The operation of fire safety takes up more space in the construction industry than before

Both Beredskab Fyn and DBI face recurring challenges in their work: lack of documentation, failing passive fire protection and construction cases where changes are not followed through. The defects occur in both new and older buildings and can have an impact on safety in everyday life.

At Beredskab Fyn, many orders continue to be based on simple conditions that should be avoidable – wedges in fire doors, storage in escape routes and lack of inspection. At the same time, new installations create challenges when penetrations are not closed correctly according to cables, ventilation or other technology.

- We regularly see faults after new installations, where penetrations are not closed correctly, and where fire separations therefore do not work as intended, says Kenny Christensen from Beredskab Fyn.

Passive fire protection is still being given lower priorityDBI is experiencing the same trend. 

There are no competence requirements for the professional groups that carry out passive fire protection, and this results in large differences in quality. Especially with cable penetrations, downpipes and surfaces, solutions are seen that do not meet the requirements – often because renovations change structures without fire follow-up.
"We often encounter buildings where penetrations have been inadequately sealed, or where renovations have changed structures without fire follow-up," says Pernille Gram Petersen from DBI.

Documentation and DKV plans are lagging in practiceMissing or unupdated DKV plans prolong fire inspections and can lead to subsequent investigations. 

Especially in buildings with many ongoing changes, this creates uncertainty about what actually applies. Both actors point out that many building owners find it difficult to navigate the documentation requirements, and that self-inspections are given lower priority in line with other tasks in the operation.

Recommendations for building ownersBoth Beredskab Fyn and DBI recommend that building owners work in a more structured way with the operation and maintenance of fire safety. 

Simple routines such as regular rounds, checking escape routes and inspecting fire equipment can significantly reduce the number of errors. In addition, changes in the building should always be followed by updated documentation so that the fire strategy is not gradually eroded.

Both actors point in particular to the importance of clear allocation of responsibility internally – who keeps control forms, who updates the DKV plan, and who follows up in the event of errors? At the same time, building owners can advantageously involve specialized professionals in reviewing the passive fire protection, so that any errors are discovered before they develop into real risks in the operation.

Need for clearer responsibilities and better skillsMore errors occur in the transition between execution and operation when installations are changed without the documentation being included. At the same time, blocked escape routes and inaccessible equipment are a recurring problem in institutions, care homes and assembly rooms.

Beredskab Fyn therefore works purposefully with behavioural information and earlier warning of fire inspections to strengthen the preparation at the sites. DBI highlights the need for more basic fire knowledge – both among craftsmen and those responsible for operations – to ensure a more robust starting point.

Going forward, both parties believe that a more systematic approach to maintenance, self-monitoring and documentation will be crucial to improve fire safety in operations and ensure the buildings' function on a daily basis.