Many investors or administrators assume that once a fire safety authorization is obtained, it remains valid indefinitely. In reality, legislation clearly states that the document can lose its validity if the conditions under which it was issued are no longer met.
According to OMAI 180/2022, Art. 27, validity may be lost if, during an inspection, it is found that requirements regarding:
- fire stability of the building;
- limitation of fire propagation internally or to neighboring areas;
- safe evacuation of occupants;
- safety of intervention personnel;
- water supply for firefighting and functioning of fire protection systems;
- increase in combustible materials beyond the limits for which the authorization was granted
are not respected.
In other words, any changes to the building, layout, intended use of the space, or amount of combustible materials can lead to the loss of authorization validity.
Attention to urban planning documentation
The fire safety authorization may also lose validity if the building permit or urban planning certificate expires or ceases to be valid, under Legea 50/1991.
The 90-day rule
It is crucial to present, upon request of control authorities, the original documents on which the approval or authorization was based. If these documents are not presented within 90 days, the authorization may be considered invalid.
What happens if validity is lost?
In such cases, the investor or beneficiary must restart the approval/authorization process, updating the documentation and, if necessary, implementing measures to ensure compliance.