{"id":515,"date":"2022-03-18T10:00:01","date_gmt":"2022-03-18T10:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vbtbrandveiligheidenmilieu.nl\/?p=515"},"modified":"2024-04-30T10:21:15","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T10:21:15","slug":"sprinkler-installation-in-car-parks-mandatory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbtbrandveiligheid.nl\/en\/sprinklerinstallatie-in-parkeergarages-verplicht\/","title":{"rendered":"Mandatory sprinkler systems in car parks?"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>
<\/i>Back to overview<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div>

Mandatory sprinkler systems in car parks?<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Introduction to the Buildings Environment Decree<\/h4>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

The illustration below depicts the three determining members of Article 4.223a, with further explanation directly underneath.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Basic conditions \u2013 article 4.223a paragraph 1<\/h4>\n

The starting point is that any \u201cother use for parking motor vehicles\u201d (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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p>\n

Exception for residential areas higher than 13 metres \u2013 article 4.233a paragraph 2<\/h4>\n

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:<\/p>\n