The protection objectives
The state codes state fire safety as an objective rather than as a construction rule. Structures must be arranged, erected, altered and maintained so that Two protection objectives stand side by side.
the outbreak of fire and the spread of fire and smoke are prevented, and
in the event of fire, the rescue of people and animals and effective firefighting are possible.
That wording is the standard against which any solution must be measured. It also permits alternative strategies where the objective is achieved by other means.
The classic fields of action derive from the objectives: preventing outbreak, limiting spread, securing escape routes and enabling effective firefighting. They structure every fire safety strategy.
The building class drives the requirements
Requirements on loadbearing elements, walls, floors and escape routes are graded by building class. They rise markedly as the class rises.
| Finding | What follows |
|---|---|
| Moving between two classes is the most economically significant effect in building regulations law | it changes requirements, procedure and certification duties at once |
| Classification is not negotiable | a building falling under the criteria into a given class cannot be classified otherwise by agreement |
| Special building status is added independently | a building may sit in a low class and still be a special building |
The article on building classes covers classification. It also sets out which criteria determine the classification.
Two classification systems coexist
Two systems exist for the fire behaviour of materials and the fire resistance of elements, and both are encountered in practice. Their terms do not translate one to one.
| System | Subject |
|---|---|
| National classification | fire behaviour of materials and fire resistance of elements under the national standard |
| European classification | classification of construction products and assemblies under the European standard series |
The European classification is more differentiated and, alongside ignitability, treats smoke development and flaming droplets as separate criteria. It therefore applies more criteria than the national system.
In practice that means translation work. Building codes and administrative provisions use terms such as non-combustible, hardly flammable and normally flammable; product documentation frequently states European classes. The correspondence is to be taken from the introduced technical building provisions and not estimated.
Two systems likewise exist for the fire resistance of elements. The code requires properties such as fire-retardant, highly fire-retardant and fire-resistant; product classification proceeds by duration and performance characteristics.
When a fire safety strategy becomes necessary
For special buildings and for projects departing from the general requirements, simple evidence does not suffice. A fire safety strategy takes its place.
A fire safety strategy describes coherently how the objectives are achieved. It combines structural, services, organisational and firefighting measures acting together.
It is also the basis for derogations. Where a general requirement is not met, it must be shown how the objective is nonetheless achieved, and the derogation must be applied for.
Who may prepare a strategy and who may check it is regulated independently by each state. The article on entitlement to submit covers the entitlements.
The four levels of fire safety
A fire safety strategy considers four levels, which can substitute for one another, though not without limit. Any substitution must be justified in the strategy.
| Level | How it acts | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Structural fire protection | construction, materials, compartmentation, escape routes | maintenance-free and permanently effective |
| Building services fire protection | detection, alarm, smoke extraction, suppression | effective but requiring maintenance |
| Organisational fire protection | housekeeping, signage, instruction, fire safety rules | dependent on operation |
| Firefighting provision | access routes, hardstandings, water supply | concerns the fire service |
For cost work the trade-off between the first two levels is central. Services-based compensation lowers the investment and raises the cost in use. That shift belongs in a life cycle assessment rather than in a comparison of construction costs alone.
What follows for cost work
Three relationships belong in early cost assessments. All three follow from the classification of the building.
| Relationship | Cost effect |
|---|---|
| The building class comes before the choice of benchmark | cost benchmarks per square metre presuppose a level of requirement |
| Special building status generates its own design effort | strategy, evidence and consultations arise in addition |
| Services-based fire protection falls within the technical installations cost group | it therefore acts on the threshold rule for chargeable costs |
Related articles
This article reflects the position of the rules at the date of checking and serves professional orientation. It does not constitute legal advice and does not replace assessment of the individual case.