The most common fire prevention mistakes and how to avoid them

Key figures

• €600,000: maximum penalty for a very serious offence under the Industry Act 21/1992.
• Expired maintenance: main cause of insurance policy invalidation after a fire.
• Wedged-open RF door: most common defect found in inspections; completely invalidates the declared fire resistance.
• Extinguisher >20 years old: mandatory retirement under RIPCI, no exceptions.
• Photoluminescent signage: mandatory in public-use buildings and collective residential buildings under CTE DB-SI.
• Quarterly visual review (owner) + annual technical review (licensed company): minimum legal schedule for all fire protection equipment.
• Preventive maintenance plan: typical cost €150-400/year for a medium-sized community vs. thousands of € in reactive repairs.

Fire prevention is a responsibility that affects everyone: private owners, homeowner associations, companies and industry. However, in our 15+ years of experience working in Catalonia, we have identified a series of mistakes that recur frequently and can have serious consequences.

In this article we review the most common mistakes we encounter in our inspections in Barcelona, Tarragona and the rest of Catalonia, and we explain how to avoid them.

Unchecked electrical panel

One of the most common fire sources in residential and commercial buildings is the electrical panel. Over the years, connections deteriorate, cables lose insulation and overloads accumulate without anyone noticing.

Consequences: A short-circuit in the panel can cause a fire that spreads rapidly through the building's conduits, affecting multiple dwellings or premises.

How to avoid it: Have an electrical inspection every 5 years (or every 2 years in industrial installations). Make sure the panel has the differential switches and magnetothermal breakers appropriate for the contracted power.

Blocked or damaged fire doors

Fire doors (RF) are a key element of passive safety. Their role is to contain fire within a compartment of the building and allow safe evacuation. However, it is very common to find them blocked with wedges, with broken closing mechanisms or even replaced by standard doors.

Consequences: If an RF door does not close correctly, fire and smoke spread freely between compartments, eliminating the evacuation time they should provide.

How to avoid it: Never block a fire door. Periodically check that the automatic closing mechanism works properly. If an RF door is damaged, it must be repaired or replaced immediately with a door of equivalent fire resistance. Fire doors are just one of the elements of passive fire protection, which also includes compartmentation, fire-proofing and fire-stop sealing.

Expired or poorly located extinguisher

The extinguisher is the first tool available to anyone facing an incipient fire. But it is very common to find extinguishers with an expired inspection, no pressure, deteriorated hose or placed in hard-to-reach locations.

Consequences: An expired extinguisher may not work at the critical moment. A poorly located extinguisher adds seconds or minutes to the response time, which in a fire can be decisive.

How to avoid it: Extinguishers require a quarterly visual review (which the owner can perform), an annual review by a licensed company and a retimbre every 5 years. They must be signposted, accessible and at a maximum height of 1.70 m from the floor. See our full guide to extinguisher maintenance for the detailed inspection schedule.

Deferred or non-existent maintenance

Perhaps the most widespread mistake. Many homeowner associations, companies and private owners in Catalonia postpone maintenance of their fire protection systems until a problem arises or an inspection is due. This reactive approach is dangerous and can also entail financial penalties.

Consequences: An unmaintained detection system can give false alarms (leading to it being disabled) or, worse, fail to detect a real fire. An unchecked fire hose reel (BIE) may not have enough pressure when needed.

How to avoid it: Set up a preventive maintenance plan with a licensed company. RIPCI regulations set out clear schedules for each type of equipment. At Igniescut we offer maintenance contracts that cover all mandatory reviews.

Missing emergency signage

Emergency signage is mandatory in all public-use buildings and in many residential buildings. However, it is common to find signs missing, damaged or not photoluminescent.

Consequences: In case of fire, visibility is drastically reduced by smoke. Without adequate signage, evacuation becomes chaotic and dangerous.

How to avoid it: Install photoluminescent signage along all evacuation routes, emergency exits and locations of fire-fighting equipment. Periodically check that all signs are visible and in good condition.

Lack of knowledge of current regulations

Fire protection regulations in Spain and Catalonia are extensive and updated periodically. Many owners and managers are unaware of the obligations that apply to them, which can lead to incomplete or non-compliant installations.

How to avoid it: Consult a specialist in PCI (fire protection systems). At Igniescut we provide no-obligation advice on the regulations applicable to each case, in Barcelona, Tarragona and the rest of Catalonia.

Summary: mistakes, consequences and solutions

| Mistake | Main consequence | Solution | |---|---|---| | Unchecked electrical panel | Short-circuit → uncontained fire | Electrical inspection every 5 years (every 2 in industry) | | Blocked or damaged RF door | Fire and smoke spread between compartments | Do not wedge; repair or replace immediately | | Expired or poorly located extinguisher | Does not work at the critical moment | Quarterly + annual review per RIPCI | | Deferred maintenance | Penalties and invalid insurance cover | Preventive maintenance plan with licensed company | | No photoluminescent signage | Chaotic evacuation under smoke | Install signage along routes and at extinguishing equipment | | Lack of knowledge of regulations | Incomplete or non-compliant installations | Advice from a PCI specialist |

The importance of preventive maintenance

All these mistakes have a common denominator: the lack of a professional preventive maintenance plan. A periodic review programme not only ensures the safety of people, it also:

• Prevents penalties for non-compliance with RIPCI regulations
• Reduces costs in the long run (repair is always cheaper than replace)
• Extends the service life of protection equipment
• Guarantees insurance cover in case of an incident

Beyond extinguisher and hose reel maintenance, a fire detection system in Barcelona communities lets you act before the fire spreads, significantly reducing damage.

At Igniescut we have spent more than 15 years helping communities, businesses and industries across Catalonia keep their fire protection installations in perfect shape. If you need a review or want to set up a maintenance plan, contact us with no obligation.