AF1 and AF2 Construction Notifications to Ireland's HSA

For a notifiable construction project in Ireland, the client notifies the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) about project-supervisor appointments using Approved Form AF1. The project supervisor for the construction stage (PSCS) separately notifies the HSA before construction work begins using AF2. Under the 2013 Construction Regulations, the notification threshold is work planned to last longer than 30 working days, or a scheduled volume exceeding 500 person-days. These are alternative triggers; a project need not meet both. The client should notify promptly of known appointment particulars, and the PSCS must notify before the construction stage begins. Irish Statute Book, S.I. 291/2013, regulations 10 and 22; HSA AF1 form; HSA contractor guide.

Direct answer

This guide is for the Republic of Ireland. UK CDM F10 notification is a different process; using a UK template for an Irish project is an avoidable jurisdiction error.

First decide whether the project is notifiable

Estimate the construction schedule and person-days before making the appointments and planning work. A working day means a day on which construction work is carried out, including weekends or holidays if work takes place. A person-day is one person carrying out construction work for one normal working shift; include supervisors and specialists doing construction work. The HSA AF1 form explains these terms. For example, 12 people doing construction work for 45 normal shifts would be about 540 person-days and cross that trigger even if work lasts fewer than 31 working days. This is a planning illustration, not a substitute for checking the actual programme and who is in scope.

If a project is initially below the threshold but programme or staffing changes make it likely to exceed one trigger, reassess promptly and ask the responsible dutyholder to update the HSA notification. Do not treat an early estimate as a permanent exemption.

Notification and appointment are different questions. The need to appoint a PSDP or PSCS can arise for reasons other than the notification threshold, including more than one contractor or particular risk. A project below the AF1/AF2 threshold may still need project supervisors. Use the current Construction Regulations and HSA dutyholder guidance to decide each obligation separately. Irish Statute Book, 2013 Construction Regulations; HSA PSDP guidance.

AF1: what the client does

The client appoints the project supervisors where required and gives notice of the particulars known or reasonably knowable about those appointments on the approved form. Regulation 10 says the notice is sent by registered post or as otherwise directed by the HSA. The HSA AF1 form asks for client details, PSDP details, PSCS details if known, project description and exact construction-site address. It can also be used to provide changes in appointments after the initial notification.

Do not delay AF1 until the entire design and construction team has been settled if the relevant particulars can already be provided. Record the appointment letter, AF1 version, submission date, destination/channel, acknowledgement and later updates. A representative may prepare or send a form for a client, but the client should know what was submitted on its behalf.

AF2: what the PSCS does

The PSCS sends its own construction-stage notification before work begins for a notifiable project. The HSA contractor guide describes the AF2 and says a copy should be displayed on site. It also notes the notification can be completed online or via the channel the Authority directs. The current HSA construction notifications page describes an online service. Because HSA pages and older PDFs differ in how they describe submission, verify the current official portal and instructions immediately before submission, rather than relying on a saved PDF or a third-party link. HSA construction notifications; HSA contractor guide.

The PSCS should check that the client, project, site and appointment information aligns with AF1; note the planned start and anticipated duration/workforce; and keep a copy and evidence of submission. If details change, use the HSA's current update process. Display the required copy on the construction site in a place appropriate to the project and protect personal data where the form contains it.

Practical notification workflow

Example: A refurbishment has two contractors and is expected to take 18 working days with six construction workers per day. Its current estimate is about 108 person-days, below the notification thresholds. The client still checks whether project supervisors must be appointed because there is more than one contractor. If scope later grows to 35 working days, the client and PSCS revisit AF1 and AF2 promptly. The example deliberately separates appointment from notification.

Common errors

• Treating “30 days and 500 person-days” as a joint test instead of alternative thresholds.
• Calling AF1 a PSCS submission or expecting the client's AF1 to replace the PSCS's AF2.
• Waiting until construction begins to consider AF2.
• Using UK F10/CDM terminology for the Republic of Ireland.
• Assuming no PSDP/PSCS is required solely because AF1/AF2 notification is not triggered.
• Sending an old downloaded form without checking the HSA's current submission route.
• Failing to record changed appointments or a project that crosses the planned threshold.

Where Complys fits

Use the observed Complys Ireland homepage only as a general product navigation link after feature verification. This guide does not claim Complys submits AF1 or AF2, calculates statutory thresholds, appoints supervisors or replaces the HSA portal. The immediate next step is to check the programme and appointments, then use the current HSA forms and submission instructions.

Source, jurisdiction and writer-side QA

Primary sources: S.I. 291/2013, especially regulations 10 and 22; HSA AF1; HSA contractor/AF2 guide; HSA notifications page. Reviewed 6 October 2026. HSA's public notifications page still refers to the superseded 2006 regulations in its introduction, while its forms/guides and Irish Statute Book cite 2013; this copy grounds the legal test in S.I. 291/2013 and gates the submission channel for same-day verification.

Owner/product: No exact live Complys AF1/AF2 guide observed. The country switcher confirms the Irish site is https://www.getcomplys.com/ie; final repository/gated-content and proposed route check required. No claim of live filing integration. Disposition: READY writer-side, subject to the stated publication gates.