New specifications for farm buildings

By Pat O'Keeffe

11 Oct 2003: Major changes in the specifications for farm buildings have been published by the Department of Agriculture.

These specifications are compulsory for grant aided buildings and are recommended for farm buildings not claiming aid. According to Chris Robson, senior architect with the specialist farm services division; the revisions have been undertaken after consultation with contractors, Teagasc and building specialists. Subject to some minor changes in the next few weeks, they will be published in booklet form and available from local Agricultural and Environmental Services (formerly the Farm Development Service) offices.

The newly rewritten specifications involve S101, which covers the Structure of Agricultural Buildings, and S123 which covers livestock housing and re-inforced tanks.

The main changes in S101 include:

* Non-fragile roofs and rooflights are now mandatory for all buildings;

* Ventilation requirements have been strengthened for all types of animal house;

* Walls may be omitted from a range of animal houses for cattle, cows, and sheep. This can improve animal health, and significantly reduce building costs.

* Roof cross bracing and angle bracing requirements have been strengthened.

Meanwhile, the most important changes in S123 are:

* 16 weeks' slurry storage is now a minimum requirement for all bovine housing.

* No agitation points to be put, or retained, in any new, converted, or extended house. (Agitation points must be placed outside.)

* No gable walls to be built on slats: walls to be built on beams, or another solution to be adopted.

* Thicker tank walls are required when stanchions are to be placed on them.

* Maximum of two external gang slats on tanks: all other covers to be slabs.

* Placing cubicles directly on slats is strongly discouraged, and will be phased out for grant-aided work by 2007.

* Cover to reinforcement has been increased for beams and slabs.

* Bitumastic coating to be put on any blockwork tank or channel.

Chris Robson said that S101 has been entirely rewritten to become a handbook of construction for every type of structure used in agricultural buildings in Ireland. He said specifications chosen were designed to produce a building that will last. The regulations are available on the ‘Farm Buildings' section of the Department of Agriculture website www.agriculture.gov.ie