S 1.6 Compliance with fire-protection regulations

Initiation responsibility: Fire Safety Engineer, Building Services Manager

Implementation responsibility: Building Services, Fire Safety Engineer

The existing fire-protection regulations (e.g. according to DIN standard 4102 Fire behaviour of building materials and elements) and the requirements imposed by the building inspectors with regard to buildings must be strictly complied with. The local fire department may be consulted when fire safety plans are developed.

For rooms where important IT equipment and data media (servers, data backups, etc.) are stored, the regulations of standard EN 1047 Part 2 should additionally be followed The goal in this case is to keep the effects of a fire on the contents of such rooms as small as possible by installing doors with fire and smoke prevention quality, thorough implementation of fire-protection elements and possibly even strengthening of walls.

For meeting rooms, event rooms, and training rooms the relevant rules for fire protection in assembly rooms must be followed under certain circumstances. Since different additional requirements are in place depending on the type of use such as, for example, regarding the opening type and width of doors in the course of escape and rescue routes and signage, it is again advisable here to consult the local fire department during planning.

A person should be appointed who is responsible for the compliance with fire-protection regulations. This can be a fire safety engineer or a person assigned with the task who is also trained accordingly.

It is advisable to take note of further fire-protection instructions such as those contained in the publications issued by VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH.

It is especially important that escape routes are clearly marked. This must be done using the mandatory signs and by following the regulations for their installation. Escape routes must always be kept clear, this means in particular that they must not be blocked, e.g. by equipment deposited in the corridor or by locking the escape doors.

In order for the fire department to be able to quickly start fire-fighting operations in the event of fire, it is important that the central fire alarm station, the fire alarm panel and the supply point for extinguishing water can be found quickly by means of appropriate signage.

In order to achieve efficient fire protection it is necessary that all parties concerned work together. This includes the roles

• of the fire safety engineer (the compliance with fire-protection regulations is the employer's responsibility),
• of the occupational safety officer (in Germany required according to §§ 5, 6 Occupational Safety Act, this person is responsible for the design of the operational fire protection), and
• of the security officer (in Germany required according to § 22 Social Security Code (SGB) VII, this person has executive tasks, such as prevention of industrial accidents at work or occupational disease and assists the occupational safety officer).

Review questions:

• Are the existing fire-protection regulations and the requirements imposed by the building inspectors met?
• Does an exchange of information with the local fire department regarding the compliance with fire-protection regulations take place?
• Is there a fire safety engineer or a person assigned with the task who is also trained accordingly?
• Are the escape routes properly marked and kept clear?