🛡️ Safety and structure
Existing buildings: what the P 118 standard requires for renovation, extension and change of use
This is a translation. The Romanian version of the article is the reference text.
⚠️ These guides apply only to buildings in Romania. The laws, standards, deadlines, fees and values quoted (Law 169/2026, P 118, CR 1-1-3, the O.A.R. guides) are Romanian; in your own country other rules apply.
Work on buildings built before the standard came into force is governed by chapter 9 (art. 1.1.4 para. 3), which refers to annex 10, and not entirely by the rules for new buildings. Below are the principles, as they appear in the text.
ℹ️ About the source
This article is based on the text of the standard on the fire safety of buildings, reference P 118-1. We consulted two versions: a PDF titled “P 118-1/2024” and a Word document titled “Annex to Ministerial Order (O.M.D.L.P.A.) no. /.2025 – P 118-1/2025”, with the order number and date left blank, so possibly a draft. The requirements cited here are identical in both. The number and date of the approval order and the date of entry into force do not appear in the texts consulted: check in the Official Gazette and with your designer whether and since when it applies, before relying on these requirements.
Renovation without extension (art. 9.1 and 9.3)
- the fire performance of replaced elements is maintained, according to the regulations that applied when they were built (art. 9.1);
- if the use stays the same, fire compliance follows the requirements of annex 10 for existing buildings (art. 9.3 letter a);
- fire safety installations are made according to the technical regulations in force (art. 9.1).
Change of use
If the use changes, the building can comply either with the rules for new buildings, if technically and economically feasible, or, based on a technical expert report on the essential fire safety requirement, through improvement measures or alternative protection (art. 9.3 letter a). Even without a change of use, the owner can ask for compliance with the rules for new buildings, if feasible.
Extension
Extension works are carried out according to the regulations in annex 10 (art. 9.2 and art. 9.3 letter b); the details depend on the type of building. Fire safety installations are fitted according to the technical regulations in force.
Improvement measures that can be provided (art. 9.4)
For existing buildings without extensions, the standard lists improvement measures, for example:
- materials with a reaction-to-fire class of at least C-s3,d1, but not below the prescribed requirements;
- elements with a higher fire resistance than prescribed and a reduction of the fire load density;
- enclosing open internal stairs in closed stairwells, with smoke and hot gas extraction;
- residual current devices (RCD) and arc fault detection devices (AFDD);
- a lightning protection system and surge protection devices.
When a requirement cannot be met
For work on existing buildings that keep their use, if some provisions cannot be met for justified technical reasons, alternative protection measures are provided, passive, active or combined, aimed at improving the requirements that cannot be met (annex 10, art. A.10 1.1.1). Historic monuments have their own rules (art. 1.1.5).
In cases that can be regularised (art. 301 para. 2 of the Planning Code), the essential quality requirements, including fire safety, are checked among other things through technical expert reports (art. 301 para. 3 and 9). See the article on regularisation.
Informational article based on the text of the P 118-1 standard (the articles cited). The specific requirements in annex 10 depend on the type and use of the building. It does not replace the specialist design, the approvals and the checks at permit stage, and it is not legal advice.
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