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🚒 Update of building codes for fire protection systems

On March 1, 2026, Amendment No. 2 to SBC В.2.5-56:2014 “Fire Protection Systems” came into force, regulating the design and installation of fire protection systems for construction projects.

📝 Amendment No. 2 updates the requirements for the design of fire protection systems, in particular regarding the operation of fire alarm systems in residential buildings, the use of local fire extinguishing systems in kitchens of catering establishments, the functioning of warning and evacuation control systems, as well as ensuring the reliability of smoke protection system components in fire conditions.

In particular, a new clause 1.4 has been added to the document, which establishes the need to take into account the requirements for maintaining the functional parameters of fire protection systems during the operation of a building when designing such systems.

📢 The changes also affected the requirements for fire alarm systems. Clause 7.2.28 now includes a clarification that the command pulse for the automatic activation of smoke protection systems in residential buildings may be generated when fire detectors are triggered in corridors outside apartments, elevator lobbies, and other non-residential areas. The requirement focuses the design on common (non-apartment) areas rather than apartments.

A requirement for the independence of apartment loops of the fire alarm system has also been added - the fire alarm system must be designed so that a failure in one apartment does not affect other rooms.

🫕 Some clarifications have been made to the firefighting requirements for catering establishments. According to the new version of clause 8.1.5, in establishments with 50 or more seats, for extinguishing fires caused by grease fires in kitchen equipment areas (stoves, frying pans, ovens of various types, deep fryers, ovens, etc.), modular local fire extinguishing systems specialized for this type of fire must be used in exhaust ventilation systems.

New requirements have also been introduced for warning and evacuation systems. According to paragraph 9.1.4, in cultural, leisure, and entertainment facilities with high noise levels (cinema halls, discos, etc.), automatic shutdown of sound equipment must be provided when the evacuation control system is activated.

🔊 Under the influence of the European standard State Standard of Ukraine CEN/TS 54-32, the approach to calculating sound alerts during emergencies has been changed: the standard sets specific absolute values for sound levels and limits the upper level.

The recommended time-averaged A-weighted sound levels for emergency alerts at a given listening height are as follows:

1) minimum sound level: 65 decibel;

2) in sleeping areas, the minimum sound level at the height of the head of the bed: 75 decibel;

 3) maximum sound level in all locations: 120 decibel at listening height

signal-to-noise ratio: not less than 5 decibel.

The listening height has also been clarified: for persons in a sitting position, it should be 1.2 m above the floor, and for persons in a standing position, 1.6 m above the floor.

🚍 In section 9.3.10, the list of typical values for constant ambient noise sound pressure levels for different rooms has been supplemented. In particular, it now includes built-in or built-in-attached closed garages of residential buildings with a minimum noise level of 60 decibel, as well as built-in or built-in-attached closed garages of shopping (shopping and entertainment) centers with a minimum noise level of 65 decibel.

🌫️ Requirements for smoke protection systems have also been supplemented. Paragraph 13.5.3 states that components of smoke control systems located within the premises served by such a system should be selected taking into account the maintenance of the functional reliability of the system in fire conditions for the required period of its operation in accordance with paragraph 7.2 of State Standard of Ukraine CEN/TR 12101-4. Alternatively, they should be placed in separate spaces separated by fire barriers.

The amendment document is available at: 

https://e-construction.gov.ua/files-token/d636d5caf42787625c95b062c407318e 

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