In brief
The fire brigade report is the document showing that the building and workplace comply with the Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire. In the workplace opening and operating licence process it is required for public recreation and entertainment venues, workplaces handling flammable and combustible materials, workplaces with more than 30 employees, first-class unsanitary establishments and business blocks not opening directly onto the street. The inspection examines escape routes, extinguishers, detection, electrical installations and emergency organisation; most of these overlap with the documents in your OHS file.
What is a fire brigade compliance report?
The document popularly called a "fire brigade compliance report" or "fire report" is named the fire brigade report in the legislation. The Municipal Fire Brigade Regulation (Official Gazette 21.10.2006/26326) defines it as the fire safety document issued under the provisions of the Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire (BYKHY) for all kinds of structures, buildings, facilities and businesses used by public and private persons.
The report is not a permit on its own; it is required as an annex to the workplace opening and operating licence. The question of a fire brigade compliance report therefore usually comes up in two situations: when opening a new workplace, and when a change in an existing workplace requires the licence to be obtained again. For all the OHS steps in a new workplace, see our article on OHS when opening a new workplace.
Which workplaces must obtain a fire brigade report?
Who must obtain the report is determined by the Regulation on Workplace Opening and Operating Licences. Art. 5 of the regulation requires all licensed workplaces to have taken the measures in OHS legislation; the fire brigade report, however, is required only for certain workplaces:
| Workplace | Fire brigade report | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Public recreation and entertainment venues | Required | Art. 5/h |
| Workplaces where explosive, flammable and combustible materials are produced, sold or stored | Required | Art. 5/h |
| Any workplace with more than thirty employees | Required | Art. 5/h |
| First-class unsanitary establishments | Required among the licence documents | Art. 22/b |
| Business blocks and arcades with no direct connection to the street other than the main entrance | Report obtained by the building management; not required separately from each workplace if there is no change to the structure | Art. 5, additional paragraph |
| Other workplaces | No report required; it is enough to have taken the necessary fire precautions | Art. 5/h |
Two details are often overlooked. First, if a workplace in a business block makes a change to the structure that affects fire precautions, a separate report is required only from the owner of that workplace. Second, if an application is made to the fire brigade for a workplace that does not need a report, the fire brigade does not issue a report and notifies the applicant of this in writing (Municipal Fire Brigade Regulation additional Art. 1/2). Not requiring a report does not mean fire precautions will not be checked; these precautions are still checked in post-licensing inspections.
Applying for a fire brigade report: where and how?
Under additional Art. 1 of the Municipal Fire Brigade Regulation, the application is made using the ANNEX-15 application form attached to the regulation. The application may be made by the workplace owner, or the authority empowered to grant the licence or the relevant ministry may request a report from the fire brigade. A fire officer inspects the workplace on site and prepares the report based on the findings of this inspection.
In Bursa, fire brigade reports are assessed by the Fire Prevention Branch Directorate within the Metropolitan Municipality's Fire Department; the Metropolitan Municipality's website has a "Fire Brigade Report" application link via e-Municipality. Some OIZs (organised industrial zones) also have their own fire units; if you are inside an OIZ, consult the OIZ management before applying as well. We described coordination with the Bursa OIZ fire brigade in our article on emergency coordination with the OIZ fire brigade.
When preparing the application, we recommend following this sequence:
- Clarify whether a report is needed. Use your licence type (sanitary, unsanitary, open to the public) and the table above.
- Find out the status of the building. The building permit and occupancy permit dates matter; buildings whose design was approved before 19.12.2007 count as "existing buildings" under the BYKHY and are subject to separate provisions.
- Carry out a pre-check. Apply the inspection list below yourself before the fire brigade arrives; remedy the deficiencies.
- Submit the application. The document list and fees may vary from municipality to municipality; confirm the current list with the fire brigade you are applying to.
- Prepare for the on-site inspection. Have an authorised person available during the inspection who can show all parts of the building and answer questions.
- Close the deficiencies. Remedy the deficiencies notified by the fire brigade and keep a record; the report is issued only after this.
What does the fire brigade inspection look at?
Art. 131 of the BYKHY states that special buildings and businesses are inspected by the local fire brigade organisation, and that building owners and managers must show all requested parts of the building and provide information. The topics most frequently examined in a report inspection are:
- Escape routes and doors: Are escape routes clear, are doors locked, do exit doors open in the direction of escape? Art. 30/4 of the BYKHY prohibits locks and bolts that would prevent free escape. For dimensions, see our article on escape route and emergency exit rules.
- Wayfinding and emergency lighting: Are escape signs visible, does emergency lighting come on when the power fails?
- Fire extinguishers: Are the number, type and positioning appropriate, is the annual inspection label up to date? For the calculation, you can use our article on how many fire extinguishers a workplace should have.
- Detection, fire hose cabinets and sprinklers: Are the systems the regulation requires for your building installed and in working order?
- Electrical installation: Are the fronts of panels clear, is there residual current protection and earthing, is power supplied through extension leads and multi-socket adaptors?
- Storage arrangement: Are flammable liquids in a suitable cabinet, has stock spilled over into the escape route or in front of extinguishers?
- Fire organisation: Have firefighting, rescue, protection and first aid teams been designated, and has a drill been carried out?
How does the fire brigade report connect with OHS documents?
A large part of the information requested in the fire brigade inspection is already in the documents you have to prepare under Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety. Running the two files independently both doubles the work and produces conflicting information.
| Topic checked by the fire brigade | OHS equivalent |
|---|---|
| Evacuation plan and assembly point | Emergency plan and the layout plan in its annexes |
| Firefighting, rescue, protection teams | Support staff appointments under Art. 11 of the Regulation on Emergencies |
| Drill | A drill at least once a year under the emergency plan, and the drill form |
| Extinguisher and fire installation inspection | Periodic inspection of work equipment (at most 1 year for fire installations and extinguishers) |
| Electrical installation | Periodic inspection of internal electrical installation and earthing (at most 1 year) |
| Staff fire knowledge | Basic OHS training and fire training records |
The number of support staff in emergency teams is determined by hazard class: for each of the firefighting, rescue and protection teams, at least one person is appointed for up to every 30 employees in very hazardous, every 40 in hazardous and every 50 in less hazardous workplaces; in a workplace with fewer than 10 employees, a single person is enough for the three teams. For how to prepare the plan, see our article on how to prepare an emergency plan.
When must the report be obtained again?
National legislation does not define a single validity period for all workplaces; some fire brigades may issue the report for a fixed period, so check the note on your report. Regardless of any period, a new report may be needed in the following cases:
- Change of address: Under Art. 8 of the licensing regulation, moving the workplace to another address requires a new licence.
- Transfer: Even if the activity, area and address remain the same, a licence is not issued in the name of the new operator if the physical condition of the workplace does not comply with the legislation.
- Structural change: Partitions, a mezzanine, an additional floor or any alteration that affects the escape route.
- Change of activity or capacity: Starting to store combustible materials, or headcount exceeding 30.
These changes are also situations that require the risk assessment and emergency plan to be renewed before their expiry. When planning the change, updating both files together is the route that creates the least work.
Common mistakes in the application
The deficiencies that prolong the fire brigade inspection are often the same:
- Thinking the report is the last step of licensing. Deficiencies such as an escape staircase, fire doors or a detection system may require months of alterations. Before signing the lease, ask about the building's status from a fire brigade perspective.
- Confusing the responsibilities of the building owner and the operator. For existing buildings, the BYKHY places work relating to the building as a whole, such as additional exits, the main fire riser and the detection panel, on the building owner or the unit owners (Art. 141–143). Write into the lease who will have this work done during the lease period.
- Treating extinguishers as a numbers exercise. The location, type and annual inspection label of extinguishers are also examined; a cylinder past its refill date counts as a deficiency. For inspection and refill rules, see our article on fire extinguisher inspection and refilling.
- Forgetting training and team records. If the names of the teams are not posted on the board or there is no drill form, physical compliance on site may not be enough on its own.
For a general pre-check, you can use our article on the workplace fire prevention checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every workplace have to obtain a fire brigade report?
No. The report is required for public recreation and entertainment venues, workplaces producing, selling or storing flammable and combustible materials, workplaces with more than 30 employees, first-class unsanitary establishments and business blocks not opening directly onto the street. Other workplaces do not need a report, but fire precautions are still mandatory.
Where is the application for a fire brigade report made?
The application is made to the municipal fire brigade responsible for the workplace using the ANNEX-15 application form. In Bursa, this is handled by the Fire Prevention Branch Directorate of the Metropolitan Municipality's Fire Department, and there is an application link via e-Municipality.
Do I need a separate report for my shop in a business block?
In business blocks and arcades that do not open directly onto the street other than through the main entrance, the report is obtained by the building management. If you have not made any change to the structure, a separate report is not required; if you have made an alteration affecting fire precautions, an individual report is required for your workplace only.
Does the fire brigade report replace the emergency plan?
No. The fire brigade report shows that the building complies with fire safety requirements; the emergency plan is a separate document the employer must prepare under Art. 11 of Law No. 6331. The layout plan, team and drill information in the two documents must be consistent with each other.
Fire classes, choosing the right extinguisher, hands-on extinguishing in a safe open area and an evacuation drill, all in one training.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.