New Fire Safety Regulations Approved and Set for Implementation

New fire safety regulations have been approved by Ministerial Order and submitted for publication in the Official Gazette. These are the first amendments made in over two decades, announced Minister of Development, Public Works, and Administration, Cseke Attila.

Modernizing Outdated Standards

The Minister of Development stated: "Currently, fire safety provisions in construction are governed by the P118/1 Design Code, which dates back to 1999. Some of these provisions no longer reflect today's reality, are based on outdated technologies, and contain solutions that are no longer applicable. These will be replaced by new provisions to enhance fire safety standards, applicable in hospitals, schools, residential buildings, as well as public and private structures."

The outdated provisions, flagged by industry experts, are linked to technologies, construction materials, and technical schemes that no longer meet current requirements and fail to incorporate new solutions developed over the past two decades.

Updated Fire Safety Standards

The new regulations introduce modern technical solutions and provide detailed schemes for resolving technical challenges. This will streamline the design process, shorten approval times, and improve overall fire safety. New buildings will be constructed according to the updated standards, while existing structures will be provided with compensatory measures or alternative solutions.

An example of new technology absent from the 1999 regulations includes ceiling- or floor-mounted smoke detection and fire suppression systems.

According to the new standards, costly external evacuation staircases, previously required on the exterior of older hospital buildings, will no longer be mandatory. Instead, multiple alternative solutions are proposed, such as reduced evacuation flow requirements, designated fire safety zones, or elevators with independent power sources designed for evacuating individuals and patients with reduced mobility.

The updated regulations also clarify aspects related to construction materials, finishes, and carpentry, leading to lower construction costs without compromising fire safety. Furthermore, wood is recognized at the European level as the primary renewable and sustainable construction material. The new fire safety code outlines the conditions under which wood can be safely used in construction.

Ensuring Safer and More Efficient Buildings

"With this updated regulation, we will have safer and more efficient buildings, both for existing structures and new constructions," concluded Minister Cseke Attila.