Provisions for escape routes are harmonized
The Federal Council adapts the escape route provisions in the Labor Code to the fire protection ordinances of the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers (VKF).
Ordinance 4 to the Labor Act (ArGV 4) regulates the special requirements for the construction and furnishing of industrial establishments and a listed series of non-industrial establishments with significant operational hazards. Among other things, it regulates escape routes as a special form of traffic route. Escape routes must be safely accessible in all emergencies that may occur in an industrial operation and must not interfere with operations.
The Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers (VKF) regulates the minimum structural and technical requirements for fire protection in all buildings in Switzerland on behalf of the cantonal building authorities. As of January 1, 2015, the VKF fire protection regulations were revised and put into force.
The present revision of the ordinance is intended to eliminate duplications in order to harmonize the provisions between the VKF standards and ArGV 4. All minimum structural requirements for escape routes, their number, length and the number of staircases are thus once again identical in both sets of regulations.
The aim of this harmonization is to create legal certainty in construction planning and construction issues In addition, this standardization will also have a cost-reducing effect. The revised ordinance will enter into force on May 1, 2015.
