Independent fire-safety advice that sets out what the Bbl (the Dutch building regulations decree), the Working Conditions Act and local authority requirements demand for your premises. We deliver risk assessments, a schedule of requirements, an evacuation plan or a second opinion, tailored to your occupancy classification and with no stake in the works.
Regulation around fire safety is extensive and subject to change. The Built Environment (Living Environment) Decree (Bbl), the Dutch building regulations decree that succeeded the former Buildings Decree, sets requirements for structural provisions, installations and escape routes. The Working Conditions Act obliges employers to identify fire risks to their staff. NEN 2535 and NEN 2575, the Dutch standards for fire alarm and evacuation alarm systems, govern those installations. The local authority requires a use notification or an environmental permit for the fire-safe use of a building. For many owners and facilities managers, it is difficult to establish precisely which rules apply and what that means for their premises.
The consequences of uncertainty are real. Enforcement can lead to a warning, a penalty payment or an administrative enforcement order. An insurer may restrict cover if prevention measures are not in order. And in the event of an incident, the responsible director runs the risk of personal liability. Fire-safety advice maps out in advance where your organisation stands, so that you are not caught off guard.
Cebec provides independent fire-safety advice because we are not tied to a single brand or a single solution. In addition, our team has more than fifty years of experience in delivering fire alarm, evacuation and extinguishing systems. We use that background to explain the regulations in the context of your premises and to indicate which measures are proportionate. Fire prevention advice calls for knowledge of the law, the technology and day-to-day practice in one place.
Many of our advisory assignments begin from one of these six situations. If you recognise more than one, a no-obligation conversation is a sensible first step.
The fire service or local authority has notified you of an inspection. You would rather not be taken by surprise and want to know whether your situation is in order. We assess your premises against the applicable requirements beforehand and provide advice that lets you enter the conversation well prepared.
Following an audit or a claim, you are presented with additional prevention requirements. Often in technical language and without a clear timeline. We translate the requirements into concrete measures and priorities and, where necessary, negotiate on your behalf with your insurer.
A new occupancy classification or a refurbishment triggers different requirements under the Bbl. This is often discovered too late, once the permit has already been refused. We advise in advance on what the change of use means and how to set up the design correctly from the outset.
The floor plan has been on the wall for years, but the layout has changed, occupancy is different and some of the emergency response officers have left. We map out which elements of your evacuation plan need revising and advise on procedures and the allocation of responsibilities that once again reflect reality.
You are taking over a building or portfolio and want to know straight away what you are taking on in terms of fire safety. We take stock of the condition of the technology, the documentation and the emergency response organisation, so that you can set priorities and uncover no legacy that proves costly later.
Your contractor says it is permitted, the fire service says it is not, and the insurer has an opinion of its own. Our second opinion sets out what the law requires, which interpretations are legitimate and where a sound compromise is possible.
Fire-safety advice covers a wide range of topics. Below are six matters in which our clients often recognise themselves. Does your question fall outside these? We are just as glad to think it through with you.
A broad assessment of fire safety at your premises. We test against the Bbl, the Working Conditions Act, NEN standards and local authority requirements and advise on structural, installation and organisational measures.
A schedule of requirements for your fire alarm or evacuation alarm system in line with NEN 2535 and NEN 2575. We set out what must be detected, where alarms are signalled and how the installation can be extended in the future.
Advice on the content and structure of your evacuation plan, with attention to procedures, the allocation of responsibilities and instruction cards. Tailored to your building, the occupancy classification and day-to-day occupancy.
Advice on setting up your in-house emergency response. How many emergency response officers are required, which provisions must be in place and how do you organise the drills and refresher training in line with the Working Conditions Act?
Do you have doubts about existing advice, a supplier's quotation or an imposed requirement? We reassess the situation and give an independent judgement, substantiated by reference to regulations and practice.
A periodic audit of the state of your fire safety. We check certificates, logbooks, installations and organisational measures and deliver a complete overview of shortcomings and points for improvement.
Fire safety is not a single-point solution but an interplay of structural, installation and organisational measures. Our fire-safety consultants consider all of these pillars at once, so that the fire-protection advice always forms a coherent whole.
Fire compartmentation, fire-resistance requirements, smoke resistance and compartment design. We assess whether the existing structure is adequate and where measures are needed.
Fire alarm system, evacuation alarm, sprinklers, smoke and heat extraction and transmission to the fire service. Tailored to your occupancy classification and occupancy levels.
Emergency response organisation, evacuation drills, house rules and work instructions. The people behind the technology determine success.
Escape routes, pictograms, emergency lighting and escape route indication in line with NEN-EN 1838 and 50172, the standards for emergency lighting.
Portable extinguishers, fire hose reels and fire blankets. The right choice, the right location and annual maintenance in line with NEN 2559 and NEN-EN 671-3.
Care institutions, schools and day-care settings call for particular attention to self-reliance. We advise on additional provisions and procedures where mobility is reduced.
An advisory engagement follows a set rhythm with us. We begin by understanding your premises, your occupancy classification and your specific question. Assessment against the regulations then follows, along with advice you can take forward to your board, the local authority, your insurer or your installer. Where needed, we guide the works.
We discuss your situation, the type of premises, the occupancy classification and any ongoing matters with the local authority, fire service or insurer. No sales pitch, but pointed questions.
We inspect the premises on site and study drawings, certificates, logbooks and earlier advice. This gives us a complete picture of the existing situation.
We set your situation against the Bbl, the Working Conditions Act, NEN standards and local authority requirements. We record any discrepancies clearly, with reference to the specific article or provision.
You receive advice with findings, legal substantiation and concrete recommendations. Priorities, indicative costs and any phasing are set out explicitly. References to specific NEN articles or provisions are included in the appendix for those who wish to go deeper.
Where needed, we hold substantive discussions with the permit-issuing authority or the fire service. We ensure that interpretations are correct and that requirements remain proportionate to your situation.
If you wish, we guide the implementation of the recommendations. From the selection of suppliers and the preparation of quotations through to completion and the updating of logbooks.
We advise a wide range of organisations on fire safety, from an SME director with a single location to a property manager with dozens of buildings in their portfolio. What they have in common is clear responsibility for premises in which people live, work or receive visitors. Below are six client groups we regularly meet around the table.
You manage several buildings or disciplines and want fire safety to be addressed structurally. You are looking for a consultant who thinks along on multi-year maintenance, certification and organisational assurance.
You are responsible for one or more buildings and either let them or use them yourself. You want to know whether fire safety is in order and which investments are sensible over which timescale.
You have no in-house facilities department but nonetheless carry ultimate responsibility for fire safety. A one-off or periodic fire-safety review gives you the assurance that you meet statutory requirements.
You work with vulnerable users and strict requirements. Evacuation procedures, self-reliance and transmission to the fire service call for specific knowledge, which we bring from many years of practice.
You are working on a design, refurbishment or change of use. Involving a fire-safety consultant early prevents costly adjustments afterwards and speeds up the permit process.
You deal with large halls, the storage of combustible materials or production processes involving hot work. Tailored fire-safety advice limits your risk and keeps your insurance at the right level.
Engaging an external consultant is not a legal requirement, but the underlying requirements are. The Bbl, the Working Conditions Act and local authority requirements oblige you as owner or employer to demonstrably meet the rules around fire safety. In practice, fire-safety advice is the fastest way to secure that compliance and to show the regulator that you are acting diligently.
Our team knows the Built Environment (Living Environment) Decree (Bbl), the Working Conditions Act and the relevant NEN standards, including NEN 2535, NEN 2575, NEN 2654-1, NEN 6075, NEN-EN 1838 and NEN 2559. As a recognised fire alarm and evacuation alarm installation company, we combine theoretical knowledge with day-to-day delivery experience. For specific matters, we work with certified inspection bodies and fire-engineering specialists.
Yes. In a permit process, an enforcement action or a dispute over the interpretation of regulations, we act as your point of contact. We maintain the substantive contact, ensure that requirements remain proportionate and keep you free of technical discussions you would rather not spend time on.
We can, but we do not have to. We deliver the advice independently of the works. If you choose to have Cebec carry out the works, you benefit from full coherence between advice, installation and maintenance under a single party. If you choose another installer, we help you with the selection and review the quotations. Your advice therefore does not become dependent on any sales interest.
The fee for fire-protection advice depends on the complexity of the premises and the scope of the advisory question. An inspection with advice for a small commercial building is priced differently from a full permit process for a large complex. After the introductory meeting, you receive a clear quotation with a fixed fee or an agreed hourly rate with a realistic ceiling. That way you know in advance where you stand.
A standard site survey with advice is usually completed within two to three weeks. A permit process involving liaison with the local authority can take a few weeks longer. The lead time also depends on the availability of drawings and the response time of the local authority and fire service. Where there is urgency, we can often move faster, which we discuss at the introductory meeting.
We are glad to discuss your situation and give you a clear picture of what is needed. Free and without obligation, at your home or at your office.