Fire Safety Group
Professional development, CPD and sector engagement for fire risk assessment, fire safety management, emergency planning and fire safety systems.
About the Fire Safety Group
The Fire Safety Group supports IIESMS members working in fire risk assessment, fire safety management, fire engineering, emergency planning, fire safety systems and related consultancy or premises-control roles.
The group provides a professional home for CPD, committee involvement, peer discussion and practical knowledge sharing. It is particularly relevant where fire safety overlaps with healthcare, facilities management, safety and health, and the management of complex buildings.
The group supports professional development and member engagement. It does not replace statutory duties, employer responsibilities, regulator requirements or specialist legal advice.
Regulatory and Standards Framework
Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 - The primary fire safety legislation in Ireland, placing duties on premises controllers and establishing fire authority enforcement powers
Building Control Act 1990 and TGD-B - Building standards for fire safety in new and refurbished buildings, including means of escape, fire detection, structural fire resistance, and access for fire services
PAS 79-1:2020 - The standard methodology for fire risk assessment of premises, widely adopted as best practice across Irish commercial, residential, and healthcare settings
IS 3218:2024 - The Irish standard for fire detection and fire alarm systems, covering system design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance
IS 3217:2023 - The Irish standard for emergency lighting, covering design, installation, commissioning, verification, and maintenance
BS 8214:2026 - Code of practice for fire door assemblies, covering installation, maintenance, and inspection requirements
The Fire Safety Group supports members in understanding and applying these requirements in their professional practice, ensuring that their work meets the standards expected by employers, regulators, and the public.
Key Focus Areas
The Fire Safety Group organises its activities around six core focus areas that reflect the breadth of professional practice in this discipline.
Fire Risk Assessment
Conducting and reviewing fire risk assessments to PAS 79-1:2020 standards across commercial, residential, and healthcare premises. Identifying fire hazards, evaluating risks, and recommending proportionate control measures.
Emergency Response Planning
Developing comprehensive emergency response plans, evacuation procedures, personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs), and business continuity strategies for organisations of all sizes and complexity.
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
Design review, commissioning, and maintenance auditing of fire detection and alarm systems compliant with IS 3218:2024, including system categorisation, detector selection, and zoning strategies.
Passive Fire Protection
Ensuring compartmentation integrity through fire door inspection and maintenance, fire stopping, cavity barriers, and structural fire protection measures in accordance with current building regulations.
Fire Safety Management
Developing and implementing fire safety management systems for organisations, including policy development, training needs analysis, drill programmes, audit schedules, and compliance monitoring.
Healthcare Fire Safety
Specialist fire safety practice in hospitals, nursing homes, and designated centres, addressing HIQA regulatory requirements, patient evacuation planning, and the unique challenges of protecting vulnerable persons.
Sector Committee and Governance
The Fire Safety Group is chaired by Gerard Trehy, CFEng.IIESMS, founder of EFAST Ireland, which delivers fire safety training, emergency response team training and event medical services. Gerard holds a BEng in Fire Engineering and a degree in Fire Safety Engineering and has presented at national conferences on fire legislation, Building Control Regulations (Part B), fire resistance standards and external wall systems. He brings directly applicable fire engineering experience to the chair and ensures the group's work reflects current Irish fire safety practice across the built environment.
The group operates as an advisory body to the IIESMS National Council under Terms of Reference v1.0 and reports to Council through the Business Development Officer and Education and Membership Officer liaison. Voting membership is drawn from across the IIESMS grades with a working target of up to 16 members and a quorum of three. The group meets at least quarterly and produces standard annual outputs including the Annual Work Plan (G-AWP), Council Report (G-RPT) and Expression of Interest form (G-EOI). Decision authority on matters affecting the Institute rests with the National Council; the group's role is to inform, shape and execute the work plan it has been delegated.
Professional development and grade routes
Members working in fire safety may use the group to identify relevant CPD, maintain evidence of learning and connect professional experience to the IIESMS membership or certified grade route that best fits their evidence.
The fire safety certified grades are Fire Engineer (FEng.IIESMS) and Certified Fire Engineer (CFEng.IIESMS). Applicants should use the published membership criteria and provide evidence of completed qualifications, relevant experience, CPD and professional practice.
Relevant CPD activity
Relevant CPD may include fire risk assessment methodology, fire safety management, emergency planning, passive fire protection, fire detection and alarm systems, healthcare fire safety, standards updates, professional reading, committee work and practical project learning.
Members should record the activity, date, learning outcome and evidence retained, and should connect CPD to their role, grade and professional development needs.
How to Get Involved
Join the Fire Safety Group in four steps.
Join IIESMS
Apply for the membership grade that matches your completed qualifications and evidenced experience. Use Find Your Grade if you are unsure.
Select Your Sector
Indicate your interest in the Fire Safety Group during the application process or contact the Institute to be added to this sector group.
Attend Events
Participate in sector-specific events, webinars, and networking sessions organised by the Fire Safety Group throughout the year.
Contribute
Express interest in committee work, present at events, mentor early-career members, or contribute to policy submissions where relevant. Your expertise helps support professional standards across Ireland.
Explore Other Sector Groups
IIESMS members can engage with multiple sector groups. Discover related disciplines and expand your professional network.
Safety & Health Group
Occupational health and safety, risk assessment, safety management systems, workplace safety legislation, and compliance.
Healthcare Group
Non-clinical safety in healthcare environments including fire safety, facilities management, and safety in hospitals and nursing homes.
Industrial Engineering Group
Lean manufacturing, process improvement, operations management, supply chain optimisation, quality, and operational excellence.
Facilities Management Group
Building services, maintenance engineering, energy management, space planning, asset management, and facility operations.
Get involved
Join IIESMS, select the Fire Safety Group where it matches your work, and use the group to support relevant CPD, professional discussion and evidence for grade progression.
Related Pages and Articles
Useful next steps connected to this page.
Fire Safety Grades
Compare fire safety grade routes through the full membership grades page.
CPD Requirements
Keep records of relevant fire safety learning, events and professional activity.
Sector Groups
See how fire safety connects with healthcare, facilities and safety and health practice.
Fire Safety Development
Read a practical guide to fire safety CPD, evidence and professional development in Ireland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the IIESMS Fire Safety Group
Any IIESMS member with a professional interest or role in fire safety can join the group. This includes fire risk assessors, fire safety officers, fire engineers, fire safety managers, emergency planners, and those in related consultancy or regulatory roles. You must first hold IIESMS membership at any grade.
The group organises CPD events, technical seminars, networking meetings, and webinars focused on fire safety topics. Events cover subjects including PAS 79-1 fire risk assessment, IS 3218 fire detection systems, TGD-B compliance, passive fire protection, and healthcare fire safety.
IIESMS offers two fire safety-specific grades: Fire Engineer (FEng.IIESMS) requiring NFQ Level 7 and 2 years of experience, and Certified Fire Engineer (CFEng.IIESMS) requiring NFQ Level 8 and 4 years of experience. Both are EUR 295 per year with 30 hours CPD.
Committee membership is open to active Fire Safety Group members who wish to contribute to the group's strategic direction. Contact the group chair or the Institute at [email protected] to express your interest.
Yes. Healthcare fire safety is a significant focus area, addressing fire safety in nursing homes, hospitals, and designated centres under HIQA regulations. This includes fire risk assessment, evacuation planning, fire detection system design, and regulatory compliance.
The group may contribute professional input through IIESMS consultation or policy routes where appropriate. It does not act as a regulator and does not replace statutory authorities or legal duties.
The group may support CPD through relevant events, webinars, technical discussions, committee work and professional reading. Members should record the learning outcome and keep evidence where available.
Yes. Fire safety often overlaps with healthcare, facilities management and safety and health, so members may attend relevant activity across IIESMS where it supports their role and CPD needs.