Your responsibility for fire safety
In the event of a building fire, floor drains are potential weak points through which fire, smoke and toxic gases can spread from room to room. For this reason, the building regulations of the federal states stipulate appropriate preventive fire protection measures in the field of drainage technology. Find out here the most important information on how to properly protect floor drains against the effects of fire in order to ensure fire safety in your building and prevent liability claims.
When planning a building, please take into account not only this introduction but, above all, the applicable building regulations, thePiping Systems Guideline (LAR) and the provisions of standard DIN 4102. In case of doubt, we recommend consulting a specialist fire protection planner.
Fire resistance classes of floor drains
Depending on the federal state, building type and installation location, different levels of fire resistance are required for ceiling penetrations and, consequently, for floor drains. These are classified into fire resistance classes in accordance with DIN 4102-2 or DIN EN 13501-2. The numerical value of the fire resistance class indicates the minimum duration, in minutes, for which a tested component can withstand a fire. The fire resistance classes relevant to floor drains according to DIN 4102-2 and their designation according to MBO are:
- F30 = 30 min (‘fire-retardant’)
- F60 = 60 min (“highly fire-retardant”)
- F90 = 90 min (“fire-resistant”)
- F120 = 120 min (“highly fire-resistant”)
Please note the specifications in your project-specific fire safety concept.
Fire safety measures for floor drains
On the one hand, floor drains are protected against fire by means of smoke-tight odour traps and seals between the core hole and the drain body (using suitable backfill or a passage seal). On the other hand, special fire protection inserts are used. These prevent flames, smoke and toxic gases from spreading from one room to the next in the event of a fire.
Fire-Kit & Quick-Fit: Fire protection for boiler drains
With the Fire-Kit fire and flue gas protection insert and the Quick-Fit passage seal, our range includes suitable accessories for the professional protection of KESSEL drain outlets against fire. The Fire-Kit ensures the fire-resistant sealing of the drain in the event of a fire, whilst the Quick-Fit passage seal offers an easy-to-install alternative to conventional filling materials for waterproofing the core hole. The fire-retardant compound integrated into it seals any leaks between the drain body and the core hole in the event of a fire. Both the Fire-Kit and Quick-Fit meet fire resistance class R120 for pipe penetrations.
Approval for firefighting use: Fire-Kit
Our Fire-Kit fire protection system has both general building approval (abZ) and general type approval (abG), making it a reliable and safe addition to KESSEL floor drains.
What fire safety requirements apply to which type of building?
Requirements for the fire resistance of floor drains
in accordance with the Model Building Code / the State Building Codes
Building class | Location | Height to top of floor | Number of residential/occupancy |
| Basement floor | Upper floor ceilings |
1a | detached | up to 7 m | Total area ≤ 400 m² | F 30 | F 30 | |
1b | detached buildings used for agricultural and forestry purposes | F 30 | F 30 | |||
2 | - | up to 7 m | Total area ≤ 400 m² | F 30 | F 30 | |
3 | - | up to 7 m | See building regulations | F 90 | F 30 | |
4 | - | up to 13 m | See Building Regulations | F 90 | F 60 | |
5 | - | up to 22 m | see building regulations | F 90 | F 90 | |
Special structures | - | - | - | See Special Building Regulations | F 90 / F120 | F 90 / F120 |
Floor drains with sound insulation
requirements Floor drains in F 30 components with sound and fire protection
requirements Floor drains in F 60 / F120 components with sound and fire protection requirements
1. Pursuant to Section 40, no requirements are imposed on the compartmentalisation of floor drains within dwellings and units of use not exceeding 400 m² and not exceeding two storeys (GK 1 (a+b)).
2. Different requirements apply to special-purpose buildings. Details can be found in the special building regulations and the specific fire protection concept, which forms part of the building permit.
3. Sealing solutions for highly fire-retardant building elements are currently not available on the market; therefore, install sealing solutions for fire-resistant building elements.
