“REI60 fire protection room” is a widely used term when discussing fire water supply stations, but it can be misleading. In this response, we clarify what is required of the individual components of the room and why referring to the entire space as “REI60” is, in fact, inaccurate.
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REI60 Fire-Rated Room: Why It’s a Myth
The idea that the “fire control room” (i.e., the fire control center) must be REI60 is often taken for granted. In reality, the regulatory reasoning cited here is different: it does not impose an “REI60 room” as a single, blanket requirement, but rather assigns specific requirements to well-defined parts (load-bearing structure, load-bearing/non-load-bearing partition elements, infill walls), depending on the role they play.
For this reason, talking about a REI60 structure “as a whole” leads to an inaccurate oversimplification.
The regulatory provisions cited: what is actually being asked
The technical references cited specify requirements regarding the fire resistance and fire performance of the room intended to house the pump sets.
Specifically:
- Reference is made to the requirement that pump sets must be installed in rooms with a fire resistance rating of at least 60 minutes;
- It is specified that the rooms must comply with the relevant requirements and be constructed using materials with specific characteristics, distinguishing between adjacent/internal rooms and separate (isolated) rooms;
- The specified products and building components must meet fire reaction class requirements of no less than A2-s1, d0.
The key point is that the requirements do not “classify” the space as REI in a uniform manner, but rather define its performance based on the function of its components.
Adjacent/internal room vs. separate (isolated) room: the setup changes
UNI 11292 distinguishes between two operational scenarios, which have a direct impact on how the performance of the components is described.
Case (a): a room adjacent to or inside the protected building
For any room adjacent to or located inside the building protected by the system in question, the following is required:
- the horizontal and vertical structures (load-bearing and/or partition walls) must be at least of type R, REI, and EI 60, respectively;
- the fire reaction class must be no lower than A2-s1, d0.
There is also an important note: openings in walls facing an open space do not need to meet fire resistance requirements.
Case (b): separate (isolated) room
For a separate (isolated) room, the following is required:
- structures with a rating of at least R60;
- curtain wall elements with fire resistance ratings of at least A2-s1, d0;
- a surrounding area with a depth of at least 3 m, permanently free of materials and vegetation that could pose a fire hazard.
Furthermore, a “separate (isolated) structure” is defined as a structure located at least 10 m from surrounding buildings or at a distance equal to one times the height of those buildings, whichever is greater.
How to Interpret R60, REI60, EI60, and A2-s1,d0 in the FIREBOX Case
In the case of the premises described in item (a), the approach outlined above leads to a distinction between:
- Load-bearing structure: R60 + A2-s1,d0 (referred to as a metal frame).
- “Separating” stud walls that also serve a load-bearing function: REI60 + A2-s1,d0 (suitable for use as a roof).
- Non-load-bearing “partition” walls: EI60 + A2-s1,d0 (classified as movable walls).
For the premises described in item (b), the summary is as follows:
- Load-bearing structure: R60 + A2-s1,d0 (specified as a metal frame and roof).
- End stops: A2-s1,d0 (referred to as movable walls).
This “component-based” interpretation is consistent with the central idea: performance is not attached to the venue as a single label, but is attributed to the parts based on their function.
Why the establishment as a whole cannot be “REI”
Herein lies the key clarification: the rules do not refer to an “REI60 room” because, as a whole, the room cannot be REI.
The reason given is practical and technical:
- Ventilation with permanent openings for air exchange is required;
- In rooms housing diesel engines, additional openings are required to allow for the cooling of the internal combustion engine.
These openings allow heat and smoke to enter and/or exit the room. Therefore, the room cannot be considered either airtight (E) or thermally insulated (I) in terms of its “overall” performance. Hence the conclusion: when a fire-rated room is classified as REI60, this is an inaccuracy.
What does “compliant” mean in the FIREBOX case (as described)?
Compliance is described through the list of elements and performance criteria assigned:
- metal profile frame: R60
- horizontal load-bearing panels (“load-bearing partition”): REI60
- Side partitions / movable walls: EI60
- Non-load-bearing horizontal panels (“non-load-bearing partition”): EI60
The idea is that the system complies with the applicable constraints “piece by piece,” without indiscriminately classifying the space as REI.
Cited documents: what is considered evidence
In support of the above, the following documents/certificates are cited:
- structural analysis report
- CERT-REI
- panel certificates
- CE / DOP UNI EN 1090
This list serves as a useful record, because it links the reported services to the items that were actually used.
Conclusion
Defining an REI60 fire-resistant room as a “general” requirement is a simplification that does not accurately reflect the actual framework: the requirements are assigned to individual components (load-bearing elements, load-bearing and non-load-bearing partitions, and infill walls), and since the room must have ventilation openings (and additional openings in presence of diesel engines), it cannot be REI-rated as a whole.
