Yes, temporary industrial buildings in the Netherlands are subject to fire safety requirements, including the obligation to install fire-rated doors in certain configurations. The BBL (Besluit Bouwwerken Leefomgeving, formerly Bouwbesluit) does not exempt temporary structures from passive fire protection rules simply because they are not permanent. What changes is how the BBL classifies the structure and which specific requirements follow from that classification. The sections below address each of the key questions architects and specifiers encounter when working on temporary industrial projects.
Do temporary industrial buildings need fire-rated doors?
Yes, temporary industrial buildings can require fire-rated doors. The obligation depends on the use function, the fire compartment size, and whether the BBL grants any relief for temporary structures. A temporary classification does not automatically remove the requirement for fire compartmentation or the fire-resistant closures that go with it.
In practice, most temporary industrial structures fall under the industrial use function (industriefunctie) in the BBL. That classification carries compartmentation requirements regardless of whether the building is intended to stand for two years or twenty. Where a compartment boundary requires a fire-resistant closure, the door fitted in that boundary must meet the applicable fire resistance classification. There is no blanket exemption for temporary structures.
The relevant question is therefore not whether fire-rated doors are needed in principle, but which classification applies and whether the BBL allows any reduction in requirements for the specific temporary structure in question. Those answers depend on a project-specific fire safety calculation — not a general rule of thumb. For certainty on which classification applies to your project, consult a qualified fire safety engineer or contact Metacon-Next directly.
How does the BBL define a temporary building?
Under the BBL, a temporary building is one for which the permit is issued with a time limit, typically up to fifteen years. The building must be removed when that period expires. This definition is narrower than common usage: a structure intended to be relocated or dismantled within a few months may still be treated as permanent if no time-limited permit is in place.
The BBL distinguishes between permanent buildings (Article 2 requirements) and temporary buildings (Article 4 requirements). For temporary buildings, the BBL may set lower performance levels in certain areas, but it does not remove all requirements. Fire safety provisions that protect occupants and neighbours remain applicable, and the use function still determines which specific rules apply.
For architects specifying products for a temporary industrial project, the permit condition is the starting point. If the permit is time-limited, Article 4 of the BBL applies. If the permit is open-ended, the full permanent requirements apply even if the client describes the building as temporary. Confirming the permit status before specifying fire resistance classifications avoids costly corrections at the permit review stage.
What fire resistance classification applies to temporary industrial structures?
The fire resistance classification for a temporary industrial structure is determined by the same factors that apply to permanent buildings: the use function, the fire compartment size, the risk profile, and any project-specific deviations required by the fire safety calculation. The BBL sets only the absolute minimum requirement and does not prescribe a single fixed classification for temporary industrial buildings as a category.
Where the BBL does allow relief for temporary structures, it typically reduces the minimum performance threshold rather than eliminating it. In practice, this may mean a lower minimum fire resistance duration is acceptable, but the type of classification — EW, EI1, or EI2 — still follows from the function of the compartment boundary. These classifications are defined under EN 13501-2, the standard that governs how long a closed door withstands fire:
- E — integrity: flames and hot gases do not pass through the door.
- W — radiation reduction: limits radiant heat transfer through the door. EW60 is the Dutch standard baseline classification for industrial fire doors.
- EI1 — insulation, stricter criterion: limits temperature rise on the unexposed side to a lower threshold.
- EI2 — insulation, less strict criterion: a higher temperature rise on the unexposed side is permitted.
Whether EW is sufficient or whether EI1 or EI2 is required depends on what the boundary must achieve in the specific project layout. This is determined by a project-specific fire safety calculation, not by a general rule about building type. EI2-60, for example, is a common and fully valid classification — not an exceptional one.
Sector-specific regulations such as PGS15 for hazardous substances storage can impose requirements that exceed the BBL minimum, regardless of whether the structure is temporary. Insurers may add further requirements. Architects working on temporary industrial projects should verify whether any of these additional layers apply before settling on a classification. Specifying a door from a manufacturer with a documented range across EI1 30, EI1 60, and EI1 90 gives the design flexibility to adjust if the fire safety calculation produces a different outcome than initially expected.
Which fire safety rules change when a temporary building becomes permanent?
When a temporary industrial building transitions to permanent use, the full BBL requirements for permanent buildings apply. This typically means the structure must be assessed against Article 2 performance levels, which are generally more demanding than the Article 4 levels that applied during the temporary period. Any fire-rated doors specified for the temporary phase must be re-evaluated against the permanent requirements.
In many cases, the doors themselves do not need to be replaced if they were already specified to meet the permanent classification. The risk arises when a door was specified to a lower classification that was acceptable under Article 4 but falls short of the Article 2 requirement. Changing the use function, even without a formal permanent designation, can trigger a similar reassessment under the BBL’s provisions for a change of use.
For architects involved at the design stage of a building that may later become permanent, the practical approach is to specify fire-rated doors that already meet the permanent classification. The incremental cost of specifying to a higher class from the outset is almost always lower than the cost of replacing non-compliant closures after the transition. Metacon-Next’s fire-rated industrial doors are available across multiple fire resistance classes — including EW 60, EW 90, EW 120, EI1 60, EI2 60, EI1 120, and EI2 120 — which makes it straightforward to specify a door that satisfies both the temporary and the anticipated permanent requirement within a single product selection.
What documentation is required for fire-rated doors in temporary buildings?
The documentation requirements for fire-rated doors in temporary industrial buildings are the same as for permanent buildings. A fire-rated door must carry CE marking, be accompanied by a Declaration of Performance, and be supported by a classification report from an accredited testing body. These are minimum requirements under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and are not waived for temporary structures.
For industrial fire doors, two CE marking standards apply simultaneously:
- EN 16034 — CE marking for fire-resistant and smoke control door, gate, and openable window products.
- EN 13241 — CE marking for industrial, commercial, garage doors and gates generally. This applies to any industrial door regardless of fire rating.
These two standards are not interchangeable; both apply to industrial fire doors at the same time. Fire resistance and smoke control performance is tested and classified following EN 1634-1 (fire resistance test), EN 1634-3 (smoke control test), and EN 15269-1 to -20 (extended application rules), with results classified per EN 13501-2. Classification reports from an accredited laboratory such as Efectis form the technical basis for the CE certificate and the Declaration of Performance.
Where can architects access fire door documentation?
For architects, complete documentation serves two purposes. First, it provides the evidence needed to close the permit file and satisfy the building control authority. Second, it protects the specifier professionally: if a door fails to perform in a fire and the documentation is incomplete, liability questions become significantly more complex. Sourcing from a manufacturer that publishes classification reports, CE declarations, and EPDs openly removes that uncertainty from the outset.
EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) are increasingly relevant for projects with sustainability requirements under BREEAM or LEED frameworks. An EPD is a standardised document that quantifies the environmental impact of a product across its full lifecycle — from raw material extraction to end-of-life processing, based on ISO 14044 and EN 15804. It is not an environmental award or sustainability label, but it provides the quantified data that certification schemes require. Metacon-Next published EPDs for eleven of its main product lines in 2025 and makes classification reports, CE declarations, and EPDs publicly available, which means architects can access and verify the documentation without waiting for a supplier response.
For temporary industrial projects specifically, it is worth confirming at the specification stage that the documentation covers the exact product configuration being ordered. Custom dimensions, modified hardware, or non-standard glazing can affect the scope of the classification report. A manufacturer with in-house R&D and a structured documentation process can confirm coverage before the order is placed rather than after installation. If you are working on a project and need to verify which documentation is available for a specific configuration, the Metacon-Next team can confirm coverage directly.
Fire safety requirements for temporary industrial buildings follow the same underlying logic as those for permanent structures: the use function drives the classification, the classification drives the product specification, and the product specification must be supported by complete and verifiable documentation. The temporary status of a building changes some of the applicable thresholds but does not change the requirement to demonstrate compliance. Which classification is sufficient for a specific project depends on a project-specific fire safety calculation — architects should consult a qualified fire safety engineer or the local authority rather than relying on a general rule. Architects who specify fire-rated doors with full documentation from the outset, regardless of whether the building is temporary or permanent, protect both the project and their own professional position. To explore the available product range and access technical documentation, visit the Metacon-Next products page or request a quotation for your specific project requirements.
Related Articles
- How do you verify that a fire door is correctly certified?
- What is the difference between a fire door and a smoke door?
- How do you design a fire-safe passageway in a production hall?
- How do custom industrial door lead times compare to standard products?
- Is it possible to combine high-speed doors with fire resistance?