Fire safety regulations under the Technical Building Code

   Basic fire safety requirements. 

         Fire safety is a very important aspect of building construction, and the Technical Building Code (CTE), as the regulatory framework for all building requirements, sets out the essential rules and requirements to ensure adequate fire protection in buildings. Specifically, it is regulated in the Basic Document on fire safety of the Technical Building Code.

Complying with fire safety regulations is not only a legal obligation, but is also essential to protect the safety of occupants and safeguard the built heritage.

             Basic safety requirements in the event of fire, established in the Technical Building Code, which must be met for the property to comply with the statutory fire safety regulations:

-Basic requirement SI 1.- Internal fire spread

             This sets out the measures needed to limit the risk of fire spreading inside the building: compartmentation of the building, description of premises and special risk areas, and particular attention to the reaction to fire of building, decorative and furniture elements.

-Basic requirement SI 2.- External fire spread

             The aim is to limit the risk of fire spreading externally, both within the building and to other buildings, by setting out the measures to be adopted on party walls, façades and roofs.

-Basic requirement SI 3.- Evacuation of occupants.

           The building must have adequate means of evacuation so that occupants can leave it or reach a safe place within it safely: maximum occupancy, number of exits, length and dimensions of evacuation routes, protection of stairs, doors, signage, smoke control, and evacuation of people with disabilities.

-Basic requirement SI 4 – Fire protection installations

            The building shall have the appropriate equipment and installations to enable the fire to be detected, controlled and extinguished, and the alarm to be transmitted to occupants. Provision of installations and signage .

-Basic requirement SI 5 – Fire service intervention

         The intervention of rescue and firefighting teams shall be facilitated, by setting conditions on approach to buildings, the surroundings of buildings and access to the façade.

-Basic requirement SI 6 – Fire resistance of the structure

           The load-bearing structure shall maintain its fire resistance for the time needed for the above basic requirements to be met, by establishing the fire resistance of the structure, the main structural elements, the secondary structural elements, the determination of the effects of actions during a fire and the determination of fire resistance.

           Compliance with fire safety regulations is the responsibility of construction professionals: architects, engineers and the other parties involved in the process. Naturally, the developer must make sure that its development properly complies with fire safety regulations.  In addition, the CTE requires a certificate guaranteeing compliance with fire safety requirements to be issued in order to obtain licences and occupancy permits.

          If you have any doubts as to whether your residential development complies with fire safety regulations,  please get in touch with us.

                                     DPcon Reclamación daños constructivos.