Bygningsreglementets vejledning til kapitel 5 – Brand (Bilag 11c) – Seating Plan Guidelines for Assembly Rooms
The Bygningsreglementets vejledning til kapitel 5 – Brand, Bilag 11c is the official Danish guidance for the preparation and use of seating plans (pladsfordelingsplaner). Published by the Social- og Boligstyrelsen (Version 2.0, September 2024), this document serves as a technical annex to the Danish Building Regulations, specifically addressing fire safety and evacuation procedures in assembly spaces. It establishes the mandatory requirements for planning furniture layouts to ensure safe egress in the event of fire or other emergencies.
The scope of this guidance covers all assembly rooms designed for more than 150 persons, including permanent buildings and temporary structures such as assembly tents and circus tents. It details specific regulations for various layout types, including teateropstilling (theater seating), konferenceopstilling (conference seating), and spiseopstilling (dining layouts). The document provides technical specifications for furniture spacing, row lengths, aisle widths, and the calculation of person loads for defined function areas, fairs, and flea markets.
Adherence to these guidelines is required to meet the fire safety provisions of the national building code. The guidance outlines the administrative procedures for plan approval, the role of certified fire advisors, and the necessary technical documentation required for municipal processing or building certification.
Administrative Procedures and Authority Requirements
Section 2 defines the regulatory requirements for seating plans in assembly areas. A plan is mandatory for any room intended for more than 150 persons. If a room approved for over 150 persons is temporarily used by fewer than 150 people, the plan may be omitted provided a sign stating the maximum permitted person load is clearly displayed.
- Mandatory Threshold: Required for assembly rooms and tents designed for >150 persons.
- Preparation: Plans must be drafted by a certificeret brandrådgiver (certified fire advisor) or handled by the municipality during building permit applications.
- Existing Plans: Previously approved plans remain valid provided the layout and person load remain unchanged.
- Outdoor Layouts: Seating plans are not required for outdoor furniture arrangements, though escape routes from buildings must not be blocked.
Technical Requirements for Seating in Rows
Sections 4 and 5 specify the spatial requirements for theater and conference seating to prevent furniture from obstructing evacuation routes.
- Seat Connection: In theater seating, chairs must be connected in groups of at least 4 or otherwise secured to maintain stable positioning.
- Row Distances: A minimum distance of 80 cm is required from seat back to seat back for chairs with a depth up to 50 cm. For deeper seats, this distance must increase proportionally.
- Clear Passage: A minimum of 30 cm must be maintained between the front of a seat and the back of the seat in the row ahead.
- Row Lengths: Maximum 12 seats in a row with one exit, or 24 seats in a row with exits at both ends.
Dining and Conference Layouts
Special rules apply to layouts involving tables, such as dining or conference setups, where the tables themselves serve as barriers to movement.
- Table Spacing: For dining setups, the distance between table edges must be at least 160 cm. A minimum of 80 cm is required between a table edge and a wall or tent wall.
- Aisle Widths: Primary escape routes must have a width of at least 1.0 cm per person using the route, with an absolute minimum width of 1.3 m.
- Furniture Securing: Chairs do not need to be interconnected in dining or conference setups if the tables prevent the chairs from shifting into escape passages.
Function Areas and Market Layouts
Sections 7 and 8 provide guidelines for flexible function areas and commercial events like fairs and flea markets.
- Maximum Area: Individual function areas may not exceed 250 m².
- Person Load: The nominal load is capped at 1.5 persons per m².
- Escape Proximity: No point in a function area may be further than 6.0 m from a designated escape passage.
- Fairs: In market layouts, escape passages must be at least 1.3 m wide, and the distance to the nearest exit must not exceed 30 m.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a seating plan required in Denmark?
A seating plan is mandatory for assembly rooms and tents designed to accommodate more than 150 persons.
What is the minimum width for escape routes in assembly rooms?
The minimum clear width for escape passages is 1.3 meters, or at least 1.0 cm per person intended to use the route.
Who is authorized to prepare a seating plan?
Plans must be prepared by a certified fire advisor or as part of a municipal building case or transportable construction certification.
What is the maximum number of seats allowed in a single row?
A row may contain up to 12 seats if there is an exit on only one side, or 24 seats if there are escape routes at both ends.
What is the required distance between rows of chairs?
The distance from seat back to seat back must be at least 80 cm for chairs with a depth of up to 50 cm.
How many persons are allowed per square meter in a function area?
The maximum permitted person load for a defined function area is 1.5 persons per square meter.
Must chairs always be connected together?
In theater seating (chairs only), groups of at least 4 must be connected. In dining or conference setups with tables, this is not required.
What is the maximum distance to an exit in a market or fair setup?
In setups for fairs and flea markets, the distance from any point to the nearest exit door must not exceed 30 meters.
