Accommodation spaces within social services require a careful approach to fire safety, as beneficiaries may have special support needs, reduced mobility, or difficulties reacting quickly in an emergency situation. Order no. 179/2.089/20.892/2023 approves the general fire prevention provisions for spaces and buildings where social services operate, while Article 27 establishes specific measures for accommodation areas.
One of the essential rules is the prohibition of storing flammable liquids in accommodation spaces. In addition, toys, objects, and materials that may present a fire hazard must be stored only in specially designated areas, not in rooms, hallways, or circulation zones. These measures reduce the combustible load and limit the possibility of a fire occurring or spreading rapidly in areas where beneficiaries rest or are supervised.
A very important aspect is the allocation of beneficiaries to rooms according to their degree of mobility and type of disability. This measure is not merely administrative, but directly linked to saving lives in emergencies: beneficiaries who require assistance during evacuation must be placed so that staff intervention and evacuation can be carried out as quickly as possible. In practice, this involves analyzing evacuation routes, distance from exits, staff support capacity, and the way each beneficiary may react to alarms.
In buildings without fire detection, signaling, and alarm systems, living spaces must be equipped with autonomous fire detectors. These devices can make the difference during the first minutes of a fire, especially at night or in spaces where smoke may be difficult to notice quickly. For social centers, compliance with these rules represents real protection for beneficiaries: proper storage, room organization, early detection, and evacuation planning are elements that can significantly reduce the consequences of a fire.