Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

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

Lithium Batteries – E-Bikes – Charging Stations – Case Studies

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

• Examination of recent fire incidents linked to lithium-ion batteries in public settings
• Risk assessment protocols for indoor and outdoor charging areas
• Fire containment strategies for e-bike storage and charging infrastructure
• Case studies from transport hubs, public housing, and mixed-use developments

Fire Drills in Public Buildings – Case Studies of Successful Planning

Speaker: Paddy McDonnell, CEO, Phoenix STS. BEng (Fire Engineering)., F.IIESMS., MIIRSM,. M.IFSM., MIHEEM., CMIOSH.,M.NFPA., MLDI., H.Dip. SHWW.

• How to design effective fire drill scenarios for varied public settings(schools, hospitals, transport)
• Real-world examples of drills that improved response time and coordination
• Lessons learned from multi-agency collaboration during drills
• Communication tools and technologies that enhance fire drill effectiveness
• Addressing inclusivity: drills involving individuals with disabilities and non-native speakers

Emergency Lighting & Compliance with I.S. 3217:2023

Speaker: Paul Condron, Paul Condron Consulting Engineering Ltd - PCCE Training

• What’s new in I.S. 3217:2023 – key updates and implementation challenges
  
  • Major revisions affecting design, installation, and testing
  • Implementation timelines and transitional arrangements
  • Sector-specific guidance for education, healthcare, and transit hubs
• Maintenance logs, inspection schedules, and digital tracking tools
  
  • Best practices for documenting compliance
  • Tools for real-time system monitoring and fault detection
  • Role of facility management software in streamlining inspections
• Requirements for podiums, escape routes, and high-rise facilities
  
  • Enhanced criteria for lighting levels and placement
  • New compliance measures for complex and multi-level structures
  • Coordinating lighting systems with evacuation and signage strategies

Human Behaviour – Crowd Dynamics and Evacuation Planning

Speaker: John Tiernan, Fire Safety Consultant, Phoenix STS. B.Eng (Fire Engineering), FST.IIESMS

• Insights into human response to alarms and fire cues in public spaces
• Modelling crowd behaviour for emergency scenarios
• Design considerations for safe and efficient evacuation paths
• Psychological and cultural factors affecting evacuation decisions
• Technologies supporting real-time crowd management during emergencies

Fire Legislation Updates

• Key legislative frameworks governing fire safety at national and EU levels
• Core compliance requirements for public buildings
• Legal responsibilities and duties of building owners, managers, and tenants
• How legislation is enforced: examples from recent inspections and legal actions

Suppression Systems

• Innovations in suppression technologies for public environments
• Comparison of water mist, sprinkler, and gas suppression systems
• Maintenance and testing protocols: what facility managers need to know
• Integrating suppression systems into buildings
• Regulatory requirements and performance benchmarks

Building Control Regulations – Updates to Part B

• Key amendments to Part B of the Building Regulations related to fire safety
• Fire resistance requirements for new and existing structures
• Guidance on external wall systems and cladding post-Grenfell
• Fire spread prevention: updated standards for materials and construction methods
• Integration with other parts of the Building Regulations