There are clear legal regulations governing flammability of building materials and fire protection in the construction industry (e.g., Austrian standard B3800). Further, construction codes at local and regional levels also contain regulations unambiguously governing fire protection.

Because building materials exhibit certain behavior in the event of fire, they are classified from nonflammable to highly flammable. Depending on the building and its design, the individual components can have different fire resistance classes: F30 (fire retardant), F60 (highly fire retardant), F90 (fire resistant) and F180 (highly fire resistant). The number indicates the respective duration of fire resistance in minutes. Here is an example:

Fire resistance class F30:

• fire resistance duration of at least 30 minutes
• flame retardant
• applies for outside walls of single-family homes
• achieved with 6.5 cm plastered hollow brick or with 4 cm planking / tongue-and-groove (observe certification)
• Important: fire-retardant transition in attic
• proper fire-protective design of the furnace room corresponding to fuel

Also observe:

• Your planner must prepare the concept of your building in accordance with fire protection regulations: correct arrangement of fire-resistant walls, doors and their direction (emergency exit), stairs, windows, escape routes and their distances, and the required fire areas.
• Heating room, storage of solid fuels, small garages and oil storage rooms are generally of high fire danger.
• Caution: ensure warning signs, e.g., on doors and suitable fire extinguisher.
• Discuss emergency exits and routes, special emergency doors with your planner to avoid door collisions.
• Chimneys must be fire-safe (verputzt) and have a minimum distance from the roof ; for wood frame houses, minimum distance from wall and ceiling elements.
  Hinweis: Putztürchen (für den Rauchfangkehrer) dürfen nicht in jedem Raum errichtet werden. Bei einer Dämmeinlage nur mineralische Dämmung verwenden!
• If you enhance your attic for living space using drywall construction, observe fire-protection ordinances.
• Even for unfinished attics, fire-protection doors are required.

Important: Electrical systems and lightening protection can be checked only by professional companies.