Both New And Existing Buildings
The government has amended the Building Decree and made smoke detectors mandatory for both new and, per 1st of July 2022, existing buildings too. Since 2003, only newly built buildings have been affected by these laws. Most victims fall at night from smoke inhalation.
This new regulation is also applicable to office or industrial buildings transformed into residential buildings.
By making smoke detectors mandatory for existing buildings too, the Dutch government is responding to the advice of, among others, the Dutch Fire Brigade and municipalities to make smoke detectors mandatory for every home in The Netherlands.
Conditions
The law does not only indicate the technical requirements of smoke detectors (NEN-EN 14604), but also the situation in which they have been installed and checked. So is it mandatory to create a situation which is NEN 2555 compliant.
In short, and depending on the situation at hand, NEN 2555 compliant means escape routes should be designated, smoke detectors should be placed, they should be linked to each other, locks should be changed, and (yearly) check-ups should be performed and registered.
Consequences
Not complying with the NEN 2555 per 1st of July 2022 might result in - but not limited to - fines by the government, no insurance coverage, and liabilities towards tenants, but third parties too like homeowner's associations and neighbours. The damage caused by fire can, of course, be quite severe. It is a huge risk not to comply with the new legislation.
Actualities
It is estimated that millions of new smoke detectors will have to be purchased due to this new obligation. July 1, 2022 has been chosen by the government to give homeowners sufficient time to prepare for the amended rules.
Student Housing The Hague was ever already pressing matters regarding safety, and is currently already progressing to have all student properties under it's management 100% compliant with the NEN 2555 before the summer of 2022.
