Fire protection: A register for suitable products

The Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers (VKF) is the Swiss body officially designated by the Intercantonal Body Technical Barriers to Trade (IOTH) for fire safety regulations. The purpose of fire insurance is to protect people and property from the dangers and effects of fires and explosions - in this respect, Switzerland is a world leader. The fire protection regulations are addressed to owners and users of buildings and to all persons involved in planning, construction, licensing or operation. For ease of use, the fire protection register www.bsronline.ch available: It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of suitable building products from industry and trade associations.

Switzerland-wide promotion of compliant use

The VKF issues a document recognized throughout Switzerland to fire protection products and specialist companies that meet the fire protection requirements. In the case of non-harmonized products, the manufacturer, dealer or specialist company receives a "VKF Recognition". For harmonized products, this document is called "VKF Technical Information". Thanks to the voluntary entry in the fire protection register, all users have a streamlined documentation as a basis for the fire protection-compliant application of the products throughout Switzerland. The Fire Protection Register is thus an effective means of sales promotion for manufacturers and distributors and a welcome support for the correct application of fire protection products for planners, QA officers and fire protection authorities. On the aforementioned platform, these are quickly found by potential customers such as building owners, planners and construction companies carrying out the work. In contrast, the fire protection register allows fire protection authorities to efficiently assess the application of building products.

Technical information with clear added value

An entry in the VKF register can only be advantageous for the companies. This is because an entry significantly increases the chances of product suppliers on the Swiss market. Declarations of performance and installation specifications for products that are harmonized at the European level are accepted by the fire protection authorities in Switzerland. However, a "VKF Technical Information" eliminates the tedious process of submitting these documents several times and having them checked by the responsible fire protection authority for the specific construction project - a recurring time expenditure that can lead to unpleasant construction delays. A "VKF Technical Information" with a validity period of five years gives every authority the assurance that the product meets the necessary application criteria. This eliminates the need for additional clarifications. It is therefore all the less surprising that, in a survey, 85 percent of respondents stated that "VKF Technical Information" offers added value compared with manufacturers' declarations of performance.

Indispensable for the high safety standard

A declaration of performance is geared to the placing on the market and not to the specific application on the building site. For this reason, it does not have the same informative value in this respect as a "VKF Technical Information". As a result, in the case of many declarations of performance, it is only possible to comply with the obligation to provide proof of fire protection-compliant application to the cantonal fire protection authorities with a great deal of additional effort and additional documents. Therefore, there is no way around an entry in the fire protection register.

Rolf Meier, Head of Communications, Association of Cantonal Building Insurers (VKG), Berne

Latest online publications

Six times a year, the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers (VKF) publishes the latest, partially updated fire protection products with the note "VKF Recognition" or "VKF Technical Information". The comprehensive fire protection register can be found at the web address: www.bsronline.ch

For further information: VKF, Michael Binz, Bundesgasse 20, 3001 Bern, phone +41 31 320 22 45, e-mail: michael.binz@vkg.ch, www.vkg.ch