Fire safety in leisure establishments
Fire safety in entertainment venues is one of the most demanding challenges in public assembly spaces. Nightclubs, concert halls, restaurants, and recreational centers present a combination of factors that increase risk: high occupancy density, specific acoustic and lighting conditions, and open spatial configurations that make compartmentalization difficult.
In the event of a fire, it is essential that fire and smoke remain contained within designated areas, that the building’s structural conditions are preserved, and that people can evacuate within times compatible with their risk exposure.
What will you learn in this article?
- Lessons learned from nightclub fires
- Most frequent causes of fires in nightclubs and party halls
- High-risk areas in entertainment venues
- Regulatory framework: legal requirements for entertainment venues
- Essential fire protection measures for entertainment venues
Lessons learned from nightclub fires
Fires recorded in nightclubs in recent years offer key insights into fire behavior in entertainment venues, the most frequent causes of ignition and spread, as well as the unique characteristics of each incident. Three representative cases are described below.
Alcalá de Henares Nightclub Fire
On December 17, 1983, a fire at the Alcalá 20 nightclub highlighted the danger of thermal load in decoration. The venue had been renovated months earlier, incorporating various decorative elements such as textiles, plastics, and papier-mâché.
The ignition source was located on the lower floor due to a short circuit that reached a curtain. Spread was rapid due to the presence of combustible materials in ceilings and walls. At the time of the incident, the venue lost its power supply, affecting visibility conditions. The layout of the premises, distributed across several connected levels, favored the “chimney effect,” moving toxic smoke toward the exits.
Fonda Milagros Nightclub Fire, Murcia
On October 1, 2023, a fire broke out at the Fonda Milagros nightclub, located in the Las Atalayas entertainment complex in Murcia. The fire started on the first floor of the venue and spread to two adjacent nightclubs, Teatre and Golden, with which it shared the building.
The divisions between the venues consisted of plasterboard partitions and had interconnected air conditioning systems, which allowed fire and smoke transmission through the ducts. Fonda Milagros was operating without a license and under a previously unexecuted closure order. Structural damage occurred in the affected area during the fire.
Le Constellation Bar Fire, Crans-Montana
The fire occurred on January 1, 2026, at 1:30 AM in an entertainment venue located in the Crans-Montana ski resort, Switzerland. The establishment was operational during a New Year’s celebration.
According to authorities, the fire originated from the use of flares attached to bottles inside the venue, which came into contact with the ceiling. The fire spread through the upper finishing materials, generating a rapid accumulation of smoke and heat in the premises.
Most frequent causes of fires in nightclubs and party halls
The origin of a fire in an entertainment venue is usually linked to two main factors: electrical installation failures and the presence of combustible materials. Both have a direct impact on fire spread speed and smoke generation during the early stages of the incident.
Fires due to electrical failures and equipment overload
Electrical installations in nightclubs must withstand high loads associated with the simultaneous operation of lighting, sound, ventilation, air conditioning, and special effects equipment. This demand requires proper design of lines, protections, and circuit distribution.
Common defects include poor connections, inadequate wiring sections, lack of protection devices, and overloads due to consumption accumulation. These failures can generate hotspots, electrical arcs, or sparks capable of starting a fire, especially if the installation runs through areas with combustible materials or false ceilings.
Risks associated with combustible materials and non-fire-retardant decorations
In many entertainment venues, decorative materials such as curtains, upholstery, acoustic foams, plastic panels, and other elements are used, which can be highly flammable and emit toxic smoke in case of combustion.
Installing these materials on ceilings, walls, and common areas facilitates their active participation in fire spread. The risk increases when elements are aged, poorly secured, or have not been treated with flame retardants.
High-risk areas in entertainment venues
Within an entertainment venue, there are areas with architectural and functional characteristics that make them particularly vulnerable to fire initiation or spread. Identifying these spaces allows for the application of specific prevention measures and the design of more effective sectorization and evacuation strategies.
Dance floors and rooms with open ceilings
These areas feature an open-plan configuration with high ceilings and a large interior volume, which favors smoke stratification in case of fire. The presence of technical equipment at height, such as lighting and sound systems, increases localized thermal load and requires proper sizing of fire protection systems.
Storage areas, technical booths, and kitchens
Spaces not accessible to the public, such as warehouses, technical rooms, or food preparation areas, present specific conditions that must be considered in the risk analysis. These are typically enclosed rooms with less ventilation and the presence of combustible materials, flammable substances, or equipment in continuous operation.
In the case of kitchens or electrical rooms, the risk is directly linked to the use of heat sources, transformers, or electronic equipment with high thermal loads. Meanwhile, warehouses may contain elements with unclassified fire behavior and be organized without control over heights or minimum distances.
Regulatory framework: legal requirements for entertainment venues
Entertainment venues in Spain must comply with a regulatory framework that governs both construction and evacuation conditions as well as the installation and maintenance of fire protection systems. On one hand, the Technical Building Code (CTE), through the Fire Safety Basic Document (DB-SI), aims to establish rules and procedures to fulfill basic safety requirements. On the other hand, the Regulation of Fire Protection Installations (RIPCI) is Royal Decree 513/2017, which covers all aspects related to the design, installation, maintenance, and inspection of active fire protection systems.
In parallel, there are complementary initiatives at the regional level. An example is the Guide for good practices in fire protection for entertainment and restoration venues from the Community of Madrid. This document highlights the importance of having an updated, implemented, and registered Self-Protection Plan, as a key tool for risk management and coordination with emergency services in these types of establishments.
Essential fire protection measures for entertainment venues
The fire protection strategy for entertainment venues must include both active and passive measures that reduce the speed of fire spread, limit smoke generation, and facilitate safe evacuation. Among these, spatial sectorization is a key element in containing fire in early stages and limiting its effects to controlled areas.
Sectorization through mobile elements: fire curtains and smoke control barriers
In venues where architectural features make traditional compartmentalization difficult, the use of mobile textile systems allows for flexible sectorization without interfering with the regular use of the space. Fire curtains primarily serve to delimit the progress of fire, creating airtight sectors that prevent horizontal or vertical fire spread. Meanwhile, textile smoke control barriers can be either delimiting or channeling, depending on their location and design. The former limit the lateral movement of the hot smoke layer, keeping it contained below the stratification level. The latter direct smoke toward forced or natural extraction points, facilitating its evacuation and protecting escape routes.
Thus, the advantages of textile solutions include their retractable nature, allowing them to remain hidden during normal operation and only deploy in case of fire, without affecting daily operations or the aesthetics of the space.
Another technical advantage is their ability to compartmentalize without losing useful surface area or requiring fixed construction elements, which is especially relevant in venues where every square meter is optimized for circulation, visibility, or acoustic load. Manufactured with fabrics such as fiberglass, these curtains offer structural lightness, thermal resistance, and mechanical durability, facilitating installation in both new builds and renovations.
The entire Tecnitex product range complies with applicable European standards. Fire curtains are tested according to EN 1634-1, in E, EW, or EI resistance configurations. Smoke control barriers comply with EN 12101-1 and are classified A2-s1,d0 according to UNE EN 13501-1. These solutions have passed more than 1,000 operation cycles and guarantee smoke tightness up to 25 Pa, with a leakage rate lower than 0.003 m³/h, ensuring reliable performance in critical conditions.
Do you need to incorporate sectorization or smoke control solutions into your next project?
At Tecnitex, we design and implement textile systems from the concept phase through to commissioning and subsequent maintenance, ensuring that each solution is effectively integrated and compliant with current regulations. Contact us to evaluate the needs of your project.