diff --git a/roles/openshift-apps/fmn/templates/deploymentconfig.yml b/roles/openshift-apps/fmn/templates/deploymentconfig.yml
index 768565bed3..9d1f359338 100644
--- a/roles/openshift-apps/fmn/templates/deploymentconfig.yml
+++ b/roles/openshift-apps/fmn/templates/deploymentconfig.yml
@@ -353,7 +353,8 @@ metadata:
     app: fmn
 spec:
   # There can be only one pod for IRC
-  replicas: 1
+  # Staging is currently unable to connect to IRC outside because of firewall rules.
+  replicas: {{ (env == 'production')|ternary('1', '0') }}
   selector:
     app: fmn
     deploymentconfig: sender-irc