Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

Laurence Skelly, MSc. (Env. Health & Safety), BSc. (Health Science),MIES, Grad IOSH

Battery Fires and Fire Safety Management in Public Buildings

Speaker: Paul Christensen, Founding Director Lithiumionsafety Ltd Consultancy

• Overview of Battery Fire Incidents
• E-scooters and E-bikes: Policies for office spaces, charging locations, and fire risks
• Fire Safety Management in Car Parks: Special requirements for EV and underground car parks
• Lithium Battery Storage: Best practices for warehouses and industrial settings
• New Fire Extinguishing Technologies: Effectiveness of AVD-Li fire extinguishers

Evacuation Procedures, Fire Safety Management Plans and Fire Risk Assessment

Speaker: Paddy McDonnell, CEO, Phoenix STS

• Differences between Fire Risk Assessment and Fire Safety Assessment
• Conducting Fire Risk Assessments: Common pitfalls and best practices
• Fire Drills and Evacuation Procedures: Methodologies and competency requirements
• Strategies for Effective Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Incident Command Systems and Collaboration with Emergency Services
• Fire Safety in High-Rise Buildings: Evacuation procedures and fire suppression systems

Emergency Lighting Safety Standards and Testing Obligations in Ireland

Speaker: David F. Hamilton (GIFireE), Fire Risk Consultant

• Standards and Best Practices for Installation, Commissioning, and Maintenance
• Differences between Irish and British Standards
• Emergency Lighting: Systems, installation, and maintenance

Building Regulations (Part B Amendment) Regulations 2023

Speaker: Eanna O Tuama, Associate & Dublin Branch Manager, Affinity Fire Engineering​

• Amendment of article 5 of Principal Regulations
• Amendment of article 13 of Principal Regulations
• Substitution of entries B1 to B5 of Second Schedule to Principal Regulations
• Insertion of entry B12 into Second Schedule to Principal Regulations

Fire Safety in Heritage and Historical Buildings

• Challenges in Fire Safety for Heritage Buildings: Preservation versus safety
• Retrofitting Modern Fire Safety Systems: Best practices and case studies
• Fire Risk Assessments for Historical Sites: Specific considerations and methodologies
• Collaboration with Heritage Authorities: Ensuring compliance and preservation

Innovative Technologies in Fire Detection and Suppression

Speaker: Kevin Howlette, Director, Emergency Fire & Safety Ltd

• Advances in Fire Detection: Smart sensors and AI integration
• Automated Fire Suppression Systems: Latest technologies and their applications
• Internet of Things (IoT) in Fire Safety: Remote monitoring and maintenance
• Case Studies on Successful Implementation: Real-world examples of new technologies in action

Tackling Complacency When an Evacuation Plan is Activated

Speaker: Dr Victor Hrymak, PhD, MSc, BSc, CMIOSH & MIFireE, Lecturer, TU Dublin

• Urgency and Seriousness of Evacuation Protocols
• Importance of Education and Regular Drills
• Impactful Real-Life Examples and Statistics
• Role of Leadership and Accountability in Fire Safety

The Practicalities & Challenges of Carrying Out Extensive Fire Safety Remedial Works in Achieving Retrofit Standards

• Advising the Board of the OMC on Fire Safety
• Instruction of professionals (Solicitor, Fire Consultant, Building Surveyor)
• Agreeing the scope of Fire Safety Audit (FSA)
• Consequences of FSA – Notifying insurers, fire officer, potential purchaser
• Meetings to inform all owners
• Levies and financing
• Organising access to all apartments
• Remedial works
• Completion and certification of project