ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
Fire Alarm Zone Charts: Legislation & Standards
Irish legislation, technical standards and official guidance relevant to fire alarm zone chart documentation.
On this page
01
I.S. 3218:2024
IRISH STANDARD — FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS
I.S. 3218:2024 is the Irish Standard covering the planning, design, installation, commissioning, servicing and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems. It provides an important technical reference for those responsible for fire alarm systems in Ireland.
Alarm Location Aids — Section 6.7.4
Section 6.7.4 addresses how fire alarm indications are related to the physical location of an alarm within a building. In addition to the zone information displayed at the Control and Indicating Equipment (CIE), the standard requires at least one suitable location aid: a zone card, zone map or mimic panel.
The appropriate form and level of detail depend on the building and the installed detection system. Where practicable, zone maps should help identify individual device locations. Where multiple zone cards or maps are used, a suitable index or reference system can help personnel locate the relevant information quickly.
These provisions explain the role of zone charts and associated location aids in helping personnel interpret fire alarm indications and identify the affected area.
02
Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003
FIRE SAFETY DUTIES FOR BUILDING OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS
Section 18 of the Fire Services Act 1981, as amended by the Licensing of Indoor Events Act 2003, establishes fire-safety duties for persons having control over premises within its scope. These duties include taking reasonable measures to prevent fires, providing appropriate fire-safety measures and procedures, and safeguarding people in the event of a fire.
Clear, accurate fire alarm documentation can support the effective management of fire safety by helping personnel interpret alarm indications and identify the areas of a building affected by an alarm. The specific documentation required should be determined by the applicable legislation, standards and circumstances of the premises.
03
Technical Guidance Document B (TGD B)
FIRE SAFETY — BUILDING REGULATIONS
Technical Guidance Document B provides guidance on meeting the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations for buildings and works within its scope. It addresses wider fire safety provisions, including relevant fire detection and alarm considerations. It should be read alongside the applicable legislation and technical standards; its relevance to an individual zone chart depends on the building and circumstances.
04
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND EMERGENCY ARRANGEMENTS
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 establishes duties concerning workplace safety. Section 11 addresses emergency plans and procedures, including measures relating to firefighting and the evacuation of people at work. The Act does not specifically prescribe fire alarm zone charts. Accurate system information can nevertheless support those responsible for workplace safety and emergency arrangements.
05
How these sources relate to zone charts
These sources serve different purposes. I.S. 3218 provides the technical framework for fire detection and alarm systems, TGD B addresses fire safety in the context of the Building Regulations, and the relevant legislation establishes wider safety duties. They should not be treated as interchangeable, nor should a general legal duty be presented as an explicit zone chart requirement. The applicable provisions depend on the premises, system and circumstances.