Fire Safety Assessment OIB Richtlinie, Austria
Before we begin, please use the information published by OIB for the entry into force to avoid any mistakes. Click here to download OIB Richtlinie.
Please also take note of the current version of the OIB standards, which is valid in your federal state. GK 1 to GK 5 provide minor variations, particularly in the context of creating classes.
The OIB guideline 2’s contents serve as the foundation for mapping the requirements for general-use buildings like the following:
- Tenements
- Office and administrative buildings, or purposes that are similar to offices.
In addition to some unique building uses, like:
- Residential and agricultural structures related to agriculture and forestry
- Buildings used for kindergartens, schools, and other similar purposes
- Housing, dorms for students, and other structures with similar uses
- Sales outlets with a minimum sales area of 600m2 and a maximum of 3,000m2
- Retirement residences, retirement residences, retirement residences, and other structures with comparable uses
- Care facilities
- Hospitals
- Meeting locations
- Refuges in remote areas
In the event of deviations from these requirements, the development of an own fire protection concept should be planned.
However, before one can start with the fire safety assessment of commonly used buildings, one must address the definitions in order to determine the appropriate building class for a commonly used building.
These definitions define the building classes (GK1 to GK5) and the concept of flight level, on the basis of which the OIB guideline 2 then makes basic statements about the choice of the building material flammability classes (Euro classes A to F) as well as the load-bearing capacity of the load-bearing components/structures and their fire resistance classes (e.g. R 60, REI 90, etc…).
As the building class increases, so do the demands placed on the stairwells
First step: Building classification into one of the building classes (GK 1 to GK 5)
Building class 1 (GK 1)
Freestanding, on at least three sides on their own land or of traffic areas for firefighting from the outside of buildings with no more than three storeys above ground, with an escape level of not more than 7,00 m and a total of not more than 400 m² Gross floor area of above-ground floors consisting of no more than two dwellings or one operating unit.
Building class 2 (GK 2)
(a) Buildings with no more than three storeys above ground and with an escape level of not more than 7,00 m out of a total of not more than 400 m² gross floor area of above-ground floors, Gebäudeklasse GK2, mit max. 3 Geschoßen über Niveau und max. 7m Aufenthalts- bzw. Fluchtniveau max. Bruttogeschoßfläche 400m², dargestellt als 3D-Bild eines Reihenhauses mit Satteldach
(b) Terraced houses with no more than three storeys above ground and with a escape level of not more than 7.00 m, consisting of apartments or operating units of not more than 400 m² gross floor area of the above-ground floors, Gebäudeklasse GK2, freistehend mit max. 3 Geschoßen über Niveau und max. 7m Aufenthalts- bzw. Fluchtniveau max. Bruttogeschoßfläche 800m², dargestellt als 3D-Bild eines Hauses mit Satteldach
(c) Freestanding, on at least three sides on their own property or from traffic areas Buildings for firefighting from outside which are exclusively residential, with no more than three storeys above ground and with an escape level not exceeding 7,00 m of a total of no more than 800 m² gross floor area of the above-ground floors.
Building class 3 (GK 3)
Buildings with no more than three storeys above ground and with an escape level not exceeding 7,00 m which do not belong to building classes 1 or 2 fall.
Building class 4 (GK 4)
(a) Buildings with no more than four storeys above ground and with an escape level of not more than 11 m, consisting of several dwellings or several operating units of no more than 400 m² usable area of the individual apartments or operating units on the above-ground floors,
(b) buildings with no more than four storeys above ground and with an escape level of not more than 11 m, consisting of a dwelling or a dwelling or a Operating unit without limitation of the gross floor area of the above-ground floors.
Building class 5 (GK 5)
Buildings with an escape level not exceeding 22 m which do not fall within building classes 1, 2, 3 or 4.
High-Rise Buildings
High-rise buildings are not defined in the OIB definitions. The OIB guideline 2.3 deals with fire safety in buildings with an escape level of more than 22m. Up to 32m escape level, level 1 safety stairwells are required in the buildings. Over 32m escape level Level 2 security stairwells.
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Second step: definition of fire safety requirements
Only on the basis of the building class now determined is it possible in a simple way to determine the basic requirements, for example for the load-bearing loads, by means of the tables integrated in the OIB guideline 2. To determine components, stairwells, building material flammability classes, etc. There are special provisions for uses, such as for accommodation establishments, kindergartens and schools, sales outlets up to 3,000m², hospitals and nursing homes as well as Meeting places, etc. For buildings that cannot be assessed on the basis of the OIB guideline 2 due to their peculiarities or special use, a separate fire protection concept is required.
Such special buildings are:
- Meeting places for more than 1,000 people
- Prisons
- Sales outlets with a sales area of more than 3,000 m² or for sales outlets with more than three openly connected floors
- Other special buildings and structures to which the requirements of this Directive do not apply by reason of their intended use or construction.
Third step: The escape route
Securing escape is one of the top priorities in fire protection. The authors of the OIB guideline 2 have finally succeeded in including a long requirement of preventive fire protection in the regulations in addition to the elementary requirement – the so-called “40-metre rule”: the (second) escape route. If the only structural escape route is not planned according to strict criteria, an alternative escape direction is required as an escape route. The flowchart can be used in the course of planning determine which specific requirements and sections/tables from the OIB guideline 2 apply to the project.
Speaking of escape route - a small sidestep to the AstV
With the entry into force of the amendment to the Workplace Ordinance in December 2017, the escape route extension (only company buildings) introduced for the first time in OIB-RL 2.1 was incorporated into the statutory regulation. and not only for company buildings (production and/or warehouse buildings). This makes it possible to introduce longer escape routes in workplaces if certain conditions are met. (hazards only due to fire, room geometry, technical fire protection).
Sub-Guidelines
Sub-guidelines have been drawn up for frequently occurring building or plant types that cannot be assessed on the basis of the provisions of OIB Guideline 2. These are currently:
OIB Guideline 2.1– Fire protection in industrial buildings
OIB guideline 2.2 – Fire protection for garages, covered parking spaces and parking decks
OIB guideline 2.3 – Fire protection in buildings with an escape level of more than 22m
The requirements of the OIB regulations are rounded off by cited standards and other technical regulations, which are listed in a separate document.
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Yeah! This kind of safety must be applied on all areas, but fire of couse is one of most dangerous!
Nachdem ich diesen Blog gesehen habe, bin ich mir sicher, dass mein Haus vor einem Feuer sicher sein wird! Danke!!
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I think everybody should know about fire safety and this article is very helpful
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Fire safety measures are very important this day. In my country, Portugal, a lot of fires happen in the summer and we must build and implement safety measures for our and generations to come. Great article <3
Building safety is one of the important measures to prevent fire
Fire safety plans, evacuation plans and rescue plans must be designed such that they provide the necessary information to users at a glance while at the same time complying with official requirements
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This includes very important factors, I would say an eye opening article. This is so descriptive about the building types and the fire safety measures too. Learned a lot by reading this article.
Erstaunliche Instrumente für Sicherheit und Schutz, außerdem sind sie nach einzigartigen Konzepten gut entwickelt.
Fire safety regulations are crucial in ensuring the protection of lives and properties. It’s important for individuals and businesses to stay updated on the latest guidelines, such as the OIB-Richtlinien in Austria, to implement appropriate measures and maintain a safe environment. Regularly consulting the relevant authorities and professionals in the field can help ensure compliance and effective fire safety practices. Safety should always be a top priority!”
that is so good to know that we are much safer with this type of buildings…that is the future.
Very interesting…
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This is an amazing article to read as it gives some important measures to prevent fire outbreaks in buildings as it has become a calamity . I really enjoy how detailed it was and the graphics too.
Interesting, It’s great to see more fire safety though.
it is much better to know more about fire safety regulations it helps a lot to know about the subject