Fire prevention planning is carried out to ensure people’s safety in the event of fire. Italian Presidential Decree 151 of 2011 regulates this area, it is a regulation of the Interior Ministry published in the Official Journal on 22 September of the same year.
Ratio legis and scope of application
The regulation defines the activities subject to control by the National Fire Brigade (“VVF”). The aim of the regulation is to make the Fire Brigade’s activities in terms of checks and inspections more efficient, while making the company – the owner and the fire prevention specialist – responsible for the implementation of a correct fire prevention system in the workplace.
The activities subject to the regulation, according to Annex I of Presidential Decree 151/2011, are organised into three groups (A, B, C) and are regulated by specific vertical rules referred to in the same Presidential Decree 151/2011.
Changes introduced with DPR 151/2011
The main development introduced with DPR 151/2011 is the simplification of procedural requirements for category A, B and C businesses according to a principle of proportionality – procedures are diversified according to the company’s size, activities and sector.
To give more detail, this means all category A businesses do not need to obtain the Fire Department’s opinion as a mandatory requirement. The correct implementation of a fire-fighting system is the responsibility of the owner, who is supported by competent figures such as a qualified technician and a fire prevention consultant “818”. These companies are no longer obliged to obtain certified permission from the fire brigade, such as the Fire Prevention Certificate “CPI”. When companies in category A begin their activities, they prepare the document referred to as “SCIA” Certified Declaration of the Start of Activities).
Businesses in categories B and C need to follow different procedures: in this case it is compulsory to deliver a fire prevention plan to the National Fire Brigade in order to obtain a positive or negative opinion, implementing any corrective measures indicated by the Fire Brigade.
The process ends when a compliance report is issued, at this point the companies may begin operations.
Key points for the application of the regulations
To ensure correct application of the legislation, it is important to pay attention to the following points.
- Identify the category into which company activities fall, and the interconnection between one type of activity and another, seeking an appropriate compromise in the event of collision between different vertical standards.
- Incorporate fire prevention planning into the timing and design of workplaces and related facilities. Retrofitting the structure to make it compliant with fire safety regulations would be much more costly than integrated ex ante planning.
- Respect the deadlines in the renewal of the SCIA and all the documentation certifying fire compliance . This always applies, and especially when substantial changes have been made to the structure or systems that are relevant for fire protection purposes. In this case, the verification process takes place as in the case of a new project. Failure to comply with the obligations could have consequences on the contract concluded with the insurance company.
Many of the vertical standards are outdated and no longer reflect the real conditions in which the company operates: in this case, the mere execution of the regulatory indications is not enough. PLS’s best practices go in this direction, ensuring a design consistent with fire-fighting purposes beyond the norm.