Compliance FAQs
Legislation
Difference between legislation and Irish Standard?
What’s the difference between legislation and Irish Standards?
Legislation refers to laws enacted by the Oireachtas and signed by the President, making them mandatory and enforceable by the courts. Breaching legislation can result in fines, imprisonment, or other legal penalties. Examples include the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003. Irish Standards, on the other hand, are developed by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) and technical committees to provide best-practice guidance and technical specifications. They are generally voluntary, but when referenced in legislation, they become legally binding. Standards often inform legislation and are widely adopted to ensure compliance and quality—for example, I.S. 3218:2013 for fire detection systems and I.S. 813 for gas installations.
Fire and carbon monoxide alarm legislation can be found here.
Information on Irish Standards can be found here.
What alarms do I fit to meet the legislation?
Irish Legislation
- Owner-occupied homes:
If your home is already built and privately owned, there’s no legal requirement to add alarms. However, if you’re building a new home or doing major renovations, you must install:- Smoke alarms in hallways and landings
- A heat alarm in the kitchen
- Smoke alarms in main living areas and bedrooms
- Rented properties:
Landlords must provide:- Smoke alarms in hallways and landings on every floor
- A smoke alarm in the main living room
- A heat alarm in the kitchen
- A carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in any room with a fuel-burning appliance (like a boiler or stove)
- A fire blanket in the kitchen
- Emergency lighting in shared areas for apartment buildings
Best Practice
What alarms do I fit to meet the Irish standard?
Irish Standards recommend different grades depending on the property type:
- Rented homes, new builds, short-term lets, and small HMOs (1–2 storeys):
Use a Grade D1 system – mains-powered alarms with tamper-proof battery backup, interlinked for safety. - Owner-occupied new builds:
A Grade D2 system is recommended – mains-powered alarms with user-replaceable battery backup. - Sheltered housing:
Individual dwellings should have Grade D2 systems, while communal areas require a Grade A system (Ei Electronics does not manufacture Grade A systems).
What’s the difference between Grades and Categories? (Installation Certificate)
Grades and Categories are two different ways of classifying fire alarm systems.
- Grades describe the type of alarm and its power source:
- Grade D1: Mains-powered with tamper-proof battery backup (e.g., Ei 3000 Series).
- Grade D2: Mains-powered with user-replaceable battery backup (e.g., Ei 140e Series).
- Grade F1: Battery-only with tamper-proof battery (e.g., Ei 600 Series).
(Ei does not make Grade A or C systems. Carbon monoxide alarms are not graded.)
- Categories describe how much of the property is covered:
- LD1: Maximum protection – alarms in all rooms where a fire could start.
- LD2: Medium protection – alarms in escape routes, kitchen, and main living room.
- LD3: Minimum protection – alarms only in escape routes (hallways, landings).
Grades and categories work together: the grade tells you what type of alarm to use, and the category tells you where to put them. Following Irish Standards usually means you meet legal requirements.
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