Guides › Site-specific flood risk assessments
What is a site-specific flood risk assessment (SSFRA) in Ireland?
A site-specific flood risk assessment is an engineer's report on the flood risk to, and from, a proposed development.
Councils ask for one when a site is in or near a flood zone, or where there's any doubt. It sets out where flooding
could come from, how deep, what the development will do about it, and whether the development is appropriate there under
the national flood risk guidelines.
How InSite helps
- Checks all 21 OPW flood layers across the whole plot, so you'll know early whether it's likely to be in Flood Zone A or B and an assessment will be asked for.
- Includes the future climate scenarios and surface water flooding.
- Shows the site's terrain from LIDAR where surveyed, and a 3D water-flow analysis of where water would run and pool.
Free, from public data. Enter an Eircode or address:
or choose a location on the map
When a council asks for one
- The site is in Flood Zone A or B on the OPW maps, or close to their edge. See flood maps.
- There's a watercourse, drain or known flood history near the site, even where the maps are blank.
- The development could increase flooding elsewhere, for example by filling land or adding hard surfaces.
The framework
The Planning System and Flood Risk Management: Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2009) set the approach:
- A sequential approach: avoid flood risk first, then justify, then mitigate.
- The flood zones (A, B and C) and which kinds of development are appropriate in each.
- A Justification Test for development in Zones A and B that isn't otherwise appropriate there.
- Assessment in stages, from identifying flood risk, through an initial assessment, to a detailed assessment where
needed.
What an SSFRA usually covers
- All the sources of flooding: rivers, the sea, surface water, groundwater and drainage.
- Predicted flood levels for the relevant probabilities, with an allowance for climate change.
- The site's ground levels from a survey, and proposed finished floor levels with freeboard above flood level.
- Safe access and escape during a flood.
- The effect on others: loss of flood storage, run-off, and how surface water will be managed.
- Residual risk if defences or drainage fail.
Before you commission one
- Check every OPW layer for the whole site, including future climate scenarios and surface water.
- Look at the site's levels: LIDAR terrain shows how the site sits relative to
the nearest watercourse.
- Check for past flood events on floodinfo.ie and with neighbours.
Sources
- The Planning System and Flood Risk Management: Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2009) and technical appendices
- OPW flood maps, floodinfo.ie
Last reviewed 2026-10-02.
Check any site in Ireland
One free report from public data: terrain, flood risk, geology, archaeology, protected areas, radon, planning history and more.
or choose a location on the map
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