Under Türkiye's Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings (Binaların Yangından Korunması Hakkında Yönetmelik), existing buildings were given until 31 December 2025 to complete outstanding fire safety measures. That period has now ended, and licensing authorities are inspecting whether the required work was carried out.
What the amendment introduced
An amendment published in the Official Gazette on 1 July 2025 (No. 32943) added Provisional Article 4 to the regulation. It required building owners, managers and institutional directors to complete outstanding fire safety works — particularly those delayed by equipment procurement — by the end of 2025. The previous deadline, set by Provisional Article 3, had been 31 December 2023.
This was an extension for completion, not an exemption. The obligation itself has been in force since 2007.
Which buildings are covered
A building that received its construction permit before the regulation entered into force is classified as an "existing building" and remains within scope. Age does not create an exemption. Residential complexes, hotels, workplaces, industrial facilities, educational and healthcare buildings and public buildings are all covered.
Common deficiencies found during inspection
- No automatic detection system installed at all
- Partial coverage — boiler rooms, enclosed car parks and electrical rooms left out
- Systems installed but disabled, often due to persistent false alarms
- Equipment without documented TS EN 54 conformity
- No records of periodic maintenance
- Alarm sounder coverage below audible levels; no visual alarm devices for hearing-impaired occupants
What should be done now
- Commission a condition survey. Determine which systems are mandatory for the building's occupancy class and height, then compare against what is installed.
- Prioritise the gaps. Items affecting life safety come first.
- Bring the system into working order. A disabled system is harder to defend than no system at all. False alarms are resolved by correcting detector type and placement, not by switching the panel off.
- Document maintenance. Periodic testing should follow the principles set out in TS CEN/TS 54-14, with records kept.
- Keep a compliance file. Conformity certificates, design drawings, commissioning reports and maintenance logs — this is the first thing requested during inspection.
Let us assess your building
Yansis provides condition surveys, system design, installation and periodic maintenance for fire detection systems in existing buildings. Contact our engineering team to review your building's compliance status.
This article is for general information and does not replace on-site engineering assessment. Building-specific obligations require the opinion of the competent authority and review by a qualified engineer.
