Residential areas

Protecting occupants and preserving heritage

Residential buildings are among the environments most at risk of fire. Outdated electrical systems, underground parking garages, risers, utility rooms, or the carelessness of occupants can all be the cause of a fire.

In these buildings, which are occupied at all times, the priority is to quickly detect an incident, limit the spread of smoke, and ensure the safe evacuation of occupants. DEF assists social housing providers, property management companies, and residential complex operators in ensuring their fire safety systems comply with regulations and are properly maintained, in order to guarantee the safety of residents and the long-term sustainability of their real estate assets.

:

A regulatory framework specific to residential buildings

Fire safety in multi-unit residential buildings is governed by several regulatory provisions designed to protect occupants, limit the spread of fire, and facilitate emergency response efforts.

Fire safety in residential buildings

Decree of 31 January 1986
This document sets forth the safety regulations applicable to residential buildings, particularly with regard to smoke exhaust systems, fire isolation, and safety in common areas.
Decree of 31 January 1986
Safety of residential buildings

Building and Housing Code
The Building and Housing Code sets forth the requirements for building design and safety, particularly with regard to circulation areas, stairways, utility shafts, and parking garages.
Building and Housing Code
Smoke detectors in homes

Decree No. 2011-36 of 10 January 2011
The installation of standalone smoke detectors is required in every residence to quickly alert occupants in the event of a fire.
Decree No. 2011-36 of 10 January 2011
Commercial premises or integrated public access buildings

Labour Code
When a residential building contains commercial spaces or businesses that are open to the public, additional requirements may apply.
Labour Code
Fire safety technical standards

APSAD R7 – R13 – R17
These standards can be used for the design and maintenance of fire protection systems in parking garages, mechanical rooms, or facilities equivalent to public access buildings.
APSAD
High-rise buildings

High-rise building regulations
High-rise buildings are subject to specific safety regulations, including, in particular, enhanced detection, alarm, and isolation systems.
IGH and ERP regulations

The main fire hazards in housing units

Residential buildings pose specific risks due to their continuous occupancy and the variety of technical systems they contain.

Outdated electrical systems

The leading cause of fires in apartment buildings. (INRS, 2023)

Underground parking garages

Dense smoke, spreading rapidly to residential units through utility ducts.

Utility rooms / riser pipes

Risk of short circuit and vertical fire.

Continuous human presence

Nighttime fires, panic, and the chimney effect. Vandalism and trash fires.

Common areas and hallways

Common areas and hallways
Underground parking garages
Riser pipes and utility ducts
Utility rooms and electrical cabinets
Trash and garbage chute rooms

DEF at a glance

70 %
Nighttime fires cause smoke-related poisonings. (CNPP, 2022)

10,000 incidents per year
identified in apartment buildings. (DGSCGC, 2024)

2 autonomous sensor smoke alarms
in 3 are broken or installed incorrectly. (Ministry of the Interior, 2023)

1 fire
in 3 has an electrical cause in residential buildings. (INRS, 2023)

Applied solutions

Residential buildings present specific challenges: year-round occupancy, a variety of uses, and buildings that are sometimes old. The solutions deployed by DEF are designed to protect occupants, limit the spread of fire, and ensure the safe management of real estate assets.

Centralised fire detection and fire safety system monitoring

DEF installs fire detection systems designed for common areas, hallways, parking garages, and utility rooms. These systems make it possible to quickly detect a fire, pinpoint the affected area, and trigger the appropriate safety procedures (evacuation, smoke extraction, system shutdown).

Discover the LOTA line

desenfumage detection incendie habitation

Smoke exhaust systems for hallways and parking garages

Smoke extraction is essential for limiting the spread of smoke in hallways and stairwells. The solutions implemented help keep evacuation routes clear and facilitate emergency response efforts.

Assess the risks

Targeted automatic fire suppression (parking garages, utility rooms, trash rooms)

Certain areas pose specific risks, including parking lots, utility rooms, and trash rooms. Appropriate fire suppression systems can contain a fire in its early stages before it spreads to other floors.

Request a demo

Supervision and management of the housing stock

Platforms like Fire360 make it possible to centralise information from fire safety systems and monitor the status of systems across multiple buildings or residential complexes.

In addition, Mon SSI Facile is a digital service that helps landlords and property management companies manage their fire safety systems more easily and quickly access essential information about their installations.

Need help?

Discover our solution

Our services

DEF supports you at every stage of your fire safety

We offer services tailored to your needs, to support you effectively and guarantee quality results.

Branch network

Request customised support

Contact the DEF experts to have your installations assessed and identify the solutions best suited to your infrastructure.

Talk to an expert

Protecting occupants and preserving heritage

A regulatory framework specific to residential buildings

Fire safety in residential buildings

Safety of residential buildings

Smoke detectors in homes

Commercial premises or integrated public access buildings

Fire safety technical standards

High-rise buildings