Residents in nursing homes and residential care settings often need help to move, so evacuation is rarely as simple as telling everyone to leave. That is why fire safety in care homes depends on early warning, strong compartmentation and well-practised staff.
What makes care settings different
- Residents may have limited mobility, impaired hearing or sight, or dementia.
- Many are in bed or in bedrooms, especially at night.
- Staffing levels are lower at night, so fewer people are available to help.
- Oxygen, mobility aids and electrical equipment, such as beds and hoists, are common.
- Evacuation usually means moving people to a safe area on the same floor first, rather than straight outside.
What a fire risk assessment typically covers
- Compartmentation and fire doors, which hold back fire and smoke while residents are helped. See our guide on compartmentation.
- Detection and alarm with a clear way of identifying where the fire is.
- Personal evacuation plans for each resident. Our guide on PEEPs explains more.
- Night-time arrangements: how few staff would move residents, and what help is expected from outside.
- Oxygen and medical gas storage, and the safe use of equipment.
- Smoking policy and arrangements for residents who smoke.
- Kitchens, laundry and plant rooms.
- Staff training and drills, including night staff and agency staff.
- Records, which an inspector may ask to see.
Regulation 28
For designated centres, Regulation 28 (Fire precautions) of S.I. No. 415 of 2013 sets out requirements for fire precautions, including arrangements for fire detection, equipment, escape routes, staff training and drills. Your fire risk assessment helps you show that these are in hand. See our guide to nursing home records for inspection.
Your duties
The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 place duties on those in control of premises and on employers.
Get in touch
We provide fire risk assessments in Limerick for nursing homes and care settings. Call 086 275 9728 or email info@safersolutions.ie for a no-obligation chat.