Omgevingswet and Bbl: what changes for installers in fire protection?

6 min read

Since 1 January 2024, the Omgevingswet (Environment and Planning Act) applies. The Bouwbesluit 2012 (the former Dutch Building Decree) has been replaced by the Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving (Bbl, the Dutch building regulations), and at the same time the Wet kwaliteitsborging voor het bouwen (Wkb, Quality Assurance Act) came into force. For installers in fire protection, mainly some fire safety rules and the documentation requirements change. These are the points that matter most for your work.

From Bouwbesluit to Bbl

The technical fire safety requirements of the Bouwbesluit have largely been taken over in the Bbl. A few changes directly affect sprinkler and fire protection work.

Sprinkler obligation for car parks under homes

Under article 4.223a of the Bbl, new car parks under a residential use get an automatic extinguishing installation. If the occupied space above the car park is higher than 13 metres, an exception applies under conditions. Among other things, these conditions concern the size of the car park: up to 1,000 m2. The extinguishing installation must have a valid inspection certificate.

More mandatory installations means more projects in which clamps and anchors must demonstrably comply.

Equivalence: sprinklers as compensation

You may deviate from a rule if you show an equivalent level of safety. This is in article 4.7 of the Omgevingswet; the Bbl sets the procedure, with a notification in advance (article 2.4) and the duty to maintain the measure (article 2.5). A sprinkler installation is often used in this way, for example to allow a larger fire compartment or a longer walking distance. As a result, sprinklers also go into buildings where the standard rules do not require them.

Wet kwaliteitsborging: more evidence on site

Under the Wkb, a private quality assurer (kwaliteitsborger) checks instead of the municipality whether building work follows the rules. Since 1 January 2024, this applies to new buildings in consequence class 1. For alterations, the introduction has been postponed, and whether consequence classes 2 and 3 follow depends on the evaluation in 2027. The quality assurer checks whether the material on site matches the design and the specification.

The Wkb does not yet apply to larger non-residential buildings. There too, inspectors ask for the same evidence when a sprinkler installation is handed over.

CCV scheme Vastopgestelde Brandbeveiliging

The CCV certification scheme Vastopgestelde Brandbeveiliging (VBB, fixed fire protection) governs the certification of companies that design, install and maintain sprinkler installations. Since January 2025, version 5.0 applies. On site you notice this mainly at handover: there is a stricter check that clamps, anchors and hangers demonstrably comply with the standard of the project, such as NEN-EN 12845, VdS or FM.

Checklist for your project file

1. For each anchor type, the ETA and the declaration of performance.
2. For sprinkler work, the approval mark of the clamps. The Fischer FRSP sprinkler loop hanger, for example, has an FM and UL approval mark.
3. For fire-resistant fixings, the fire resistance of anchors and support systems.
4. Photos of the fixing points before they are covered up, with date and location.
5. The complete file, ready for the quality assurer or the inspector.

This article is general information, not design advice. The text was checked on 21 October 2026 against the sources below. The design of your installation and the certifying body decide what applies in your project.

Sources

• Informatiepunt Leefomgeving: fire safety installations in new buildings (Bbl, in Dutch)
• Informatiepunt Leefomgeving: equivalence in the Bbl (in Dutch)
• Informatiepunt Leefomgeving: Wet kwaliteitsborging voor het bouwen (in Dutch)
• CCV: version 5.0 of the VBB installation schemes (in Dutch)