Fire safety regulations in Brazil: Analysis of the occupancy classification of buildings

Abstract

Fire safety in a building depends on several factors, including its use and occupancy, which fire protection systems are present in the building and the state of maintenance of these systems. Considering the fact that Brazil has 27 federal states and each of them has its own fire safety legislation, it is common for there to be divergences that result in different protection requirements depending on the state where the building is located. This study analyzes Brazilian state fire safety legislation with regard to the sizing of fire protection systems for buildings, considering the parameters used for such sizing. It then identifies the differences in classification in terms of the use and occupation of buildings in the 27 federal states; and presents a proposal for a standardized classification for the whole country, taking into account the convergences that already exist in state legislation. The main objective is to suggest a discussion starter for the process of standardizing fire safety parameters in Brazil.