Fire Extinguisher Regulations Ireland | RFC Fire & Security Systems

⚠️

Legal Requirement — All Commercial Premises Under the Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, all commercial premises in Ireland are legally required to have adequate fire extinguisher provision. Failure to comply can result in prosecution, closure and invalidation of your business insurance.

Fire Extinguisher Law in Ireland

Fire extinguisher provision in Ireland is governed by the Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Both pieces of legislation require all commercial premises to have adequate fire fighting equipment available for use in the event of a fire.

The specific requirements for fire extinguisher type, quantity and placement are set out in Irish Standard IS 291 — the Irish standard for the selection, installation and maintenance of portable fire extinguishing equipment. All RFC fire extinguisher installations comply with IS 291.

Irish Standard IS 291

IS 291 is the key standard governing fire extinguishers in Ireland. It sets out requirements for:

The selection of appropriate extinguisher types for different fire risks
The number of extinguishers required based on floor area
The placement and mounting of extinguishers
Signage requirements for extinguisher locations
Annual servicing and maintenance requirements
Records and documentation requirements

How Many Fire Extinguishers Are Required?

Under IS 291, the minimum fire extinguisher provision for commercial premises is:

Floor Area	Minimum Provision	Rating Required
Up to 200m²	1 extinguisher	Minimum 13A rating
200m² – 400m²	2 extinguishers	Minimum 13A rating each
Each additional 200m²	1 additional extinguisher	Minimum 13A rating
Each floor	Minimum 2 extinguishers	Regardless of floor area
Commercial kitchen	1 wet chemical extinguisher	Class F — legally required

Annual Servicing Requirements

Under IS 291, all fire extinguishers must be serviced annually by a competent person. RFC's EQA-certified engineers carry out full annual inspections and issue compliance certificates on completion.

Basic annual service — every 12 months for all types
Extended service — every 5 years for stored pressure extinguishers
Overhaul or replacement — every 10 years
Compliance certificate issued after each service
Service records maintained for inspection

Need IS 291 Compliant Fire Extinguishers?

RFC supply, install and service all types of fire extinguisher for commercial premises across Dublin and Leinster. Free site survey — no obligation.

View Our Service Get Free Survey →

Placement Requirements Under IS 291

IS 291 sets out specific requirements for where fire extinguishers must be placed:

Mounted on wall brackets or stands at the correct height
Located on escape routes — near exits and stairwells
Maximum travel distance of 30 metres to the nearest extinguisher
Clearly visible and accessible at all times
Identified with correct IS 291 compliant signage
Not obstructed by equipment, furniture or stored materials
CO2 extinguishers must not be placed in confined spaces

Wet Chemical Extinguishers — Commercial Kitchens

Under Irish fire safety regulations, all commercial kitchens are legally required to have a wet chemical (Class F) fire extinguisher. This applies to hotels, restaurants, school kitchens, care home kitchens and any other premises with commercial cooking equipment.

RFC supply and install wet chemical extinguishers for all commercial kitchen types across Dublin and Leinster. Our engineers assess your kitchen and recommend the correct size and quantity required.

Fire ExtinguisherRegulations Ireland