring servicing and maintenance records are current
- Identifying gaps before they become problems
Fire safety compliance is not about creating fear — it’s about protecting people, property, operations, and business continuity.
How Fireguard Can Help
At Fireguard, we work with businesses across Ireland to help improve fire safety, compliance, and emergency preparedness.
Our services include:
- Fire Risk Assessments
- Fire Safety Training
- Fire Warden Training
- Emergency Planning
- Fire Extinguisher Servicing
- Dry Riser Servicing
- Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety Solutions
- Fire Door Inspections
- Workplace Safety Training
Our approach is practical, supportive, and focused on helping businesses improve safety standards in a realistic and manageable way.
If you would like to review your current fire safety arrangements or discuss how the latest fire safety expectations may affect your business, contact the Fireguard team today.