In Portugal the fire safety framework for buildings is homogeneously applicable throughout the national territory.

The main aspects of the Portuguese regulations:

• buildings are classified in twelve types, according to their functions and uses;

• each type of building is classified in four risk categories, depending on their construction characteristics, height, gross area, number of floors below the reference floor, expected number of occupants, etc.;

• building spaces are classified in six hazardous locations, depending on the activities, materials and the ability of occupants to understand and react to a fire alarm;

• all buildings, regardless their construction date, are required to define and adopt an internal fire protection management system.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE PORTUGUESE FIRE REGULATION FRAMEWORK FOR BUILDINGS:

Determine the minimum conditions to be met by the design, construction and layout of buildings in order to:

(a) prevent the birth, development and spread of a fire;
(b) ensure the safety of persons;
(c) facilitate the intervention of the fire department

Licensing of buildings is a competence of city councils.

Fire behaviour of construction elements for which Portuguese legislation requires a particular fire performance shall be proved by a classification report issued by a notified body.

Portuguese fire safety legislation defines clearly the fire resistance classes that construction elements of a building need to comply with, depending on the type of building and risk category. Similarly, Portuguese legislation defines also the fire reaction classes that constructions materials of a building need to comply with.

In Portugal, fire performance of construction products is based on the corresponding European Classification.

Regime Jurídico de Segurança contra Incêndio em Edifícios - Building Fire Safety Legal Regime, published by Decreto-Lei nº 220/2008, de 12 de novembro, Decreto-Lei nº 224/2015, de 9 de outubro, Decreto-Lei nº 224/2015, de 9 de outubro, Decreto-Lei nº 95/2019, de 18 de Julho, Lei nº 123/2019, de 18 de outubro

Regulamento Técnico de Segurança contra Incêndio em Edifícios - Building Fire Safety Technical Regime, published by

Critérios para a determinação da carga de incêndio modificada - Criteria for the determination of modified fire load, published by Despacho nº 2074/2009, de 15 de janeiro

Registo de entidade na Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil - Registration of trade, installation and maintenance of fire safety systems and equipment’s companies, published by Portaria nº 773/2209, de 21 de julho

Regulamento de Acreditação dos Técnicos Responsáveis das entidades registadas na ANEPC - Accreditation regulation of Responsible Technicians of fire safety companies, published by Despacho nº 10738/2011, de 30 de agosto