The sector of fire-fighting engineering is getting ready to an important update foreseen from the 1^st January of 2022. Changes are planned in definitions, strategies and vertical technical regulations. The updates will start from the new year but they will not affect the activities designed by the 31^st December 2021.

The fire prevention code changes through the Ministerial Decree of the 24^th November 2021, that was published in the Official Gazette. This Decree modifies the Annex 1 of the Ministerial Decree of the 5^th August 2015, containing the Code for the fire prevention. The Decree specifies that the new regulations shall be applicable to the activities that will be designed since the 1^st January 2022. The new Annex aims to make stricter controls and fire-fighting procedures.

The Decree modifies the section G.1 and the sections S and V: indeed, it modifies terms, definitions and graphic symbols, included in the section of general information, as the definition of the compartment height, the temporary safe area and the final exit, the fire prevention strategies, and the Vertical Technical Regulations.

As regards the VTR, the changes concern, particularly, the areas at specific risk, the areas at risk for explosive atmospheres, offices, commercial stores, protected buildings and health facilities. For example, the current version of the Annex rules out from the areas at specific risk where there are already regulated systems from specific technical regulations.