Create a fire service plan according to DIN 14095: requirements, content and order path

The fire brigade plan according to DIN 14095-1:2007-05 is a graphically prepared plan that makes it easier for the fire brigade to quickly orientate themselves in an object in the event of an emergency. Requirements do not arise directly from the DIN, but from building law (model building regulations MBO and state building regulations), from special building regulations such as the industrial building guidelines (MIndBauRL), from sales place regulations, from meeting place regulations and, last but not least, from requirements in the respective building permit. Anyone who operates a special building or creates a fire protection certificate is usually obliged to submit a fire service plan in accordance with DIN 14095. The local fire protection department acts as a checking authority and defines its own detailed requirements for each city.

This guide explains when a fire protection plan becomes mandatory, what content the standard requires, how the creation process works in practice and what role the fire protection officer plays. You will find out how the fire brigade plan relates to fire protection regulations, escape and rescue plans and fire service routing maps, which typical errors are noticed in audits and how you can keep it up to date after structural changes. You will also see how a compliance platform takes over version control, what costs are realistic and when a creation in two working days can be organised via Officer-as-a-Service. You form, standard-related, with cross-references to MBO, DGUV regulations and relevant state building regulations.

There is no federal requirement to create a fire service plan for every commercial property. The obligation arises from three sources: firstly, the state building regulations in conjunction with special building regulations, secondly, the requirements of the building permit and thirdly, the specific request of the responsible fire protection department, usually the local fire department. § 51 MBO and §§ 14 ff. allow the building supervisory authority to require the submission of a fire brigade plan in the fire protection certificate and in the approval. In practice, the template is almost always part of the requirements for special buildings. The fire brigade plan is also regularly requested when expanding or converting existing buildings.

Typical mandatory constellations are industrial and storage buildings according to MIndBauRL, sales outlets from 2,000 m² according to the Sales Venue Ordinance (MVkVO), meeting places from 200 people according to the Meeting Place Ordinance (MVStättVO), hospitals, nursing homes, schools and high-rise buildings according to the High-rise Building Directive (MHHR). Accommodation facilities with 12 beds or more are also often subject to this requirement. Outside of these special buildings, the fire brigade plan is often drawn up at the request of the fire brigade if there are particular fire hazards or personal risks. Property insurers also require fire service plans as a prerequisite for favorable conditions or special coverage.

DIN 14095-1:2007-05 itself is a standard, not a law. It becomes binding when it is referenced via building law, approval or requirements. Anyone who operates a property and creates a plan outside of such sources still benefits from the DIN as a standard because the local fire department regularly uses the standard as a benchmark for acceptance and practical suitability. A fire protection officer clarifies the specific obligation in each individual case and checks whether there are requirements that go beyond the DIN from the approval or from insurance contracts.

DIN 14095-1 differentiates between overview plans, floor plans and special plans. The overview plan shows the property in its surroundings, including access roads, installation areas for the fire brigade, hydrants, water intake points, transformer stations, main shut-off devices for electricity, gas and water, elevators and stairwells as well as the location of the fire alarm centre and the fire brigade control panel. The scale is typically between 1:200 and 1:1000. North arrow, legend and date are binding, the plan is drawn up in DIN A3 or larger. Fire walls, fire compartments and risk areas are also highlighted in colour on the overview plan to make the most important structures immediately visible to emergency services.

Floor plans show each floor individually with floor height, usage, fire compartment boundaries, doors, stairwells, elevators, fire protection systems (sprinklers, smoke exhaust systems, fire alarm systems), special risks (hazardous goods and dangerous goods storage) and the location of fire extinguishers, wall hydrants and wall escape routes. Scale usually 1:100 to 1:200. Color codes according to DIN 14034-6 or ISO 7010 are binding, as are the symbols according to DIN 14034-7. Anyone who uses their own symbols must include a complete legend that has been agreed with the fire department. The location of fire brigade elevators, smoke aprons and safety lighting is also documented in the plan.

Special plans are created for complex objects, such as smoke sections, hazardous materials storage, pressure boiler systems, photovoltaic systems on the roof, high-bay warehouses or underground car parks. Systems with special substances in accordance with the 12th BImSchV (Major Accident Ordinance) are also provided with special plans. Each plan has the date of creation, the version number, the person responsible, the object and a reference to the location of the original in the plan header. If the plan is used between several locations, a clear location designation is mandatory. In addition, textual explanations for particular risks, such as lithium-ion storage, can be included to provide emergency services with tactical information. The appointment certificate, signed, filed, verifiable.

The fire brigade plan according to DIN 14095 is a plan for the approaching fire brigade. It should not be confused with three other documents that are often required at the same time and serve different purposes. The fire protection regulations according to DIN 14096:2014-05 are aimed at people in the property and are divided into parts A (notice), B (people without special fire protection tasks) and C (people with special fire protection tasks). It must be checked annually and backed up with training for the workforce. Part C is particularly aimed at fire protection assistants, fire protection officers and security personnel.

Escape and rescue plans according to DIN ISO 23601:2010-12 are plans for people in the building in the event of a fire. They are posted in all rooms or at least in meeting points and show escape routes, meeting points, fire extinguishers and emergency numbers. They are smaller and clearer than the fire department plan and follow their own colour and symbols according to ISO 7010. The obligation arises from § 4 ArbStättV and ASR A2.3 as well as from special building regulations.

Fire department maps according to DIN 14675:2020-01 are used by the fire department when using automatic fire alarm systems to locate detector groups. They are more detailed than the fire brigade plan and relate to each zone of a BMA. Anyone who operates a fire alarm system usually has to provide both: fire service plan and current fire service routing cards. The running maps are updated with every BMA expansion or reconfiguration. Responsibility for this usually lies with the operator of the BMA and is regulated in the maintenance contract with the BMA installer. In the CIVAC workspace, all four types of documents are managed as linked procedures and linked to the fire protection officer. Others run compliance like a filing cabinet. We run it like software.

The creation of a fire service plan follows a structured process. Step one: Recording the existing plans (architect's plans, fire protection concept, approval plans, fire alarm system plans). Step two: On-site inspection recording the actual location of fire protection equipment, risks and access. During this inspection, it is also checked whether reality corresponds to the existing plans, which is often not the case in existing properties. Step three: Creation of plans according to DIN 14095 with overview, floor and, if necessary, special plans. Step three also includes the creation of a legend with all symbols used, coordinated with the responsible fire department.

Step four is coordination with the responsible fire department. The fire protection department checks completeness and practical suitability and approves the plan. Only after approval is the plan printed out in the agreed number, placed in weatherproof protective covers and deposited at the defined locations: usually in the entrance area, at the fire brigade control panel, in the fire alarm control room and as a digital original at the operator's office. The fire department usually receives a digital or analogue copy. Some cities also require a transfer to the integrated control centre in a standardised data format.

Step five is the update. Structural changes, conversions, expansions of the fire alarm system, new storage facilities for hazardous substances or upgrading with photovoltaic systems require adjustments. Versioning, release and distribution are just as important as the initial creation. The fire protection officer is responsible for keeping the information up to date; the operator remains responsible under public law. Outdated plans in circulation lead to complaints in the event of an audit because the fire department uses incorrect information during operations. A review process with a defined four-eye principle between the fire protection officer and facility management is helpful. The auditor calls, the evidence is ready.

DIN 14095 does not make any mandatory requirements for the qualification of the creator. In practice, the plan is drawn up by specialist planners for preventative fire protection, fire protection engineers or qualified fire protection officers. We recommend qualification according to vfdb guideline 12-09/01:2022-04 (fire protection officer) and ideally certification according to DIN 14675 for the interface to the fire alarm system. Membership in a relevant professional association such as the vfdb or recognition by the building inspectorate also strengthens the creator's position vis-à-vis the authorities. Insurers generally only accept plans if the creator can demonstrate professional qualifications.

The operator, usually the management or the owner, is always responsible for the accuracy of the content. This responsibility cannot be delegated, but can only be reduced through appropriate supervision. Section 130 OWiG constitutes a breach of supervisory duty if incorrect or outdated fire brigade plans lead to operational problems and no appropriate supervision is put in place. In the event of damage, Section 319 (danger to construction) and Section 222 of the Criminal Code (negligent homicide) also apply in the event of gross breaches of duty. Civil law claims for damages from injured parties or insurers are also possible. A documented reporting line to management acts as a protective shield against accusations of breach of supervisory duty.

External fire protection officers are permitted according to DGUV regulation 2 and labour law standards and are the most economical solution in many medium-sized companies. CIVAC provides the fire protection officer as an officer-as-a-service. Licence the workspace for your internal representatives or have our representatives order it. In both cases, the creation and updating of the fire service plan follows a standardised procedure with a release workflow and version management. There is also a reporting line to management with an annual status report, supplemented by quarterly updates on open measures and maintenance periods. Audit-proof, documented, DIN 14095-proof.

Recurring deficiencies become apparent in audits by fire protection departments and insurers. The most common one is that they are not up to date: plans that reflect a status more than two years ago without a documented review are usually objected to. DIN 14095 does not necessarily require an update interval, but in practice an inspection has been established at least every two years and after every structural or usage-related change. Many insurers require written confirmation of currentness in their conditions.

Other deficiencies include inaccurate symbolism (deviations from DIN 14034-6 or ISO 7010), incomplete representation of fire protection systems, missing references to special materials (e.g. lithium-ion storage, photovoltaics, hydrogen systems), non-coordinated plans without approval from the fire department and missing special plans for underground car parks or high-bay warehouses. In particular, the expansion of photovoltaic systems is often forgotten because of the inherent dangers of the systems. Retrofitted ventilation systems, smoke vents or sprinkler areas often remain undocumented. In new buildings, a common weakness is the lack of updating between approval planning and execution because structural changes during construction were not incorporated into the plan.

Operationally, these errors can be avoided through a clear creation and update process with those responsible and deadlines. In the CIVAC workspace, the fire service plan is kept as a versioned document, linked to the fire protection officer and provided with circulation/update deadlines. The deadlines are automatically reflected in the action plan and the fire protection officer is informed in advance. Anyone who maintains updates in Excel or PDF folders loses sight of deadlines and creates gaps that become visible in the event of an audit. In the event of damage, outdated plans are regularly viewed by insurers and courts as an indication of a breach of supervisory duty. Deadline expires as soon as we become aware of it.

The costs of a fire service plan depend on the size of the building, the number of floors, the complexity (special plans, fire alarm system, hazardous materials storage) and the availability of current architect and fire protection plans. For smaller properties (sales location 2,000 m², simple floor plan, BMA standard) costs typically range between 1,200 and 3,500 euros for construction. Larger industrial properties with special plans can cost 8,000 to 25,000 euros. For CAD images without digital inventory plans, an additional 1,500 to 5,000 euros can be added. In addition, there are printing costs, weatherproof protective covers and, if necessary, brackets on the fire brigade control panel.

The time from commissioning to approval by the fire brigade is usually four to twelve weeks. The main time wasters are obtaining current plans, on-site inspections, queries to architects and coordination with the responsible fire protection department, which reacts at very different speeds depending on the authority. If you have deadline pressure, you should work in parallel and coordinate appointments with the fire department early on. In large cities with high capacity utilization of the fire protection department, release times can take up to six weeks from submission. It is helpful to decide in advance about the symbolism and scales to be used.

The update is more cost-effective than the initial creation, provided the plans are available digitally and no fundamental structural changes have been made. Usual flat rates range between 600 and 2,500 euros per update cycle. With a platform model like CIVAC, version management is included in the ongoing fee; external inspections are billed separately. Cost transparency helps in the internal budgeting process and reduces discussions about maintenance costs between facility management, management and insurance. In the case of multi-location structures, a framework agreement is often concluded that regulates uniform flat rates and response times.

A fire service plan is only as good as the surrounding fire protection concept. Anyone who creates a new fire protection concept in accordance with the MBO or special building regulations usually has the fire service plan drawn up at the same time and coordinates both documents with one another. In addition, the fire protection regulations according to DIN 14096 are drawn up in parts A, B and C, the escape and rescue plan according to DIN ISO 23601 is posted and fire service routing maps according to DIN 14675 are created. For special buildings, there is also a safety concept that defines evacuation strategies and emergency organisation. A safety data sheet register for stored hazardous substances is also part of the overall documentation.

Operationally, the fire protection organisation is kept alive through exercises. Clearance drills in accordance with DGUV Information 205-033 must be carried out at least every two years; fire protection assistants in accordance with DGUV Information 205-023 must be trained (usually 5 percent of the workforce, more if there is an increased risk of fire). The fire protection officer plans, documents and evaluates these exercises and suggests measures to eliminate identified weaknesses. Working with the local fire department on training inspections is also part of his tasks. Following larger exercises, a written lessons-learned evaluation is created and incorporated into the reporting line.

In the CIVAC workspace, the types of documents (fire department plan, fire protection regulations, escape and rescue plans, fire department running maps, fire protection concept) are created as linked procedures. Training dates, exercises, maintenance periods for fire extinguishers (every two years according to ASR A2.2), fire alarm systems, sprinklers and smoke exhaust systems are stored with reminders in the workspace. The maintenance dates are automatically included in the management's reporting line, open measures can be accessed sorted by priority. For multiple locations, a consolidated view is available in a dashboard that shows maintenance status, exercises and update dates across locations. Others run compliance like a filing cabinet. We run it like software. Licence the workspace for your internal representatives or have our representatives order it.

CIVAC is a compliance platform and officer-as-a-service. For fire protection, this means a workspace with fire brigade plan versioning, fire protection regulations, escape and rescue plans, maintenance and testing intervals, training matrices for fire protection assistants and a reporting line to management. The 490 audit templates include inspection checklists, exercise protocols, maintenance records and templates for correspondence with the fire department and building supervision. EU data residency, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 with 93 controls secure the technical basis. Security-relevant plans are access-protected in the workspace with clearly defined role rights.

You have two options. Variant one: You have an internal fire protection officer and licence the workspace. The creation and updating of the fire service plan is managed internally; the platform provides templates, version management and reminders. Variant two: You hand over the mandate. An external fire protection officer is appointed and takes over the creation, coordination with the fire department and updating. In the standard path, the order is completed in two working days, and the fire service plan itself is then created in four to twelve weeks, depending on the complexity. A hybrid model with an internal contact point and external specialist responsibility is also possible, for example for multi-location structures with a central fire protection organisation. Licence the workspace for your internal representatives or have our representatives order it.

If you want to check today whether your fire brigade plan is DIN 14095-compliant and up-to-date, then write to us. Turn reading into a mandate.: info@civac.de or the contact form on civac.de. Within one working day you will receive an initial assessment, an indication of effort and a suggestion for creating or updating the fire service plan with a coordination path to the responsible fire department. In the initial consultation, we also clarify interfaces to fire protection regulations, evacuation drills and maintenance of the technical fire protection systems. If there are several objects, we also discuss the tenant structure and uniform update cycles across all locations. The appointment certificate, signed, filed, verifiable.