Andorra Experts Demand Urgent Overhaul of Outdated High-Rise Fire Safety Rules

Experts from Andorra's government, fire service, and industry have called for urgent updates to the principality's outdated fire safety regulations for high-rise buildings, as new tower constructions multiply amid evolving urban risks.

At a technical seminar on protected stairwells held Thursday at the Andorra Congress Centre and organised by ventilation firm Sodeca, Josep Maria Arnaus, technician for industrial safety and quality at the Ministry of the Presidency, Economy, Work and Housing, described the 1978 and 1981 rules as obsolete. They lack requirements for periodic inspections of safety systems, he noted, even as Andorra's pioneering industrial safety law goes largely unenforced by property owners, manufacturers, installers, and inspectors. Arnaus confirmed intensive work on a basic regulation with case-specific instructions, though delays persist. "There must be a modification, and efforts are intensive," he said, acknowledging repeated promises over two to three years. He highlighted economic pressures that often sideline safety for cost savings and referenced Andorra's first tower project, which adopted German standards for fire systems due to local gaps—requiring two staircases where German norms specified one. In the absence of domestic rules, the administrative code allows referencing stricter standards from France or Spain.

Òscar Llovet, head of the fire brigade's prevention and investigation unit, stressed that smoke causes 85% of fire deaths, often by turning unventilated stairwells into chimneys that trap evacuees. Pressurised, compartimented staircases with ventilation are vital for safe evacuation, temperature control, and firefighter access in tall buildings, where traditional extinguishing methods fall short. He also flagged parking garage dangers from toxic gases and electric vehicle battery fires that can burn for days, necessitating redesigned ventilation.

Lluís Duró, an industrial engineer from Grup Pirineu Payma, criticised vague parameters for door and window pressures—a force exceeding 100 newtons can block openings in emergencies, unlike clearer French and Spanish standards. He urged adaptations for underground levels and modern vehicles.

The event also linked these concerns to recent incidents, such as the Arinsal fire on 25-26 March, where Òscar Llovet explained polyurethane facade insulation—common for thermal purposes—acted "like gasoline" amid strong winds, accelerating flame spread due to its porous structure. He advocated alternatives like glass or rock wool, despite higher costs, citing parallels to major fires including Valencia's Campanar in 2024, London's Grenfell Tower in 2017, and Andorra's Serradells sports centre in 2018.

Sodeca's smoke control projects director, Santos Bendicho, added: "That a building complies with safety regulations does not mean it is intrinsically safe," underscoring the need for uniform standards. Experts agreed a cohesive framework is essential to address high-rises, electric vehicles, and underground spaces consistently.