Apartment living in Dublin means many households sharing one building. A fire in one flat can affect everyone, so the common areas, escape routes and fire protection systems need to be managed with care.
Why apartment blocks are different
- Residents come and go, and few of them think about fire safety day to day.
- Corridors, stairwells and lobbies are shared, so one person’s clutter becomes everyone’s problem.
- Fire doors on flats and common areas only work if they close properly.
- Buildings often include car parks, bin stores and plant rooms with their own hazards.
- Responsibility can be spread across an owners’ management company, a managing agent and individual owners, so gaps appear easily.
What a fire risk assessment typically looks at
- Escape routes: are stairs, landings and exits clear and well lit?
- Fire doors: do they close fully, with intact seals and no wedges?
- Detection and alarms in the common areas, and emergency lighting.
- Compartmentation: are there gaps around pipes and cables in risers and service cupboards?
- Storage in common areas: bikes, prams, boxes and e-scooters left in corridors and stairwells.
- Bin stores and car parks: waste build-up, and charging of electric bikes and scooters.
- Information for residents: do people know what to do if the alarm sounds?
- Records: testing, servicing and past actions in your fire safety register.
Practical steps for managing agents and committees
- Walk the common areas regularly and note what you find.
- Send residents a short, friendly notice about keeping corridors clear.
- Ask contractors to reinstate fire stopping after any works.
- Review the assessment after major changes, or if use of the building changes.
Your duties
The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 expect a person in control of premises to take reasonable measures to guard against fire and protect people if one occurs. In a multi-unit building, make sure it is clear who holds that role for the common areas.
Talk to Safer Solutions
If you manage a block, a fire risk assessment gives you a clear, written picture and a practical action list. We offer fire risk assessments in Dublin and across Ireland. Call 086 275 9728 or email info@safersolutions.ie for a no-obligation chat. You can also read our guide on fire doors.