Criteria per functional use in one overview

Safety is a crucial aspect of any building, whether it’s a residential home, an office building, or an industrial facility. To ensure this safety, it is often necessary to install fire detection and evacuation alarm systems. But when are these systems mandatory? The answer depends on the specific characteristics and intended use of the building.

In the Netherlands, the rules and criteria for these systems are set out in the Building Environment Decree (Besluit Bouwwerken Leefomgeving – BBL), which has replaced the former 2012 Building Decree. The BBL determines the required level of fire monitoring and the type of evacuation alarm system based on the building’s functional use. This “functional use” forms the basis for deciding whether a fire detection or evacuation alarm system is mandatory. Often, the description of the function already clarifies the intended purpose of the building or its sections.

In addition to the functional use, factors such as floor area and height of the occupied floor also influence whether a system is required.

Classification Based on Functional Use

Examples of functional uses include residential functions, assembly functions, detention functions, healthcare functions, industrial functions, office functions, lodging functions, educational functions, sports functions, retail functions, and other uses such as train stations or petrol stations.

A control table provides an overview of the criteria used to determine whether a fire detection and evacuation alarm system, as well as an inspection certificate, are mandatory. Based on the functional use, floor area, and height, it can be determined what level of monitoring is required — for example, partial or full coverage. In some cases, non-automatic monitoring (manual call points only) may suffice.

The table also clearly shows whether a connection to the Regional Alarm Center (RAC) or a healthcare call center is required.

An overview of the criteria per building function View the control table

Insurance requirement

Important: even if a fire detection and evacuation alarm system is not mandatory under the Building Decree 2012 / Environment and Planning Act, your insurance provider may still require it. These requirements, including any additional conditions, will be included in a basic design (specifications document / design brief).

Comply with safety standards

Want to know more about the specific criteria for your building? Check our comprehensive control table outlining all requirements per building function. This way, you’ll be well prepared and compliant with safety standards.