Licensing
This section outlines the involvement of the fire service in the licensing process and is intended only as a guide to licensing of public premises. It does not purport to be a definitive guide and further information regarding the process may be obtained by contacting the fire service via the contact details given.
The Fire Authority is a notice party in respect of certain types of certificate/licence applications to the courts. Notification of a licence application allows the Fire Authority to inspect the premises concerned and to be represented at the licence hearing to state if it has any objection to the licence being granted. Information on the various types of applications heard in the District Court and relevant notice arrangements is available to download on the following link: District Court Licensing and Other Applications (pdf).
Since July 2020 applications for licences may be made using the Court Service Online (CSOL) facility available at csol.ie. Any licence applications made on CSOL are automatically notified to the Fire Authority if it is a notice party. On notification of a licence application and payment of the appropriate fee the fire authority will arrange an inspection of the premises to be conducted by a fire officer.
Details of licensing fees are available under the Fire Service Charges section of our website.
The applicant will be expected to have test certificates/reports for the following, as appropriate, ready for inspection:
- Electrical Installation
- Emergency lighting system
- Fire detection and alarm system
- Fire extinguishers
- Gas installation
- Kitchen extract ductwork cleaning
On the day of the inspection the inspecting officer will check the following items, where relevant:
- Final exits/escape doors
- Locking devices and push-bar devices
- Internal & external escape routes
- Fire doors, intumescent/cold smoke seals, self-closing devices
- Signage, exit signs, and fire instruction notices
- Emergency lighting system (maintained, non-maintained or combined system)
- Fire detection and alarm system
- Fire extinguishers
- High risk/Storage Areas
- Wall and ceiling linings
- Fire brigade access & water supplies
- Fire safety register and staff training.
- Evacuation procedures and records of drills
Licence applicants should ensure that prior to the inspection all the above have been checked and annual test certificates, where appropriate, are available for inspection. This will minimise delays in obtaining your licence. If the fire authority considers that deficiencies exist, a schedule of works will issue. The applicant will then be required to have these works completed prior to the granting of their licence. If the licensee carries out modifications or upgrading works to their premises at any time they should be aware of their obligations under building control legislation.
