Which buildings are required to have a fire detection system?

Four questions that determine the requirement

When checking whether a building needs a fire detection system, the designer first classifies the building. Of two structures of the same size, if one is a residence and the other a hotel or school, the result may differ. This is because having people inside who are asleep, who do not know the building or who cannot escape on their own changes the risk.

The assessment generally asks these questions:

• What is the building used for: residence, office, school, hotel, healthcare facility, warehouse, factory, place of worship?
• How many floors does the building have and how high is it above ground?
• What are the total enclosed area and the floor areas?
• How many people can be inside at the same time, do they know the building, do they spend the night there?
• Are flammable materials stored in the building or is a hazardous process carried out?

Expert note: When the building’s intended use changes, for example when the ground floor of a residence is turned into a cafe or a warehouse, the fire precautions need to be assessed again from scratch. Measures that were enough in the old project may not be enough for the new use.

Which buildings are generally covered?

The regulation requires more precautions for buildings where people gather in large numbers and where evacuation can be difficult. Schools, dormitories, hotels, hospitals, shopping centers, large office buildings, factories and warehouses are therefore among the buildings that in most cases need a detection and warning system.

For residences, it depends on the building’s height and size. A single-story detached house and a multi-story apartment building are not subject to the same conditions. Details such as above which height and which area which measure is required are defined in the regulation, and the regulation has been updated over time. So before applying a threshold you saw online to your own building, rely on the text in force and the designer’s interpretation.

It is also allowed to install a system in a building that falls outside the scope. A few detectors and a simple panel in a small shop or home where it is not mandatory help you notice a fire that starts at night early.

Permit, occupancy and inspection side

In new buildings, fire precautions are determined at the project stage. Along with the electrical and mechanical projects, the layout of the fire detection system is also drawn. In permit and occupancy processes, municipalities and fire departments may review fire precautions; which document is requested at which stage can differ from one municipality to another. If you are building in Haliliye, Eyyübiye or Karaköprü in Şanlıurfa, it is best to learn the process from your own municipality’s zoning and fire department units.

A similar situation applies when opening a business. For some types of activity, the fire department’s compliance opinion may be requested in the business opening process. For businesses such as cafes, restaurants, wedding halls or warehouses, asking about this before signing the lease lets you see in advance the costs that may come later.

What happens with existing buildings?

There are separate provisions for buildings built before the regulation came into force. An old school, hotel or business center may not meet all of today’s new-building requirements; on the other hand, certain measures may be required to be completed later. If the building undergoes a major renovation or its use changes, this issue comes up again.

In an existing building, the first step is to establish the building’s state today: what is on which floor, where the escape routes run, and whether an old alarm system, if there is one, works. If the panel’s fault light has been on for years or some of the detectors have been painted over, the system exists on paper but not in practice. In this case, before installing a new system, we check whether the old panel and cables can be repaired; sometimes the cabling is kept and only the panel and detectors are renewed.

Which standards apply?

The regulation says what is required; the standards describe how the devices to be used must be. For detectors, panels, manual call points, sounders and strobes, the TS EN 54 family of standards is the main reference. Asking for the products’ certificates of compliance with this standard when getting quotes lowers the chance of running into a cheap but uncertified product.

Compliance with the standard alone is not enough. The detector must be fitted in the right place, in the right number and in a type suited to the area. If a smoke detector is fitted in a kitchen, the system keeps giving false alarms and after a while users switch it off.

What should you decide in a building that is not required to have one?

If the designer has said your building falls outside the scope, the decision is yours. When making it, look at two things: who would notice a fire when the building is empty, and whether anyone sleeps inside. In a shop that is closed at night, a fire may go unnoticed until morning. In a detached house with a few floors, a person sleeping in a bedroom upstairs will hear the smoke downstairs late.

In such buildings, a small conventional panel, a few smoke and heat detectors, a sounder and a communication module that sends a notification to your phone meet most needs. In detached houses, battery-powered interconnected detectors are also an option. Which one is suitable depends on the size of the house and how you want to receive the notification.

A system that is not required also needs maintenance. If the battery of a detector you installed and forgot runs out or it gets dusty, it will not work when you need it.

How do you check for your own building?

First look at the documents you have: the building permit, approved projects, the fire project if there is one, and fire department reports. These documents show which class the building is assessed in.

If there are no documents or the building has changed since, an engineer or design office competent in fire safety can inspect the building on site and make an assessment under the regulation. The company that will do the installation should also work according to this project. Systems installed without a project can cause problems during an inspection.

If you want to be sure about a legal obligation, consult the relevant unit of the municipality, the fire department or an expert working in this field. This article gives general information and does not replace a legal opinion specific to your building.

At Desa Bilişim, we install fire detection systems in schools, public buildings, warehouses and businesses in Şanlıurfa, and maintain existing systems. We can see your building on site and prepare a written quote for a system that fits the project.

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