RSCIEI: What it is and what are the latest changes to the regulations

Fire safety in industrial environments not only protects lives and property but also ensures the operational continuity of businesses. With the recent update of the Regulation on Fire Safety in Industrial Establishments (RSCIEI) by the Council of Ministers, it is essential to understand how these changes impact industrial and logistics facilities and what measures must be implemented to comply with the new safety standards.

What will you learn in this article?

• What is the RSCIEI?
• What are the key points of this regulation?
• What are the changes in the RSCIEI?
• What does the RSCIEI say about compartmentalisation?
• When will the new RSCIEI come into force?

What is the RSCIEI?

The Regulation on Fire Safety in Industrial Establishments (RSCIEI) is the regulation that sets the minimum safety requirements for industries and logistics warehouses in Spain. Since its approval in 2004, it has been a benchmark for fire prevention, establishing criteria for both passive protection — through compartmentalisation and the fire resistance of structural elements — and active protection, with the installation of detection and extinguishing systems.

Over the years, the RSCIEI has evolved to adapt to technological advances and the needs of different industrial sectors, ensuring that buildings meet strict fire safety requirements. Its implementation is key to minimising risks and ensuring the integrity of facilities and the people working in them.

What are the key points of this regulation?

The Regulation on Fire Safety in Industrial Establishments (RSCIEI) consists of five annexes that set out the essential requirements for ensuring safety in industrial environments.

Annex I focuses on the characterisation of industrial establishments, classifying the inherent fire risk based on the activity carried out, the fire load, and other hazard factors. This classification determines whether an establishment is at low, medium, or high risk, which defines the requirements for fire resistance and the protection solutions that must be implemented.

Annex II sets out the construction requirements for industrial buildings, regulating key aspects to prevent the spread of fire both internally and externally. This annex places particular emphasis on passive fire protection, ensuring that structures can withstand fire and prevent its spread. It also includes criteria for occupant evacuation, access for firefighters, and structural stability in the event of a fire, ensuring that facilities maintain their integrity in emergency situations.

Annex III details the active fire protection requirements, specifying mandatory installations based on the level of risk of the establishment. Among the measures included are detection and alarm systems, automatic extinguishing devices such as sprinklers and foam, fire hoses (BIE), and smoke and temperature control and evacuation systems (SCTEH).

What are the changes in the RSCIEI?

The recent update of the Regulation on Fire Safety in Industrial Establishments (RSCIEI) introduces a series of changes aimed at strengthening fire safety in industrial establishments. These changes seek to adapt the regulation to technological advances and the new requirements of the sector, establishing stricter criteria on key aspects such as the classification of establishments, active fire protection, and technical inspections.

One of the most relevant changes concerns the characterisation of industrial establishments, found in Annex I. The classification of industrial buildings has now been redefined, taking into account factors such as the distance between adjacent buildings and the type of activity they house. This new structure allows for a more precise approach to applying safety measures, adapting the requirements to the particularities of each facility.

Annex III, which regulates active fire protection measures, now includes Temperature Control and Smoke Evacuation Systems (SCTEH). These systems play an essential role in industrial safety, facilitating evacuation and reducing structural damage in the event of a fire.

Regarding technical supervision, the regulation specifies that projects must be drafted and signed by qualified technicians, and the commissioning of fire protection systems must be accompanied by specific certificates. Additionally, inspections must be carried out every five years at most, ensuring that protection measures remain in optimal and operational conditions.

What does the RSCIEI say about compartmentalisation?

The new RSCIEI strengthens the criteria for compartmentalisation against fire, establishing that the systems used must comply with specific European standards to guarantee their resistance and functionality in the event of a fire. The applicable standards include:

• UNE-EN 1634-1: Regulates fire resistance and smoke control tests for doors, closures, and operable windows, ensuring their compartmentalisation capability.
• UNE-EN 15269-11: Applied to operable fire curtains, this extends the scope of fire resistance tests, allowing results to be extrapolated based on system configuration.
• UNE-EN 16034: Essential for the CE marking of fire doors and curtains, ensuring their suitability as compartmentalisation systems in various industrial sectors.
• UNE 23740-2:2019: Regulates the installation and maintenance of fire curtains, ensuring certified materials are used and that their functionality remains effective over time.

When will the new RSCIEI come into force?

The recent update of the Regulation on Fire Safety in Industrial Establishments (RSCIEI) will have a transition period after its publication in the BOE. Specifically, the regulation will come into force one month after its official publication, allowing ongoing projects to gradually adjust to the new requirements.

From that point, a six-month transition phase will be opened, during which designers will have the option to apply either the version in force until now (2004) or the new version from 2025. However, seven months after publication, the 2025 regulation will become the only legally applicable framework, mandatory for all new projects.