{"id":27363,"date":"2026-08-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metacon-next.com\/en\/?p=27363"},"modified":"2026-08-04T07:21:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T07:21:19","slug":"what-are-the-fire-safety-requirements-for-an-industrial-building-2","status":"publish","type":"knowledge-base","link":"https:\/\/metacon-next.com\/en\/knowledge-base\/what-are-the-fire-safety-requirements-for-an-industrial-building-2\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the fire safety requirements for an industrial building?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Industrial buildings in the Netherlands must meet passive fire protection requirements set out in the Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving (Bbl)<\/strong>, the national building decree that replaced the former Bouwbesluit. At minimum, an industrial building must be divided into fire compartments, and every opening in a compartment boundary \u2014 including doors \u2014 must meet a fire resistance classification that is determined by a project-specific fire safety calculation, not a single fixed rule. The sections below answer the most common questions architects and specifiers encounter when working through these requirements for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which fire safety regulations apply to industrial buildings in the Netherlands?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Industrial buildings in the Netherlands are governed primarily by the Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving (Bbl)<\/strong>, which sets minimum requirements for fire compartmentation, escape routes, and the fire resistance of building elements, including doors and walls. Additional requirements can arise from sector-specific regulations such as PGS 15 for hazardous substances storage, insurer conditions, or project-specific deviations determined through a fire safety engineering study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bbl establishes the absolute baseline \u2014 the minimum that must be met in all cases. In practice, however, the baseline is rarely the ceiling. A logistics centre storing flammable goods may fall under PGS 15 guidelines that impose stricter compartmentation requirements than the Bbl alone would require. Similarly, a property insurer may demand higher fire resistance classifications as a condition of coverage. Architects working on industrial or commercial projects therefore need to identify all applicable regulatory layers early in the design process \u2014 not only the Bbl, but also any sector regulation, environmental permit condition, or client-driven requirement that applies to the specific use of the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For renovation projects and change-of-use scenarios, the Bbl also contains provisions for existing buildings. The requirements that apply depend on whether the building is being partially renovated, fully repurposed, or extended. In all cases, the guiding principle is that a renovation must not result in a building that is less fire-safe than it was before the works began.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
Get in touch<\/div>\n
Want to know more about our doors and shutters?<\/div>\n Contact us<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What fire resistance classifications are used for industrial doors and walls?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fire resistance for building elements such as doors and walls in the Netherlands is classified according to EN 13501-2<\/strong>, the European standard for fire resistance testing of construction products. For doors specifically, the relevant classifications are E<\/strong>, W<\/strong>, EI1<\/strong>, and EI2<\/strong>, each reflecting a different level of performance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n