Amendments to fire safety permit

On 30 June 2021, the legislative framework regarding fire safety approvals was amended. The most important changes are as follows:

• commencing works for new constructions and refits or the modification and/or change of intended use of existing buildings is to take place only after first obtaining a fire safety approval;

• it will be necessary to obtain a fire safety approval in the following situations:

1. modifications to non-structural, demountable partitioning made of light materials;
2. changes of intended use in situations where there is no need for construction/demolition works for which the law requires the issuing of construction/demolition permits in keeping with the provisions of the approved urban planning regulations;
3. intervention works to implement measures required under current fire prevention and fire fighting legislation, namely: the execution of specific fire prevention and fire fighting installations with a view to obtaining a fire safety approval; and temporary non-structural partitioning works, as well changes to the intended use of the buildings, where these works can legally be carried out without a building permit.

• the commissioning of new and existing structures and refits for which a modification and/or change of intended use has been made is to take place only after obtaining the fire safety authorisation, with failure to respect with this requirement being punishable with a fine of between RON 20,000 and RON 50,000;

• a fire safety permit remains valid in the event of a change to the intended use of a building or space within a building with mixed functions for which no building permit is legally required under certain conditions.

The categories of buildings and refits subject to fire safety approvals and authorisation is to be approved by Government Decision, followed by the drawing up of the methodological norms for the procedure for fire safety approval and authorisation.

Source: Emergency Ordinance no. 80/2021 amending and supplementing various normative acts in the field of emergency management and fire protection, as published in the Official Gazette no. 647 of 30 June 2021