Healthcare Fire Safety Policies
Bespoke Fire Safety Policies for Nursing Homes - HIQA Regulation 28 - Fire Services Acts - PI Insured
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Bespoke Fire Safety Policies for Irish Nursing Homes
Phoenix STS prepares bespoke fire safety policies for nursing homes and designated centres across Ireland. The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 apply to whoever has control of the premises. The law requires all reasonable measures to guard against fire and to protect everyone on site. In plain terms: if you run the building, the legal duty sits with you, and written policies are how you show you have met it. For HIQA-registered designated centres, Regulation 28 of S.I. No. 415 of 2013 adds a further requirement. The registered provider must keep effective fire safety management in place, including documented fire safety policies and procedures. Our BEng Fire Engineering qualified consultants draft policies around your facility: its fire risks, building layout, compartmentation, staffing and resident dependency profiles. The result complies with Irish fire safety law and meets HIQA's expectations.
Why Your Nursing Home Needs Fire Safety Policies
HIQA Regulation 28
Regulation 28 of S.I. No. 415 of 2013 requires effective fire safety management in designated centres. That includes written fire safety policies, emergency procedures, staff training records and fire drill records. What this means for you: HIQA inspectors examine these documents at every inspection, announced or unannounced.
Fire Services Acts
The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 set statutory duties for anyone in control of a premises. You must guard against the outbreak of fire, keep escape routes safe and provide proper fire safety equipment. Written policies are your evidence of due diligence if the fire authority ever asks.
Vulnerable Resident Protection
Effective fire safety policies protect vulnerable residents. They set out clear written procedures for fire prevention, detection, alarm response and evacuation, plus each staff role in an emergency. For residents with dementia, reduced mobility or oxygen dependency, that clarity is essential to a safe evacuation.
Fire Authority Inspections
Fire authority officers inspect nursing homes and designated centres under the Fire Services Acts. They examine fire safety management records, staff training records, drill records and maintenance logs. Well-drafted policies demonstrate compliance and can prevent enforcement action.
Staff Clarity
Clear policies mean every staff member knows their role in a fire. That includes new employees and agency staff. Policies cover what to do on discovering a fire, on hearing the alarm, during evacuation and when the fire service arrives. No room is left for confusion in an emergency.
Insurance Requirements
Insurers require documented fire safety policies as a condition of cover for nursing homes and healthcare facilities. Up-to-date policies show proactive fire risk management. They help you keep continuous cover without exclusions.
Fire Safety Policies We Provide
Fire Safety Management Policy
The overarching policy that sets the framework for fire safety in your facility. It defines management responsibilities, consultation arrangements and the fire safety committee's terms of reference. It also sets audit and review schedules and ties fire safety into your overall governance.
Emergency Evacuation Procedure
Evacuation procedures written for your compartment layout and resident population. They cover the progressive horizontal evacuation sequence, staff roles, evacuation equipment and assembly points. They also cover handover to the fire service when crews arrive.
Fire Prevention & Housekeeping
Day-to-day rules that keep fire risk down. These cover combustible materials, smoking controls, electrical safety, kitchen fire prevention and oxygen storage and use. They also keep the means of escape clear at all times.
Hot Works & Contractor Management
Rules for managing hot works and contractors on site. These cover permit-to-work systems, fire watch during and after hot works, contractor induction and maintenance activity. They also manage any temporary shutdown of fire safety systems during works.
Fire Safety Training Policy
A policy that defines fire safety training for all staff. It covers induction for new employees, annual refreshers, fire warden training and the frequency and recording of fire drills. It keeps you in line with HIQA's expectations for staff competence.
Fire Safety Management Policy
The overarching policy that sets the framework for fire safety in your facility. It defines management responsibilities, consultation arrangements and the fire safety committee's terms of reference. It also sets audit and review schedules and ties fire safety into your overall governance.
Emergency Evacuation Procedure
Evacuation procedures written for your compartment layout and resident population. They cover the progressive horizontal evacuation sequence, staff roles, evacuation equipment and assembly points. They also cover handover to the fire service when crews arrive.
Fire Prevention & Housekeeping
Day-to-day rules that keep fire risk down. These cover combustible materials, smoking controls, electrical safety, kitchen fire prevention and oxygen storage and use. They also keep the means of escape clear at all times.
Hot Works & Contractor Management
Rules for managing hot works and contractors on site. These cover permit-to-work systems, fire watch during and after hot works, contractor induction and maintenance activity. They also manage any temporary shutdown of fire safety systems during works.
Fire Safety Training Policy
A policy that defines fire safety training for all staff. It covers induction for new employees, annual refreshers, fire warden training and the frequency and recording of fire drills. It keeps you in line with HIQA's expectations for staff competence.
What We Deliver
Fire Safety Management Policy
A complete fire safety management policy framework. It establishes governance, responsibilities, monitoring and review arrangements. It links into your overall safety management system and structures all your fire safety documents.
Emergency Evacuation Procedure
Emergency evacuation procedures built around your compartment layout. They include the progressive horizontal evacuation sequence, action cards for each staff role, assembly point procedures and separate daytime and night-time arrangements.
Fire Prevention Policy
Fire prevention policies that address every source of ignition and fuel in your facility. They cover electrical safety, smoking controls, kitchen safety, oxygen management, arson prevention and daily housekeeping.
Fire Risk Assessments
Fire risk assessments carried out to PAS 79-1:2020 by our BEng Fire Engineering qualified consultants. They give your policies an evidence base and set priorities for improvement.
Evacuation Planning
Evacuation planning services that back your policies up. These include progressive horizontal evacuation strategies, Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs), compartment fire drills and TagEvac installation.
Fire Safety Consultancy
Ongoing fire safety consultancy. We help with policy updates, compliance monitoring and preparation for HIQA inspections and fire authority visits.
Healthcare Facilities We Serve
Nursing Homes
Bespoke fire safety policies for private and voluntary nursing homes. They address sleeping risk, oxygen use and the evacuation needs of residents with limited mobility.
Hospitals
Fire safety policies for public and private hospitals. They cover complex multi-department buildings, including operating theatres, laboratories and high-dependency units.
Disability Services
Tailored policies for residential and day services for people with disabilities. They address specific evacuation challenges, communication needs in an emergency and fire safety in sensory environments.
Mental Health
Specialist policies for approved mental health centres. They address arson risk, evacuation in secure environments and service users who may resist evacuation during a fire.
Respite Care
Policies for respite care settings. Resident populations change often, so the policies build in rapid fire safety orientation for every new admission.
Day Care
Fire safety policies for day care centres. They cover evacuation during activity sessions, kitchen fire safety and the busy arrival and departure periods when occupancy changes.
Hospices
Sensitive policies for hospice settings. They pair rigorous fire safety management with a peaceful, dignified environment for residents and their families.
Designated Centres
HIQA-aligned policies for all categories of designated centres under the Health Act 2007. They support your Regulation 28 evidence and readiness for HIQA and fire authority inspections.
Our Process
From consultation to delivery.
Consultation
We start with a detailed consultation. We discuss your fire safety needs, existing documents, building construction, compartmentation, fire safety systems and staffing. We also review any concerns raised by HIQA or the fire authority.
Site Assessment
Our BEng-qualified consultants assess your site. They review compartmentation, means of escape, fire detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting, firefighting equipment and signage. Policies then reflect your building as it really is.
Policy Drafting
We draft your policies from scratch, based on the site assessment. Nothing is copied from a template. Policies reflect your fire risks, layout, compartment structure, staffing and resident profiles. They reference the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, HIQA Regulation 28 and current best practice.
Review & Approval
Your management team reviews the drafts. We explain the legal and regulatory requirements in plain terms. We then make any revisions before finalising each document.
Delivery & Implementation
Final policies arrive in digital and printed formats, with a handover meeting. We advise on staff communication, training needs and the review cycle that keeps policies current.
Consultation
We start with a detailed consultation. We discuss your fire safety needs, existing documents, building construction, compartmentation, fire safety systems and staffing. We also review any concerns raised by HIQA or the fire authority.
Site Assessment
Our BEng-qualified consultants assess your site. They review compartmentation, means of escape, fire detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting, firefighting equipment and signage. Policies then reflect your building as it really is.
Policy Drafting
We draft your policies from scratch, based on the site assessment. Nothing is copied from a template. Policies reflect your fire risks, layout, compartment structure, staffing and resident profiles. They reference the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, HIQA Regulation 28 and current best practice.
Review & Approval
Your management team reviews the drafts. We explain the legal and regulatory requirements in plain terms. We then make any revisions before finalising each document.
Delivery & Implementation
Final policies arrive in digital and printed formats, with a handover meeting. We advise on staff communication, training needs and the review cycle that keeps policies current.
Legislative Framework
Our fire safety policies are drafted with full reference to the legislative framework.
Why Choose Phoenix STS
HIQA Specialists
Around 60-65% of our clients are in the healthcare sector. We know HIQA Regulation 28 in depth and what inspectors look for in fire safety policy documents.
BEng Engineers
Our policies are drafted by BEng Fire Engineering qualified consultants. They understand fire dynamics, compartmentation, detection systems and what makes fire safety management work in healthcare buildings.
CPD Provider
We are a CPD Standards Office accredited training provider. Certified staff training in fire awareness, fire warden duties and progressive horizontal evacuation backs up your policies.
25+ Years
Over 25 years of experience and around 290 clients across Ireland. Extensive HIQA and fire authority inspection experience informs every policy we draft.
Nationwide
We provide fire safety policy services in all 26 counties, from our offices in Longford, Sligo and Dublin.
PI Insured
All our professional services, including policy drafting, are covered by professional indemnity insurance. You can rely on the quality of our documentation.
Nationwide Availability
Phoenix STS provides fire safety policy services across all 26 counties.
Need fire safety policies for a workplace outside healthcare? See our general fire safety policies service.
Related Services
Further Reading
See our guide on HIQA Regulation 28 compliance and our article on what changed in IS 3218:2024.
Phoenix STS provides healthcare fire safety policy services across Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about fire safety policies. Content last reviewed: June 2026.
A fire safety policy is a written document that sets out how your facility manages fire safety. It defines roles and responsibilities and the framework for managing fire risk. It covers fire prevention, emergency procedures, staff training and the arrangements for monitoring and review.
Yes. For designated centres, HIQA Regulation 28 of S.I. No. 415 of 2013 requires documented fire safety management. The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 also require those in control of premises to take all reasonable measures against fire. In practice, written policies are the main way to prove you have met these duties.
Regulation 28 of S.I. No. 415 of 2013 (Health Act 2007 - Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) deals with fire precautions. The registered provider must keep effective fire safety management in place. That includes documented procedures, adequate means of escape, suitable fire detection and alarm systems and trained staff.
A nursing home typically needs a fire safety management policy and emergency evacuation procedures. It also needs policies for fire prevention and housekeeping, hot works and contractors, fire safety training, fire door management and the testing and maintenance of fire safety systems. Some facilities need more, depending on their specific fire risks.
The Acts place legal duties on whoever controls the premises. You must guard against the outbreak of fire, keep people on the premises safe and provide safe means of escape. Fire authority officers can inspect and enforce. Non-compliance can bring fire safety notices, closure notices or prosecution.
Progressive horizontal evacuation (PHE) means moving residents sideways from the affected compartment into a safe compartment on the same floor. Staff avoid stairways unless the fire spreads. PHE is the recognised evacuation strategy for healthcare buildings in Ireland and is referenced in TGD-B 2024 and IS 3218:2024.
Review fire safety policies at least once a year. Also review them after any significant change to the building, systems or staffing. Do the same after a fire incident or near miss, when new legislation or guidance appears, or when HIQA or the fire authority flags an issue.
Phoenix STS drafts every policy from scratch for your facility. We do not use generic templates. HIQA inspectors have repeatedly criticised template policies that do not reflect the actual facility.
A complete fire safety policy suite typically takes 3 to 6 weeks from the site assessment. That includes the first draft, your review, revisions and final delivery. We can work to urgent timescales where needed.
Yes. All fire safety policy documents we produce are covered by our professional indemnity insurance. Our professional work is backed by appropriate financial protection.
Yes. We prepare facilities for HIQA inspection under Regulation 28. We make sure your policies, evacuation procedures, drill records, training records and supporting documents are in order and easy to produce. We can also run a pre-inspection review to find and fix gaps.
Our fire safety consultants hold BEng Fire Engineering qualifications. They are members of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM). Our health and safety consultants hold CMIOSH status. Every policy is drafted to a high professional standard.
Get Bespoke Fire Safety Policies for Your Nursing Home
Protect your residents with HIQA Regulation 28-aligned fire safety policies from Phoenix STS.