Annex 7 to BR18 Fire Guidance – Pre-accepted Solutions for Usage Category 6
Annex 7 (Bilag 7) is a technical supplement to the guidance for Chapter 5 (Fire) of the Danish Building Regulations 2018 (BR18). Published by the Danish Housing and Planning Authority (Bolig- og Planstyrelsen), version 1.1 (11-01-2022) details pre-accepted solutions for building sections classified under Anvendelseskategori 6. This category covers facilities where occupants cannot bring themselves to safety without assistance, including hospitals, nursing homes, and detention centres. The document serves as a standardized method to comply with the legal requirements of BR18 § 2 and § 493.
The regulatory scope is limited to building sections in Risikoklasse 2 and 3 with a maximum of two storeys above terrain. It governs critical domains such as Evakuering (evacuation), Bærende konstruktioner (load-bearing structures), and Brandspredning (fire spread). Key chapters include technical specifications for Flugtveje (escape routes), Redningsåbninger (rescue openings), and fire-technical installations like Automatisk brandalarmanlæg (ABA) and Sprinkleranlæg. It defines specific material requirements according to the European classification system, such as A2-s1,d0 for non-combustible components.
This guidance is structured to address horizontal and vertical fire spread, the design of fire sections, and the specific needs of the rescue services. It provides practitioners with defined thresholds for walking distances, door widths for bed transport, and the placement of automatic fire-closing mechanisms.
Evacuation and Escape Route Design
Design and dimensioning of escape routes must ensure that occupants and staff can reach safety before critical conditions occur. In Anvendelseskategori 6, the document defines specific functional requirements for Flugtveje.
- Walking distance: The horizontal distance to an exit within a fire cell must not exceed 30 metres (§ 2.3.2).
- Escape corridors: Corridors must be designed as independent fire cells. In sleeping sections, the clear width must be at least 1.8 metres to allow for stretcher passage, and 2.4 metres in hospitals for bed transport (§ 2.3.3.2).
- Ceiling height: A minimum clear height of 2.1 metres is required in escape routes (§ 2.3.3).
Horizontal evacuation to an adjacent fire section is permitted in facilities with 24-hour staffing, such as hospitals. In such cases, the receiving section must accommodate no more than 10 bed spaces (§ 2.3.3.3).
Fire Resistance of Doors and Partitions
Openings in fire-separating building parts are regulated based on their location and the potential for smoke spread. Standard classifications for doors are provided in Table 2.3.3.
- Fire section walls: Doors must generally meet class EI2 60-C [BD-dør 60].
- Smoke control: Doors dividing long escape corridors (every 30m) must be class CS200 [smoke-tight and self-closing] (§ 2.3.5).
- Automatic closing: Doors in fire partitions must be equipped with an ABDL-anlæg (automatic fire-door closing system) if they are expected to stand open during daily use (§ 2.3.4).
Ignition and Fire Spread Prevention
Building exteriors and distances are regulated to prevent fire spread between units or to neighboring properties as per BR18 § 125.
- Distance to boundary: Exterior walls must maintain a distance of 2.5 metres to the property line if using class K1 10 / B-s1,d0 cladding. If the distance is less than 2.5 metres, a Brandvæg (fire wall) class REI 120 / A2-s1,d0 is required (Table 4.2.1).
- Insulation: Materials must generally meet class A2-s1,d0 [non-combustible]. Specific exceptions allow class D-s2,d2 insulation in buildings with a floor height under 22 metres, subject to strict cladding requirements (§ 4.2.3.5).
- Fire sections: Non-sprinkled sections are limited to a maximum of 600 m² in buildings with multiple floors (§ 4.2.6.1).
Fire-Technical Installations
The guidance mandates specific installations depending on the floor area and building type to support early detection and suppression.
- ABA-anlæg: Automatic fire alarm systems are mandatory for all building sections in this category (§ 2.5).
- Sprinklers: Required in buildings with sleeping sections where the total floor area exceeds 1,000 m² and the building has more than one floor (§ 2.3).
- Slangevinder: Hose reels are required in all Usage Category 6 sections as per § 121 (Table 4.3.1).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is defined as Anvendelseskategori 6 in the Danish Building Regulations?
It refers to building sections where occupants are unable to bring themselves to safety independently, such as nursing homes, hospitals, and detention facilities.
What is the maximum allowed walking distance to an exit in these buildings?
The pre-accepted maximum horizontal walking distance from any point in a fire cell to an exit is 30 metres.
When is a sprinkler system mandatory according to Annex 7?
Sprinklers are required if sleeping sections in the building total more than 1,000 m² and the building is more than one storey high.
What are the width requirements for doors in escape routes?
Doors in common access routes must have a clear width of at least 0.77 metres. For rooms housing hospital beds, the minimum width is 1.2 metres.
What is a Brandvæg and its required fire rating?
A fire wall (Brandvæg) is a fire-separating building part that prevents spread to other properties; it must be class REI 120 / A2-s1,d0 and maintain stability from both sides.
Are smoke-tight doors required in escape corridors?
Yes, escape corridors exceeding 30 metres in length must be divided by smoke-tight doors of class CS200 to ensure safety during evacuation.
What insulation materials are pre-accepted for these buildings?
Insulation materials should ideally meet class A2-s1,d0 (non-combustible), though class B-s1,d0 or lower can be used under specific structural conditions and height limits.
What is an ABDL system?
It is an 'Automatisk Branddørlukningsanlæg' which ensures that fire doors close automatically upon the detection of fire or smoke.
