Various studies have been conducted in the past on the current and future (fire safety) risks of car parks under buildings. For example, research has been carried out into the extent to which there is an increased chance of an uncontrollable fire, caused by the increasing use of plastics in vehicles and an increase in electrically powered vehicles in car parks.
The presumed negative effect would be brought about by prolonged thermal loading on structures and a greater amount of smoke production compared to the assumptions underpinning current regulations for car parks. The risk of fire spread, structural collapse and casualties would thus increase. Particularly, sleeping persons and those with reduced self-rescue ability above car parks would run an increased risk.
The legislative direction is to install sprinklers. The purpose of a sprinkler system is to contain any fire that breaks out, thereby limiting the aforementioned negative effects.
Introduction to the Buildings Environment Decree
When replacing the Building Decree 2012 with the Environmental Buildings Decree (Bbl for short), the legislator included an obligation for the presence of a sprinkler system in newly built car parks located beneath a building with a use function that includes sleeping. These requirements came into effect on 1 January 2024 and apply to newly built car parks.
In practice, what does this decision entail? Must all car parks be equipped with a sprinkler system, or are there exceptions? And what standards must the sprinkler system meet?
The illustration below depicts the three determining members of Article 4.223a, with further explanation directly underneath.
Basic conditions – article 4.223a paragraph 1
The starting point is that any “other use for parking motor vehicles” (hereinafter: car park) is equipped with a sprinkler system if sleeping accommodation is located above this use. This therefore applies to a residential function, a gathering function for children under 4 years of age (childcare), a cell function, lodging function (hotel) and/or a healthcare function with a bed area.
In the following clauses, the highest floor of the usage function above the car park (relative to the measurement level) is decisive in whether a sprinkler system can be excluded. How to determine the height of the floor slab relative to the measurement level is explained further in this article.
Exception for residential areas higher than 13 metres – article 4.233a paragraph 2
Does the utility function above the car park have a floor more than 13 metres above datum level? If so, the requirement for a sprinkler system does not apply, provided that:
- the usable area of the car park is less than 1,000m2;
- the usable area above the car park has its own escape route that is not accessible from the car park; and
- no automatic parking system is used.
Residence area exception lower than 13 metres - Article 4.233a(3)
Does the usage function above the car park have a floor lower than 13 metres above datum level? Then the requirement for a sprinkler system also does not apply, provided that:
- again, the usable area of the car park is less than 1,000m2; and
- the user function above the parking garage has its own escape route, which is not accessible from the parking garage.
So this means that a parking garage, with an upper use function with a floor lower than 13 metres, an automatic parking system may indeed be applied.
Certification – Article 4.233a paragraph 4
In all cases, the sprinkler system should be provided with a valid inspection certificate issued under the CCV Inspection Schedule for Fire Protection.
Determination of the highest floor slab relative to the measurement level
The term “measurement level” refers to the top of the ground at the point of access to a building. If a building can only be entered via a staircase or a ramp, then the measurement level is the height of the ground at the foot of this staircase or ramp.
The height of the floor slab of the functional use with the activity “sleeping” is decisive here. So not the height of the floor slab of the car park or the number of underground storeys.
Can a car park be built without a sprinkler system?
Yes, that is possible. As previously described, the requirement only applies to usage functions where “sleeping” is the activity. This means that a car park is possible under all other usage functions (office function, other assembly function, healthcare function without a sleeping area, industrial function, educational function, sports function, and retail function) without the installation of a sprinkler system.
Please note: Naturally, the size of the fire compartment of a new car park will remain a maximum of 1,000m².2. Applying a sprinkler system is an equivalent solution to get below this maximum size.
When does this new requirement come into effect?
With the introduction of the Environment Act, the Building Decree 2012 lapsed and the technical building regulations were included in the Building Works for the Environment Decree, or Bbl for short. The introduction of the Environment Act took place on 1 January 2024, making the requirement applicable to newly built car parks.
Electric cars in car parks
In addition to the required sprinkler system, the Building Decree (Bbl) also includes additional requirements for the electrical installation for charging electrically powered vehicles to limit the chance of a fire.
Want to know more about this? Then read our following article.
Would you like more information on the application of sprinkler systems in car parks? Or do you have questions about how to incorporate a sprinkler system into the design phase? The vb&t Brandveiligheid team would be happy to help you with this.