Fire compartmentation is mandatory in a new building when the applicable building regulations require the structure to be divided into fire compartments that limit the spread of fire and smoke. In the Netherlands, this obligation is anchored in the Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving (Bbl), which sets minimum requirements for nearly every new building type. The sections below unpack what those requirements mean in practice, which classifications apply, and how fire-rated doors fit into a compliant design.
What does fire compartmentation actually require in a building?
Fire compartmentation requires that a building be divided into enclosed zones — fire compartments — bounded by construction elements that resist the spread of fire, heat, and smoke for a defined period. Each compartment boundary must achieve a specified fire resistance duration, expressed as a classification such as EW 30, EI1 60, or EI2 120, depending on the applicable standard and the specific function of that boundary.
The underlying principle is containment: if a fire breaks out in one compartment, the boundary elements must hold long enough for occupants to evacuate and for emergency services to intervene before the fire crosses into an adjacent zone. This means walls, floors, ceilings, and any openings in those elements — including doors — must all meet the same performance standard. A compartment is only as strong as its weakest boundary element.
For architects and specification writers, compartmentation is a design decision made at an early stage. The size and position of compartments, the required fire resistance class of each boundary, and the location of every penetration and opening must be resolved before a permit-ready drawing set can be submitted.
Which regulations make fire compartmentation mandatory in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, fire compartmentation requirements for new buildings are set by the Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving (Bbl), which replaced the former Bouwbesluit in 2024. The Bbl defines the minimum fire resistance performance that compartment boundaries must achieve, expressed in terms of European classification standards. Compliance with the Bbl is a legal prerequisite for obtaining an environmental permit (omgevingsvergunning).
The Bbl sets absolute minimum thresholds only — those minimums are not always the ceiling. Project-specific fire safety calculations, sector-specific regulations such as PGS 15 for hazardous substances, insurer requirements, or client specifications can all impose stricter demands. A building that meets the Bbl minimum may still require a higher fire resistance class once all applicable requirements are assessed. The actual classification required for a specific project depends on the fire safety calculation for that building, not on a general rule — consult a qualified fire safety engineer or your local authority to determine what applies to your situation.
European standards, particularly EN 1634-1 for fire resistance testing of door assemblies, provide the testing and classification framework that underpins CE certification. Dutch building law references these European standards, which means products must be tested and classified in accordance with EN 1634-1 to be legally placed on the Dutch market and specified in a permit application. Fire resistance results are classified per EN 13501-2, which produces the EW, EI1, and EI2 classification codes used throughout this article.
What types of new buildings trigger compartmentation requirements?
Fire compartmentation requirements apply to virtually all new buildings in the Netherlands, but the specific obligations vary by building function and scale. Industrial buildings, logistics centres, production halls, healthcare complexes, and large commercial buildings are among the most commonly affected categories, particularly because of their size, occupancy, and the nature of the activities carried out within them.
The Bbl distinguishes between building functions — such as industrial use, residential use, healthcare use, and storage use — and assigns different minimum requirements to each. For industrial and logistics buildings, compartment size limits and the required fire resistance of boundaries are directly linked to the building’s function class and the risk profile of the activities inside.
Several factors determine whether and how compartmentation applies to a specific project:
- Building function: Industrial, storage, healthcare, and assembly functions each carry their own requirements under the Bbl
- Floor area: Larger buildings are typically required to be subdivided into smaller fire compartments to limit fire spread
- Number of storeys: Multi-storey buildings face additional requirements for horizontal compartment boundaries between floors
- Occupancy: Buildings where occupants cannot self-evacuate, such as healthcare facilities, face stricter compartmentation rules
- Hazardous substances: Storage or use of flammable or toxic materials may trigger sector-specific regulations — such as PGS 15 for chemical storage — on top of the Bbl baseline
What fire resistance classification is needed for a compartment boundary?
The required fire resistance classification for a compartment boundary depends on the building function, the specific location of the boundary, and any additional requirements beyond the Bbl minimum. Fire resistance is classified per EN 13501-2 and expressed using European classification codes: EW (integrity and radiation reduction — the Dutch standard baseline criterion), EI1 (integrity and insulation, stricter criterion), or EI2 (integrity and insulation, less strict criterion), each followed by a time period in minutes such as 30, 60, or 120.
It is important not to conflate these classifications. EW limits radiant heat transfer through a boundary — this is the Dutch standard baseline — but does not require the unexposed side to remain cool. EI1 and EI2 both require the unexposed face temperature to remain within defined limits: EI1 applies the stricter insulation criterion, limiting temperature rise to a lower threshold, while EI2 permits a higher temperature rise on the unexposed side. Specifying the wrong classification in a design is a compliance error, not a conservative choice. Always specify EI1 or EI2 explicitly — never write “EI” without the suffix.
The Bbl sets the floor, not the ceiling. A fire safety engineer working on a project-specific fire safety calculation may determine that a higher classification is warranted based on the compartment size, occupancy risk, evacuation strategy, or the presence of hazardous materials. Architects should expect to coordinate with a fire safety engineer to confirm the correct classification for each boundary in a project rather than relying on a single blanket assumption.
Where do fire-rated doors fit into a compartmentation strategy?
Fire-rated doors are the controlled openings within a compartment boundary. Every door set in a compartment wall must achieve the same fire resistance classification as the wall itself — otherwise the boundary is breached and the compartment fails as a system. A fire-rated door is not an optional upgrade; it is a mandatory component of any compartment boundary that contains a passageway.
For industrial applications, this creates a practical design challenge. Production halls, logistics centres, and warehouses rely on large openings for internal transport, forklift passage, and goods movement. These openings must remain accessible during normal operations but must close and hold against fire when needed. The solution lies in selecting the correct door type — roller doors, sliding doors, or overhead doors — with the appropriate fire resistance classification and an automatic closing mechanism triggered by a fire alarm or fusible link.
Fire-rated industrial doors from Metacon-Next are manufactured to meet EN 1634-1 and are available in a range of classifications including EW 60, EW 90, EW 120, EI1 60, EI1 120, EI2 60, and EI2 90, covering the range of requirements most commonly encountered in industrial and logistics projects. Products are tested by Efectis and carry full CE certification under both EN 16034 (fire and smoke resisting closing elements) and EN 13241 (industrial doors generally), meaning the technical documentation required for a permit application is available from the outset. The correct classification for a specific project depends on the fire safety calculation for that building — consult a qualified fire safety engineer or contact Metacon-Next directly to discuss your requirements.
The door type must match the operational context as well as the fire resistance requirement. A high-throughput production environment may require a door that can stay open for forklift traffic and close automatically on alarm, which points toward an automatic fire door with a magnetic hold-open device or an integrated fire-rated high-speed door solution. Each configuration has its own classification scope, and the specification must confirm that the chosen product is tested and certified for the intended use.
What documentation proves compartmentation compliance during permitting?
Proving compartmentation compliance during the permitting process requires a combination of design documentation and product certification. The permit authority needs to verify that the compartment boundaries shown on the drawings are achievable with real, certified products — and that those products have been correctly specified. Incomplete documentation is one of the most common reasons a fire safety review stalls or requires revision.
The core documentation set for a fire-rated door in a compartment boundary typically includes:
- CE declaration of performance: Confirms the product is CE-marked under both EN 16034 and EN 13241, and identifies the fire resistance classification achieved in testing per EN 13501-2
- Classification report: The test report from an accredited body such as Efectis, documenting the conditions and results of the fire resistance test conducted per EN 1634-1
- Technical drawings and installation instructions: Showing the door construction, frame details, and installation requirements that must be met for the classification to remain valid
- Environmental Product Declaration (EPD): Increasingly required for BREEAM or LEED-rated projects, and available for most Metacon-Next product lines as of 2025
A manufacturer that publishes all of this documentation openly — without requiring the architect to request it by email or wait for a sales contact to respond — significantly reduces the time needed to close a specification file. Metacon-Next makes classification reports, CE declarations, and EPDs publicly available, which allows architects and specification writers to verify compliance independently and at any stage of the design process.
If a project involves a requirement above the Bbl minimum — for example, a higher fire resistance class required by a fire safety engineer, a sector-specific regulation such as PGS 15, or an insurer — the specification should document the basis for that requirement explicitly. The permit file should show not only what classification is specified, but also why that classification was selected, referencing the fire safety calculation or the applicable regulation that drove the requirement.
For architects working on industrial or logistics projects where large openings and demanding operational conditions are the norm, selecting a manufacturer with the full documentation package in place before order placement is a straightforward way to avoid delays. Metacon-Next’s product range is designed for exactly these applications, with technical documentation available through the MetaConfigurator portal around the clock. To discuss a specific project or request a quotation, the quotation page connects you directly with the right contact, or you can reach the team through the contact page for technical questions ahead of specification.
Related Articles
- What documentation is required for a fire door to pass inspection?
- When must a fire door be fitted with an automatic closing mechanism?
- Can building staff install fire doors without a certified installer?
- Can a fire door comply with environmental permit requirements?
- Can a fire door stay open during forklift operations?