Key takeaways
- I.S. 3218:2024 is the current Irish Standard for fire detection and alarm systems. It was published by NSAI in October 2024 and replaces I.S. 3218:2013+A1:2019.
- The main changes are a formal assessment of needs at the start of a project, a new set of confirmation documents, revised dwelling grades and clearer record-keeping for wireless (radio-linked) systems.
- System categories and service visit frequencies are broadly unchanged.
- For refurbishments, any extension or alteration to a fire alarm system must conform to the 2024 edition and be documented.
I.S. 3218:2024 changes how a fire alarm system is planned and documented more than what it physically contains. The categories of protection that developers and building owners know are still there. What has moved is the process around them: needs are assessed earlier, each stage is confirmed in writing, and wireless systems carry clearer ongoing record-keeping.
VRF designs wireless fire alarm systems for commercial and residential buildings across Ireland and has been an authorised EMS partner for over 25 years. This guide sets out what changed in the 2024 edition and what it means for projects at design stage.
What is IS 3218:2024?
I.S. 3218:2024 is the Irish Standard for the planning, design, installation, commissioning, servicing and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems, including in residential and domestic premises. It is published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) and supersedes I.S. 3218:2013+A1:2019.
The standard doesn’t decide whether a building needs a fire alarm. It applies once a system is required, and sets out how that system should be planned, designed and looked after. You can read more about the standards VRF works to on our regulatory standards page.
What changed in IS 3218:2024 compared to the 2013 standard?
The 2024 edition was rebuilt on a European technical specification, CEN/TS 54-14, so its structure and terminology now align more closely with practice across Europe. The table below summarises the changes most relevant to new builds and refurbishments.
| Area | I.S. 3218:2013+A1:2019 | I.S. 3218:2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Irish-specific layout | Rebuilt on the European template CEN/TS 54-14, with “planning” added to the title |
| Starting point | Design overview and design considerations | A formal assessment of needs: areas needing cover, system category, fire brigade communication, fire safety strategy, documentation and responsibility |
| Paperwork | Certificates of design, installation, commissioning, handover and verification | Confirmation documents for design, installation, commissioning, acceptance, and modifications or extensions |
| Dwellings | Grades A, B, C and D | Grades A, C, D and a new Grade F (sealed long-life battery alarms); Grade B removed |
| Radio-linked systems | Radio survey before installation, signal readings recorded at handover | Signal levels recorded at commissioning and again at every routine service, including links between networked panels |
| Detection technology | Video fire detection | Separate guidance on video and thermographic fire detectors |
The paperwork change is the one most people notice first. What is often called fire alarm system certification is now a series of confirmation documents, each issued at a defined stage, from design through to acceptance. You can find more on this on our fire alarm certification page.
Some things haven’t changed. The system categories are the same: L1 for full coverage, L2/L3 and L2/L4 for vulnerable areas, L3 and L4 for escape routes, and M for manual systems, with an “X” suffix for multiple-occupancy buildings. Service visits are still required at least four times a year. Smaller non-residential systems (four zones or fewer, and 20 or fewer devices) can still move to twice a year if daily and weekly checks are carried out on site.
What does IS 3218:2024 mean for new builds?
For new builds, fire alarm design now starts earlier and is more clearly documented. Under the 2024 edition, the building’s fire safety strategy must be consulted at design stage, and the system category must be stated in both the specification and the confirmation of design. A competent person must provide layout drawings showing every device and a schematic of how they connect.
In practice, the fire alarm should be part of the conversation at planning stage, not left until fit-out. Decisions about coverage, zoning and communication with the fire brigade are much cheaper to get right on paper. See our fire alarm system design service for how we approach this.
Does IS 3218:2024 apply to refurbishments?
Yes. For refurbishments, the 2024 edition applies to the work being done. Any extension to a system must conform to the 2024 standard, the modified system as a whole must still conform, and the work must be carried out by a competent person and recorded with a confirmation of commissioning for the modification. The system logbook and documentation should be updated to match.
Refurbishments often change room layouts, uses or occupancy, so it’s worth checking whether the original design still fits the building before work is finalised. Wireless systems are often well suited to refurbishment and heritage projects because they avoid extensive cabling. Find out more on our fire alarm system upgrades page.
What does IS 3218:2024 mean for wireless fire alarm systems?
Wireless systems are fully covered by I.S. 3218:2024. Radio-linked components must conform to I.S. EN 54-25 as well as the relevant parts of the EN 54 series. At commissioning, the system’s unique coding and the signal levels at each device should be recorded, along with the links between panels on a networked system. Those readings should be repeated at every routine service and kept with the logbook.
The 2024 text puts the emphasis on recorded signal levels rather than prescribing a pre-installation survey. VRF still carries out a radio site survey before every installation, because walls, metalwork and other equipment can all affect signal strength, and those are far easier to plan around before devices go in.
If you’re planning a new build or refurbishment and want your fire alarm design aligned with I.S. 3218:2024 from the start, talk to us before the design is finalised.
Frequently asked questions
I.S. 3218 is the Irish Standard for fire detection and alarm systems, covering their planning, design, installation, commissioning, servicing and maintenance. The current edition is I.S. 3218:2024, published by NSAI.
The 2024 edition is restructured around the European template CEN/TS 54-14. It adds a formal assessment of needs, replaces certificates with confirmation documents, revises dwelling grades (removing Grade B and adding Grade F), and sets clearer record-keeping for radio-linked systems.
It applies to both. In refurbishments, any extension or alteration must conform to the 2024 edition, be carried out by a competent person, and be recorded with a confirmation of commissioning for the modification
It has a documented assessment of needs, a stated system category and a design informed by the building’s fire safety strategy. It uses EN 54 components, is confirmed in writing at each stage, and is serviced regularly with a maintained logbook.
The standard requires design documentation to be prepared by a competent person. VRF designs wireless fire alarm systems for commercial and residential buildings across Ireland.
