New regulatory framework: BBL replaces Building Decree 2012 as of January 2024

Published on 1 October 2025Time to read: 2 minutes

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As of 1 January 2024, the Building Decree 2012 has been replaced by the BBL, the Environment Buildings Decree. This change affects the selection of fire and smoke classification for electrical cables, particularly in renovation projects.

Besluit Bouwwerken en Leefomgeving (BBL)

The Environment Buildings Decree (BBL), which came into effect on 1 January 2024, includes new regulations concerning the fire classification of electrical wiring. The decree distinguishes between existing buildings, new-build projects and renovation.

New-build Projects Under the BBL

Section 4.2.7 – Limiting Fire and Smoke Development
Article 4.45a paragraph 1 refers to the fire classes for electrical wiring as indicated in Table 4.42, in accordance with NEN-EN 13501-6.

Article 4.45a paragraph 1 requires smoke class s1 for wiring adjacent to indoor air in extra protected escape routes, and smoke class s2 for all other spaces. This results in specific fire and smoke class requirements for electrical wiring, as shown in the table below.

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Renovation According to the BBL

Section 5.3 Renovation, Article 5.12 states that Article 4.45a also applies to renovation projects. As of 2024, the same requirements that apply to new-build projects also apply to renovation! This means that electrical wiring used in renovation must comply with the same classification table as for new-build situations.

Existing Buildings Under the BBL

For existing buildings, no specific requirements for electrical wiring are introduced. Section 3.2.7, Article 3.35 notes that fire classes according to NEN 6065 can be aligned with Euro fire classes according to NEN-EN 13501. For smoke density of 10 m or 5.4 m according to NEN 6066, smoke class s2 may be assumed. Fire class 1 = B2ca, Fire class 2 = Cca, Fire class 3 = Cca, Fire class 4 = Dca.

Summary

As of 1 January 2024, the Building Decree 2012 has been replaced by the BBL.
Where the Building Decree only distinguished between existing buildings and new-build, the BBL defines Existing Buildings, New-build and Renovation.
Regarding fire safety of cabling, this affects the cable types used when renovating existing buildings.
For new-build, nothing changes compared to the Building Decree 2012 update of 1 June 2020.
For renovation, cables must now meet the same requirements as new-build.
When in contact with indoor or outdoor air, the use of Eca cables is no longer permitted in renovation project

Want to know more? Visit our FAQ “Pluggable Electrical Installation & CPR” or contact us directly.

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