Technical fire-prevention standards (Italian Fire Prevention Code)
Summary
TAV. 00Approves the technical fire-prevention standards, introducing a performance-based, flexible approach (horizontal technical rule) for fire-safety design as an alternative to traditional prescriptive rules. It defines strategies, measures and performance levels.
In depth
TAV. AMinisterial Decree of 3 August 2015 marked the most important shift in recent Italian fire-prevention history: moving from a system of dozens of separate technical rules, each with its own language, to a single, coherent body. It is not a mere formal reorganisation — it changes the very way fire safety is designed.
The paradigm shift: from prescriptive to performance-based
The traditional model was prescriptive: the rule imposed precise solutions (distances, sizes, materials) and the designer applied them to the letter. The Code adds a performance-based approach (fire safety engineering): safety objectives are set and one demonstrates, with engineering methods, that the chosen solution meets them. It is the same performance logic that governs the Eurocodes in the structural field.
- 01Identifying the activityOne checks whether and how the activity falls under Presidential Decree 151/2011 and which Vertical Technical Rule, if any, applies.
- 02Risk assessmentThe risk profiles for life (Rvita), property (Rbeni) and environment (Rambiente) are determined.
- 03Choosing the fire-safety strategyPerformance levels are assigned to the individual fire measures according to the risk profiles.
- 04Conforming or alternative solutionOne adopts the conforming solution (predefined by the Code) or an alternative solution, proving its equivalence with performance methods.
How the Code is structured: RTO + RTV
The Code is organised into a Horizontal Technical Rule (RTO) — the general part valid for all civil activities — and Vertical Technical Rules (RTV) that adapt the principles to specific types. Fire safety is broken down into measures, each graded on increasing performance levels.
| Measure | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Reaction to fire | limit the materials' contribution to fire growth |
| Fire resistance | ensure load-bearing capacity and compartmentation over time |
| Compartmentation | confine the fire within bounded volumes |
| Evacuation | ensure safe escape of occupants |
| Detection and alarm | detect the fire early and warn |
| Smoke and heat control | keep escape routes usable and aid rescue |
Key points
TAV. K- Performance-based approach (fire safety engineering) alongside the prescriptive one
- Structured into fire measures: reaction and resistance to fire, evacuation, detection, smoke control
- Updated by subsequent decrees and Vertical Technical Rules (RTV)
- Applies to activities subject to fire-prevention controls (Presidential Decree 151/2011)
Processes involved
TAV. PFrequently asked questions
TAV. QIs the performance-based method mandatory?
No. The Code lets the designer choose: conforming (prescriptive) solutions predefined by the Code, or alternative solutions proven equivalent via performance methods. The performance route is an option, not an obligation.
What is the difference between RTO and RTV?
The RTO (Horizontal Technical Rule) is the general part, valid for all civil activities. RTVs (Vertical Technical Rules) adapt those principles to specific building types (car parks, healthcare, hotels, schools, residential buildings, etc.).
Does the Code apply to all buildings?
It applies to activities subject to fire-prevention controls (Presidential Decree 151/2011). For some activities with a traditional technical rule, the choice of method is governed by transitional provisions: always verify the current framework for the specific activity.
How is the Code organised (sections G, S, V)?
Into sections: G (general: terms, design methodology, risk profiles), S (fire-safety strategy: the prevention and protection measures with their performance levels) and V (vertical technical rules for specific activities).
Glossary
TAV. G- RTO
- Horizontal Technical Rule: the general part of the Code, applicable to all civil activities.
- RTV
- Vertical Technical Rule: specific provisions for a given activity type (e.g. car parks, healthcare facilities).
- Profilo di rischio
- Parameter summarising an activity's risk to life (Rvita), property (Rbeni) and environment (Rambiente), guiding the choice of performance levels.
- Soluzione conforme
- A design solution predefined by the Code which, if adopted, automatically meets the safety objective without further demonstration.
- Soluzione alternativa
- A design solution different from the conforming one, allowed if the designer proves its equivalence to the safety objectives using performance methods.