{"id":8697,"date":"2024-08-02T08:51:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T06:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/esperto-risponde\/rei60-fire-rated-room-what-the-standard-actually-says\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T09:46:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T07:46:57","slug":"rei60-fire-rated-room-what-the-standard-actually-says","status":"publish","type":"esperto-risponde","link":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/esperto-risponde\/rei60-fire-rated-room-what-the-standard-actually-says\/","title":{"rendered":"REI60 Fire-Rated Room: What the Standard Actually Says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cREI60 fire protection room\u201d<\/em> 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 <strong>the individual components<\/strong> of the room and why referring to the entire space as \u201cREI60\u201d is, in fact, inaccurate. <\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#locale-antincendio-rei-60-perche-e-un-mito\">REI60 Fire-Rated Room: Why It&#8217;s a Myth<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#i-punti-normativi-richiamati-cosa-viene-chiesto-davvero\">The regulatory provisions cited: what is actually being asked<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#locale-adiacente-interno-vs-locale-separato-isolato-cambia-limpostazione\">Adjacent\/internal room vs. separate (isolated) room: the setup changes<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#caso-a-locale-adiacente-o-interno-alledificio-protetto\">Case (a): a room adjacent to or inside the protected building<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#caso-b-locale-separato-isolato\">Case (b): separate (isolated) room<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#come-leggere-r-60-rei-60-ei-60-e-a-2-s-1-d-0-nel-caso-firebox\">How to Interpret R60, REI60, EI60, and A2-s1,d0 in the FIREBOX Case<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#perche-il-locale-nel-suo-complesso-non-puo-essere-rei\">Why the establishment as a whole cannot be \u201cREI\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#cosa-significa-conforme-nel-caso-firebox-come-viene-descritto\">What does \u201ccompliant\u201d mean in the FIREBOX case (as described)?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#documenti-citati-cosa-viene-indicato-come-evidenza\">Cited documents: what is considered evidence<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#conclusione\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"locale-antincendio-rei-60-perche-e-un-mito\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">REI60 Fire-Rated Room: Why It&#8217;s a Myth<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The idea that the \u201cfire control room\u201d (i.e., the fire control center) must be <strong>REI60<\/strong> is often taken for granted. In reality, the regulatory reasoning cited here is different: it does not impose an \u201cREI60 room\u201d as a single, blanket requirement, but rather assigns <strong>specific requirements<\/strong> to well-defined parts (load-bearing structure, load-bearing\/non-load-bearing partition elements, infill walls), depending on the role they play. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this reason, talking about a REI60 structure \u201cas a whole\u201d leads to an inaccurate oversimplification.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"i-punti-normativi-richiamati-cosa-viene-chiesto-davvero\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The regulatory provisions cited: what is actually being asked<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The technical references cited specify requirements regarding <strong>the<\/strong> fire <strong>resistance<\/strong> and fire <strong>performance<\/strong> of the room intended to house the pump sets.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specifically:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reference is made to the requirement that pump sets must be installed in rooms with <strong>a fire resistance rating of at least 60 minutes<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is specified that the rooms must comply with the relevant requirements and be constructed using materials with specific characteristics, distinguishing between <strong>adjacent\/internal<\/strong> rooms and <strong>separate (isolated)<\/strong> rooms;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The specified products and building components must meet <strong>fire reaction class<\/strong> requirements of no less than <strong>A2-s1, d0<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key point is that the requirements do not \u201cclassify\u201d the space as REI in a uniform manner, but rather define its performance based on the function of its components.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"locale-adiacente-interno-vs-locale-separato-isolato-cambia-limpostazione\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adjacent\/internal room vs. separate (isolated) room: the setup changes<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UNI 11292 distinguishes between two operational scenarios, which have a direct impact on how the performance of the components is described.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"caso-a-locale-adiacente-o-interno-alledificio-protetto\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Case (a): a room adjacent to or inside the protected building<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For any room adjacent to or located inside the building protected by the system in question, the following is required:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the <strong>horizontal and vertical structures<\/strong> (load-bearing and\/or partition walls) must be at least of type <strong>R, REI, and EI 60<\/strong>, respectively;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the fire reaction class must be <strong>no lower than A2-s1, d0<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is also an important note: <strong>openings in walls facing an open space do not need to meet fire resistance requirements<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"caso-b-locale-separato-isolato\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Case (b): separate (isolated) room<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a separate (isolated) room, the following is required:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>structures with a rating of<\/strong> at least <strong>R60<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>curtain wall elements<\/strong> with fire resistance ratings <strong>of at least A2-s1, d0<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a surrounding area with a depth <strong>of at least 3 m<\/strong>, permanently free of materials and vegetation that could pose a fire hazard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, a \u201cseparate (isolated) structure\u201d is defined as a structure located at least <strong>10 m<\/strong> from surrounding buildings or at a distance equal to <strong>one times the height<\/strong> of those buildings, whichever is greater.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"come-leggere-r-60-rei-60-ei-60-e-a-2-s-1-d-0-nel-caso-firebox\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Interpret R60, REI60, EI60, and A2-s1,d0 in the FIREBOX Case<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the case of the premises described in item (a), the approach outlined above leads to a distinction between:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Load-bearing structure<\/strong>: <strong>R60<\/strong> + <strong>A2-s1,d0<\/strong> (referred to as <em>a metal frame<\/em>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>&#8220;Separating&#8221; stud walls that also serve a load-bearing function<\/strong>: <strong>REI60<\/strong> + <strong>A2-s1,d0<\/strong> (suitable for use as <em>a roof<\/em>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Non-load-bearing \u201cpartition\u201d walls<\/strong>: <strong>EI60<\/strong> + <strong>A2-s1,d0<\/strong> (classified as <em>movable walls<\/em>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the premises described in item (b), the summary is as follows:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Load-bearing structure<\/strong>: <strong>R60<\/strong> + <strong>A2-s1,d0<\/strong> (specified as <em>a metal frame and roof<\/em>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>End <strong>stops<\/strong>: <strong>A2-s1,d0<\/strong> (referred to as <em>movable walls<\/em>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This \u201ccomponent-based\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"perche-il-locale-nel-suo-complesso-non-puo-essere-rei\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why the establishment as a whole cannot be \u201cREI\u201d<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Herein lies the key clarification: the rules do not refer to an \u201cREI60 room\u201d because, <strong>as a whole<\/strong>, the room cannot be REI.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reason given is practical and technical:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ventilation<\/strong> with <strong>permanent openings<\/strong> for air exchange is required;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In rooms housing <strong>diesel engines<\/strong>, <strong>additional openings<\/strong> are required to allow for the cooling of the internal combustion engine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These openings allow heat and smoke to enter and\/or exit the room. Therefore, the room cannot be considered either <strong>airtight (E)<\/strong> or <strong>thermally insulated (I)<\/strong> in terms of its \u201coverall\u201d performance. Hence the conclusion: when a fire-rated room is classified as REI60, <strong>this is an inaccuracy<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"cosa-significa-conforme-nel-caso-firebox-come-viene-descritto\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does \u201ccompliant\u201d mean in the FIREBOX case (as described)?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compliance is described through the list of elements and performance criteria assigned:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>metal profile frame<\/strong>: <strong>R60<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>horizontal load-bearing panels<\/strong> (\u201cload-bearing partition\u201d): <strong>REI60<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Side partitions \/ movable walls<\/strong>: <strong>EI60<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Non-load-bearing horizontal panels<\/strong> (\u201cnon-load-bearing partition\u201d): <strong>EI60<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The idea is that the system complies with the applicable constraints \u201cpiece by piece,\u201d without indiscriminately classifying the space as REI.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"documenti-citati-cosa-viene-indicato-come-evidenza\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cited documents: what is considered evidence<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In support of the above, the following documents\/certificates are cited:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>structural analysis report<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CERT-REI<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>panel certificates<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CE \/ DOP UNI EN 1090<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This list serves as a useful record, because it links the reported services to the items that were actually used.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"conclusione\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Defining an <em>REI60 fire-resistant room<\/em> as a \u201cgeneral\u201d requirement is a simplification that does not accurately reflect the actual framework: the requirements are assigned to <strong>individual components<\/strong> (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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cREI60 fire-rated room\u201d is a term that is often used, but it is technically inaccurate. Let\u2019s take a look at which requirements actually apply to the individual components of the room and why, as a whole, it cannot be \u201cREI.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":8699,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_angie_page":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"tags":[805,1126,1124,858,1127,1130,1125,1129,1128],"class_list":["post-8697","esperto-risponde","type-esperto-risponde","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-fire-protection-water-station","tag-fire-resistance","tag-fire-safety-room","tag-firebox","tag-r60-rei60-ei60","tag-rei-certification","tag-rei60-fire-rated-room","tag-separate-isolated-room","tag-ventilation-of-utility-rooms"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/esperto-risponde\/8697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/esperto-risponde"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/esperto-risponde"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/esperto-risponde\/8697\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}