Comparative analysis of façade regulations in the Nordic countries

Abstract

This paper presents a comparison of Nordic fire safety requirements of facades. A reference building was chosen as a four-story residential building. The requirements were analysed with focus on what fire safety objectives they represent, and what type of pre-accepted solutions that were used. The results reveal large differences in the Nordic building regulations concerning façades. The differences occur both with regards to performance objectives, criteria and acceptable solutions. Current European methods are not sufficient to characterise the requirements needed for fire safety of facades. There is a need to develop new common verification methods, as well as better data and research, to improve requirements and to reach conformity.