Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

John O’Connor, Chair, Housing Commission

Building Control Regulation & Legislative Developments

Speaker: Mairead Phelan, Head of the National Building Control Office

• Updates from the Building Standards Regulator, operational in 2025
• Revised definitions under Article 5 and their impact on building classification
• Recent changes to the Construction Products Regulation (EU alignment)
• Strengthening enforcement: Section 11 inspections and formal follow-up procedures
• Clarifying the legal status of opt-out projects and assigned certifier responsibilities

Fire Safety & Compliance: Revised Part B Regulations

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

• Full overview of the Part B (Amendment) Regulations 2023, now in effect
• Article 5 and 13 amendments: implications for Fire Safety Certificate applications
• New Second Schedule entries B1–B5 and introduction of B12 (Provision of Information)
• Interactions between fire-rated elements and new accessibility requirements
• Fire performance in both new and existing buildings, including change of use scenarios

Acoustic Performance & Part E in Practice

Speaker: Diarmuid Keaney, Noise and Vibration Consultant, ICAN Acoustics

• Meeting mandatory sound insulation levels in both new and refurbished buildings
• Acoustic risk factors in apartment developments and “Bringing Back Homes” projects
• Addressing compliance during wall chasing and retrofitting
• Testing standards and legal exposure for underperforming constructions

Ventilation & Airtightness: New Directions in Part F

Speaker: Simon Jones, AMIEnvSc, AMIAQM, WELL AP, Fitwel, Air Quality Matters

• Draft 2025 Technical Guidance Document F: what’s coming for commercial and residential
• MVHR system design in A2+ dwellings – balancing energy and air quality
• Addressing extract fan performance, duct length losses, and compliance testing
• Where trickle vents still apply – or no longer suffice

Certification, Coordination & Liability in a Regulated Environment

Speaker: Ciaran Dinsmore, Senior Building Surveyor, Assigned Certifier, BB7

• Clarifying the distinct responsibilities of Assigned Certifiers, Ancillary Certifiers, and Designers
• Design Responsibility Matrix (DRM): a best practice tool for accountability
• Guidance on the validity, renewal, and liability tied to Certificates of Compliance
• PI insurance considerations in 2025: common gaps and coverage expectations

Sustainability Compliance: Part L & Embodied Carbon Integration

Speaker: Archie O’Donnell, Senior Sustainability Specialist, KOSMOS

• 2025 update: Embodied carbon metrics integrated into DEAP and BER processes
• Public sector mandates: minimum 30% GGBS in concrete; low-carbon material sourcing
• Energy performance of buildings in major renovations
• New transitional guidance for NZEB and domestic retrofits

Parts M (with B, K, L overlaps)

Speaker: Nicola Meadows, Accessibility Consultant

• TGD(M)2022 – practical challenges, almost three years on
• Evolving overlaps: Part M, Part K & the pending updates to Part L
• TGD(B)2024 designs in motion: practical challenges relating to Part M lobbies and doors
• Electric Vehicle Charging – accessibility implications and design integration under Part L
• Automatic doors: ongoing issues with door forces, especially where mechanical ventilation is present
• Design pitfalls with sliding doors in accessible sanitary facilities
• “Bringing Back Homes – 2nd Edition” – continued relevance
• Supplementary guidance to TGD(K)
• Detail Design and where it still goes wrong on site, the main focuses of 2025
• How AI has transformed how we work in 2025

Part C: Site Preparation & Resistance to Moisture

Speaker: John O’Connor, Chair, Housing Commission

• Damp-Proof Course & Membrane Requirements
• Site Drainage & Water Management Systems
• Cavity Wall Moisture Protection Standards
• Radon Protection Updates (2023 Amendment)
• Vapor Control & Condensation Prevention