Bilag 9: Pre-accepted solutions for fire safety in building sections with garage facilities (BR18)
Bilag 9 is an official technical annex issued by the Danish Transport, Construction and Housing Authority (Trafik-, Bygge- og Boligstyrelsen). It functions as part of the guidance for Bygningsreglementet 2018 (BR18), specifically addressing Chapter 5 regarding fire safety. The document establishes pre-accepted solutions for building sections designed as garage facilities for passenger cars and similar vehicles. It applies to new constructions, extensions, and the conversion of existing buildings into garages as specified in BR18, chapter 1, § 2.
The regulatory scope encompasses garage facilities within Use Category 1 (anvendelseskategori 1) and Use Category 3 (anvendelseskategori 3) situated in Risk Classes 1-3 (risikoklasse 1-3). The document details requirements for evacuation and rescue operations, the fire resistance of load-bearing structures, and measures to limit the spread of fire and smoke. It defines specific thresholds for building height (up to 45 meters above ground and 1 story below ground) and provides mathematical models for determining maximum travel distances to emergency exits.
This annex serves as a standardized compliance pathway. If the pre-accepted solutions described herein are followed in their entirety, the fire safety requirements of BR18 Chapter 5 are considered met for buildings in fire classes 1 and 2.
Scope and Building Classifications
The document categorizes garage facilities based on the familiarity of the users with the building and the potential for evacuation. Specific criteria for Use Categories include:
- Use Category 1 (AK 1): Persons present are familiar with the escape routes and are capable of bringing themselves to safety. Sleeping areas are prohibited.
- Use Category 3 (AK 3): Persons present are not necessarily familiar with escape routes but can bring themselves to safety. Sleeping areas are prohibited.
- Risk Classes 1-3: Building height is limited to 45 meters for the top floor and a maximum of one floor below ground level.
The guidance does not apply to automated parking systems where vehicles are stored in multiple layers on a single floor or to vehicles transporting dangerous goods under the ADR convention.
Evacuation and Escape Route Design
Provisions for evacuation focus on ensuring that persons can reach a safe place or terrain. The document outlines specific functional requirements for escape routes:
- Maximum Travel Distance: The horizontal travel distance in a fire compartment to the nearest exit must not exceed 45 meters.
- Distance Calculation (G): Travel distance is calculated as the sum of dead-end distances (multiplied by 1.5) and distances between exits.
- Exit Requirements: Units larger than 600 m² must have at least two independent exits leading to separate escape routes.
- Escape Route Corridors: Must be designed as separate fire cells with components classified as at least EI 60 [BD-60].
Limiting Fire and Smoke Spread
To restrict fire development, buildings must be divided into fire compartments and sections. Load-bearing structures and separation elements must meet specific fire resistance classes:
- Fire Compartments: Every room in a building section, excluding small toilets, must generally form a separate fire cell with walls and floors of at least EI 60 [BD-60].
- Fire Sections: Large garage facilities must be divided into fire sections. Unsprinklered sections are limited to 2,000 m², while sprinklered sections may reach 10,000 m².
- Boundary Distance: Buildings closer than 2.5 meters to a property line or road center must be constructed with a fire wall (brandvæg).
- Surface Materials: Internal surfaces must not contribute significantly to fire spread; however, floor coverings in parking areas have no specific fire requirements.
Fire Technical Installations
Requirements for active fire protection systems are determined by the area of the building section and the number of persons it accommodates:
- Automatic Sprinklers: Mandatory in fire sections larger than 2,000 m² or in buildings where the top floor is more than 22 meters above ground.
- Fire Ventilation: Required in rooms exceeding 1,000 m² to reduce heat and smoke accumulation.
- Warning Systems: In Use Category 3 facilities intended for more than 150 persons, voice-based warning systems are required unless all rooms have direct doors to the exterior.
- Panic Lighting: Required in escape routes for building sections larger than 2,000 m² or in stairs serving floors more than 22 meters above terrain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum travel distance to an exit in a Danish garage facility?
The pre-accepted travel distance in a fire cell for a garage facility must not exceed 45 meters.
When is an automatic sprinkler system required in a garage?
Sprinklers are required for fire sections larger than 2,000 m² or when the top floor level is more than 22 meters above terrain.
Can a garage be built with a thatched roof under these rules?
No, the document explicitly states that garage facilities covered by these pre-accepted solutions cannot be constructed with a thatched roof (stråtag).
What fire resistance is required for fire compartment walls?
Separating building parts between fire cells must generally be classified as at least EI 60 [BD-60].
What is the size limit for an unsprinklered fire section in a multi-story AK 3 garage?
For building sections in Use Category 3 with more than one story, the maximum area for an unsprinklered fire section is 1,000 m².
Are there specific requirements for floor coverings in parking areas?
No, floor coverings in parking areas can be executed without specific fire requirements regardless of use category, except in escape routes and stairs.
