Fire safety use notification (gebruiksmelding) — fully handled
Operating a building in the Netherlands? You may be legally required to submit a fire safety use notification — and many organisations don’t realise it. We handle the entire process in English.
Fire safety use notification: eligibility check, preparation and submission
A fire safety use notification (gebruiksmelding) is a legal requirement for many buildings where people gather, sleep, stay or receive care. It informs the municipality about the fire-safe use of your building, and must be submitted at least four weeks before the building is taken into use.
Since 1 January 2024, the Omgevingswet (Environment and Planning Act) has been in force and the rules on notification changed significantly. Among them: every residential care function is now subject to notification regardless of the number of residents, and the threshold for industrial and office functions has been raised to 150 persons. Many building users discover that their building now falls under the notification requirement without ever having been aware of it.
We handle the entire process: from checking whether you are required to notify, to preparing the correct floor plans and submitting via the Omgevingsloket. SKG-IKOB certified, Wkb-certified through use of the KiK and BK tools, independent, with 20+ years’ experience in fire safety consultancy.
What is a fire safety use notification?
A fire safety use notification is a formal notice to the municipality about the fire-safe use of a building. Based on your notification, the municipality assesses whether the intended use meets the Bbl (Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving — the Buildings (Living Environment) Decree), the successor to the Bouwbesluit 2012.
A use notification sets out:
- The building’s use function(s) (gebruiksfunctie)
- How many people can be present at the same time
- How escape routes and fire compartmentation are arranged
- Which fire safety provisions are present (fire detection, evacuation alarm, sprinkler, extinguishing equipment)
- How organisational fire safety is arranged (in-house emergency response, evacuation plan)
Since the Omgevingswet, the use notification is the instrument through which the municipality gains advance insight into fire-safe use. The former fire-safe use permit (omgevingsvergunning brandveilig gebruik) was abolished on 1 January 2024; situations that previously required a permit now generally fall under the notification requirement, sometimes with additional Bbl requirements.
When is a use notification required?
The Bbl sets, per use function, when a use notification is required. The thresholds depend on the building type, the use and the number of people. The table below lists the Bbl use functions and the threshold above which a notification is required.
| Use function | Threshold (persons) |
|---|---|
| Residential — room rental | 50 |
| Residential — for care | Always required (any number) |
| Residential — other | No notification |
| Assembly — for children under 12 | 10 |
| Assembly — for people with a physical or mental disability | 10 |
| Assembly — other | 50 |
| Cell (custodial) function | 10 |
| Healthcare — with bed area (inpatient) | 10 |
| Healthcare — other | 50 |
| Industrial | 150 |
| Office | 150 |
| Accommodation — in an accommodation building | 10 |
| Accommodation — other | 50 |
| Education — primary | 10 |
| Education — other | 50 |
| Sports | 50 |
| Retail | 50 |
| Other use function (incl. motor-vehicle storage / passenger transport) | 50 |
Note: for buildings with several use functions, the total number of people present is assessed against the lowest threshold. The notification must be submitted at least four weeks before the building is taken into use.
In doubt? If you’re unsure whether your building is subject to notification, our advisers will check it for you free of charge. Building users often turn out to be unknowingly non-compliant — with a risk of enforcement.
What changed on 1 January 2024?
With the Omgevingswet coming into force, the rules from the Bouwbesluit 2012 moved into the Bbl. Four changes matter for the use notification:
- Residential care function always subject to notification — regardless of the number of people. Previously a threshold applied; now every care dwelling falls under the requirement. A major change for the care sector.
- Industrial and office functions: threshold raised to 150 persons — for these functions a notification is only required from 150 people present at the same time.
- Submission via the Omgevingsloket — the central digital desk for all notifications under the Omgevingswet. The old WABO desk has been discontinued.
- Mixed use: the lowest threshold applies — with several use functions in one building, the total number of people is assessed against the lowest threshold of the functions present.
Submitted an earlier notification under the Bouwbesluit 2012 and your use is now changing? A new notification under the Bbl may be required. We check whether that applies to your situation, free of charge.
Our approach — from intake to submission
We take the entire process off your hands so you can focus on your core business. In four steps:
Step 1 — Intake and eligibility check (free)
In a phone or online intake we assess whether your building or activity is subject to notification. We discuss the use function, the number of people and any particulars. You get a clear answer straight away — no notification if none is needed.
Step 2 — Survey and measurement
If a notification is needed, we assess the existing situation. Do you already have floor plans? We check whether they meet current Bbl requirements. If not, we measure the building or work from your construction drawings — we don’t draft the building itself from scratch.
Step 3 — Floor plans and supporting documents
We prepare the required use-notification floor plans at 1:100 scale, showing everything the Bbl prescribes. We also prepare the other documents: a description of fire safety provisions, occupancy figures and any calculations.
Step 4 — Submission via the Omgevingsloket
We submit the use notification on your behalf via the Omgevingsloket and remain the point of contact for the municipality. For any questions or requests for additional information, we handle the communication and delivery. The process is only complete once the notification is complete.
We handle the complete process — from checking whether you’re required to notify through to submission via the Omgevingsloket. SKG-IKOB certified · 20+ years’ experience · Own software (Pandveilig, Vluchtveilig).
Which documents are needed for a use notification?
A use notification always consists of a set of documents that make the building’s fire-safe situation clear. We prepare these for you:
| Document | What it must show |
|---|---|
| Floor plans 1:100 | Per storey, with escape routes, fire compartments, floor areas and occupancy figures. |
| Extinguishing equipment | Fire extinguishers, hose reels, dry risers — type and location. |
| Installations | Fire detection, evacuation alarm, sprinkler — where present. |
| Function per room | Function and floor area of each room. |
| Occupancy figures | Maximum number of people per room and per storey. |
| Description of fire safety provisions | Concept of organisational measures, in-house emergency response, evacuation plan. |
| Calculations (if relevant) | Occupancy, escape-route capacity, where relevant. |
The municipality may request additional documents — for example for complex buildings, high-rise or special use functions. We anticipate this in the first submission.
Who we prepare use notifications for
Our advisers work for a wide range of clients. Common situations:
- Care institutions (home-care dwellings, small-scale living, care resorts) — subject to notification for any number since 2024.
- Childcare organisations (day care, after-school care) — for day care of more than 10 children under 12.
- Educational institutions (schools, training centres) — primary education from 10, other education from 50.
- Hotels, B&Bs and accommodation — in an accommodation building from 10, other from 50.
- Restaurants, cafés and event venues — from more than 50 people at once.
- Healthcare institutions (hospitals, clinics) — with a bed area from 10, other from 50.
- Business premises and offices — from 150 people.
- Industrial buildings and storage — from 150 people.
- Sports and retail functions — from 50 people.
- Temporary structures and events — site cabins, pavilions, festival grounds — depending on duration and use.
Five common mistakes with use notifications
In our practice we see the same mistakes recur. Avoid them by getting advice up front:
- Submitting too late — the notification must be in at least four weeks before use. We regularly see businesses make contact only one or two weeks before opening — by then the municipality can no longer assess in time and opening is at risk.
- Floor plans below Bbl requirements — plans from old construction drawings often don’t meet what the Bbl requires. Escape routes, compartments and extinguishing equipment must be shown in a specific way.
- Incorrect occupancy figures — the maximum number of people is estimated too low or too high. Too low limits your operations; too high can lead to rejection or extra fire safety requirements.
- Change of use not notified — changing a room’s function (e.g. office to training room) can require a new notification. Many building users aren’t aware of this and risk enforcement.
- Ignoring organisational fire safety — the notification isn’t only about structural fire safety. An evacuation plan and a working in-house emergency response organisation are required too. An incomplete notification here delays processing.
What does a use notification cost with us?
The cost depends on four factors: building type, floor area, complexity and whether usable base documentation is available.
- Simple situation (small building, existing drawings, single use function) — from approx. €750 excl. VAT.
- Average situation (multiple storeys, mixed use, measurement needed) — from approx. €1,500 excl. VAT.
- Complex process (large buildings, special use function, mixed care use, equivalence solutions) — quoted individually.
Our intake and the eligibility check are free and without obligation. You get a fixed quote up front and know exactly where you stand.
Why choose firesafety.pro
- SKG-IKOB certified — recognised independent fire safety consultancy.
- Wkb-certified through use of the KiK and BK tools for quality assurance.
- 20+ years’ experience in fire safety consultancy and building plan assessment.
- Complete process from eligibility check to submission — nothing to hand off elsewhere.
- Point of contact for the municipality — we handle all communication during processing.
- Independent — we carry out no construction work or installations, so our advice is free of commercial interest.
- Fixed price up front — no surprises afterwards.
- Delivered in English — Dutch regulatory expertise, explained clearly.
Let us handle it
You can of course submit a notification yourself, but because we run this process regularly we know the Omgevingsloket inside out — so your submission finds its way quickly and smoothly. The same drawings also work as a basis for evacuation floor plans. If you’re unsure whether your current provisions are adequate, a fire safety inspection can provide clarity.