Fire compartments in industrial buildings: RSCIEI in Tarragona

Key figures

• RD 2267/2004 (RSCIEI): specific regulation for industrial premises, distinct from the CTE.
• Low / medium / high risk: <425 / 425-3,400 / >3,400 MJ/m² of weighted fire load.
• Configuration A: industrial premises within a building that also has other uses (most stringent requirements).
• Configuration B: premises adjoining other buildings (≤3 m separation).
• Configuration C: standalone premises (>3 m from any other building).
• 500 m²: maximum sector area in type A + high risk (most restrictive).
• No regulatory limit: sector in type C + low risk with sprinkler system.
• ATEX (zones 0/1/2 and 20/21/22): frequent additional requirement in petrochemical parks of Camp de Tarragona.

Fire compartmentation in industrial buildings is one of the most important passive fire protection elements and, paradoxically, one of the least known to owners and premises managers. Many buildings in Camp de Tarragona and the Barcelona metropolitan area operate with deficient compartmentation, without the necessary compartmentation elements or with RF doors that do not meet the required resistance.

The cost of correcting these deficiencies afterwards is much higher than doing it right from the design stage. And in case of fire, the absence of compartmentation allows the fire to spread through the entire building in minutes, with total loss of content and, in the worst case, impact on adjoining buildings.

At Igniescut we specialise in passive fire protection for industry and we have extensive experience as a fire protection company in Tarragona and in the industrial parks of Camp de Tarragona. We also serve buildings in the Reus area, Constantí and Valls. In this guide we explain RSCIEI, its practical application and the specific aspects of the Tarragona industrial environment. For complementary active protection (intumescent paint, projected mortar, RF plaster compartmentation) see our article on fire-proofing metal structures, which covers the products and application schedules in detail.

RSCIEI: specific regulatory framework for industrial premises

The Regulation on Fire Safety in Industrial Establishments (RSCIEI, RD 2267/2004) is the regulation that governs fire safety in factories, warehouses, workshops and any activity classified as industrial. Unlike CTE DB-SI (which applies to residential, commercial, hospital use, etc.), RSCIEI has a specific focus on industrial risk.

RSCIEI applies to:

• Industries as defined by the Industry Act.
• Warehouses and storage facilities.
• Repair workshops.
• Garage and industrial vehicle parking activities.
• Industrial auxiliary services.

It does not apply to activities covered by specific legislation (explosives, Seveso-regulated petrochemicals) or to administrative or commercial use buildings even if they are located in an industrial park.

Configuration types: A, B and C

RSCIEI classifies industrial premises by their constructive configuration:

Type A: the industrial premises occupies part of a building that also has other uses. For example, a workshop on the ground floor of a residential block or an office building. It has the strictest requirements because fire can affect non-industrial uses.

Type B: the premises occupies a whole building for exclusive industrial use, but the building adjoins another or is less than 3 metres from another building. The most common case: industrial units adjoining each other in an industrial park.

Type C: the premises fully occupies a building separated at least 3 metres from any other building or plot boundary. It is the configuration with the lowest requirements, because in case of fire there is no immediate risk of spread to neighbouring buildings.

Most industrial units in Camp de Tarragona industrial parks are type B (adjoining) or type C (standalone). Activities on mixed-use industrial plants (production area + office area in the same building) can be type A in the office part and type B or C in the production part.

Intrinsic risk classification

The intrinsic risk of an industrial premises is calculated based on the weighted and corrected fire load (Qs), expressed in MJ/m²:

Low risk: Qs < 425 MJ/m² Medium risk: 425 MJ/m² ≤ Qs < 3,400 MJ/m² High risk: Qs ≥ 3,400 MJ/m²

The fire load depends on the materials present at the premises and on their specific combustion heat. Some indicative values:

• Paper and cardboard (Qi ≈ 17 MJ/kg): paper storage rapidly reaches medium-high risk.
• Solid wood (Qi ≈ 17 MJ/kg): sawmills and carpentry, medium-high risk depending on storage.
• Textiles and foams (Qi ≈ 22–28 MJ/kg): textile and furniture, high risk usual.
• Plastics (Qi ≈ 35–45 MJ/kg): plastic warehouses, very high risk.
• Class A flammable liquids (petrol, etc.): high risk even in small quantities.

The calculation is the project technician's responsibility and must be reflected in the premises documentation. A change of activity or an increase in storage can change the risk classification and require new provisions.

Maximum compartment areas by type and risk

A direct consequence of the risk classification is the maximum size of the fire compartment. The compartment is the part of the premises delimited by compartmentation elements (walls, slabs, RF doors) that confines the fire for the required resistance time.

| Type | Low Risk | Medium Risk | High Risk | |---|---|---|---| | Type A | 2,500 m² | 2,500 m² | 2,500 m² | | Type B | 6,000 m² (no sprinklers) / unlimited (with sprinklers) | 4,000 m² / 8,000 m² | 3,000 m² / 6,000 m² | | Type C | Unlimited | Unlimited | 50,000 m² (no sprinklers) / unlimited (with sprinklers) |

In practice, many type B buildings in Camp de Tarragona with medium risk exceed 4,000 m² and are required to install automatic sprinklers to avoid having to partition the unit with fire walls.

Mandatory protection provisions by risk level

RSCIEI sets which active and passive protection elements are mandatory according to type and risk level:

Extinguishers

Mandatory in all industrial premises, regardless of type and risk level. Minimum required efficiency varies:

• Low risk: 21A-113B (equivalent to one 6 kg ABC extinguisher every 600 m²).
• Medium risk: 21A-113B (one extinguisher every 400 m²).
• High risk: 21A-113B (one extinguisher every 300 m²).

Equipped Fire Hose Reels (BIE)

| Configuration + Risk | BIE mandatory | |---|---| | Type A, any risk | Yes, if area > 300 m² | | Type B, low risk | Yes, if area > 500 m² | | Type B, medium risk | Yes, if area > 500 m² | | Type B, high risk | Yes, if area > 200 m² | | Type C, low risk | No in most cases | | Type C, medium risk | Yes, if area > 1,000 m² | | Type C, high risk | Yes, if area > 500 m² |

Automatic fire detection

Mandatory for type A and B premises with high risk, and for type C with high risk and area > 5,000 m². Also required in automated warehouses without a habitual human presence.

Automatic sprinklers

Mandatory in type B and C high-risk premises when exceeding sector area limits is required or when calculated risk demands it. In type A, they may be required to meet the 2,500 m² maximum sector limit.

Specifics of Camp de Tarragona

Camp de Tarragona concentrates one of Catalonia's largest industrial zones, with very diverse sectors: logistics and storage, chemical and petrochemical industry, agri-food, metal and automotive.

Industrial parks of Camp de Tarragona

The main industrial parks of the area include Polígon Francolí (Tarragona), Polígon de la Canonja, Polígon Industrial de Reus, Polígon Industrial de Vila-seca and Salou. These parks host low-risk premises (general logistics) alongside medium and high-risk activities (industrial painting, plastic storage, textile industry).

The Petrochemical Complex and ATEX zones

The Tarragona Petrochemical Complex is the largest petrochemical complex in southern Europe. Installations in this zone are subject to the ATEX Directive (Potentially Explosive Atmospheres, Directives 2014/34/EU and 1999/92/EC, transposed into Spanish law) in addition to RSCIEI.

In ATEX zones, compartmentation elements and active protection equipment must have specific ATEX certification:

• Fire doors must be RF with certification for use in explosive atmospheres.
• Fire and gas detectors must be intrinsically safe (category 1G or 1D depending on the zone).
• Sprinklers and BIEs must use non-sparking materials.

The coexistence of RSCIEI with ATEX legislation and with Seveso regulations (for high-risk chemical installations) means that safety projects at the Petrochemical Complex require technicians specialised in the three regulatory frameworks simultaneously.

Inspections in Catalonia

The Generalitat de Catalunya, through the Department of Enterprise and Labour, performs periodic ex-officio inspections of industrial premises, with higher frequency at medium and high risk premises. In Camp de Tarragona, the Industry Inspectorate has a delegation that handles authorisation, legalisation and review of fire protection installations.

The most common deficiencies found in inspections in the area are: incomplete compartmentation (fire walls without RF doors or with RF doors of insufficient resistance), lack of documented BIE and extinguisher maintenance, and outdated intrinsic risk calculation after activity changes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the weighted fire load and how is it calculated?

It is the heat energy in MJ/m² that an industrial premises can release in case of fire, corrected by risk factors. It is calculated by multiplying each material's mass by its calorific value and dividing by the sector area. The value determines the risk level: low (<425 MJ/m²), medium (425–3,400 MJ/m²) or high (>3,400 MJ/m²).

What is the maximum area of a fire compartment in a building?

It depends on the configuration type and risk level. For type C premises (standalone), the limit ranges from 2,000 m² at high risk to unlimited at low risk. For type B (adjoining), limits are stricter: 1,000 m² at high risk and 6,000 m² at low risk. Installing automatic sprinklers expands these areas.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with RSCIEI?

The Generalitat can order activity suspension until deficiencies are remedied. In case of fire, the insurer can deny coverage if the installation did not comply with regulations, and those responsible can face civil or criminal liability if there is personal injury.

How often must the compartmentation of an industrial building be reviewed?

Compartmentation elements must be included in the annual PCI maintenance under RIPCI. Any refurbishment or activity change requires a review of the intrinsic risk calculation and compartmentation before resuming activity.

Industrial passive fire protection service in Tarragona and Catalonia

At Igniescut we carry out integrated passive fire protection projects for industrial premises in Camp de Tarragona, Barcelona metropolitan area and across Catalonia:

• Intrinsic risk calculation under RSCIEI.
• Compartmentation design and definition of necessary compartmentation elements.
• Installation of RF fire doors, penetration seals and compartmentation.
• Fire-proofing of metal structures with intumescent paints and projected mortars.
• Legalisation of installations with the Department of Enterprise and Labour of the Generalitat.

Contact us for an inspection of your industrial building in Tarragona, Reus, Vila-seca or any municipality in Camp de Tarragona.