SNiP 21-01-97* PDF

Full title and description

SNiP 21-01-97* — "Пожарная безопасность зданий и сооружений" (Fire safety of buildings and structures). National construction standard (SNiP) that sets mandatory technical requirements and design rules for fire safety of buildings and structures, including classification of fire hazard, means of egress, compartmentation, fire resistance of structures, and requirements for fire‑protection systems and materials.

Abstract

SNiP 21-01-97* establishes principles and specific technical requirements intended to reduce fire risk in the design, construction and operation of buildings and structures. The document covers functional fire classification of buildings, evacuation routes and capacities, requirements for structural fire resistance, internal fire zones and compartmentation, fire‑safety systems (alarm, suppression, smoke control), and material flammability classifications. It was adopted to replace earlier rules and to unify fire safety requirements across building types.

General information

• Status: Historically in force; later incorporated/registered as SP 112.13330.2011 and — according to government acts that reorganised fire safety regulation — formally withdrawn/recognized as superseded in the list of documents cancelled effective 1 January 2021. Portions continue to be referenced for existing buildings where they do not conflict with newer technical regulations.
• Publication date: Adopted by resolution of the Ministry of Construction on 13 February 1997; effective introduction 1 January 1998.
• Publisher: Gosstroy / Ministry of Construction (Russian state construction authorities); later entered into the Federal registry and commercial compilations as SP 112.13330.2011.
• ICS / categories: Fire protection / construction safety (ISO/ICS classification in commercial catalogues places it under fire protection / fire fighting and building safety categories).
• Edition / version: Original SNiP 21-01-97* with Amendments No.1 (1999) and No.2 (2002); later registered as SP 112.13330.2011 (consolidated registration).
• Number of pages: Varies by edition and translation (commercial English publication lists ~34 pages; Russian print/collections commonly 21–26 pages depending on format).

Scope

The standard applies to safety requirements for buildings and structures at the stages of design, construction and operation. It sets rules for classifying buildings by functional fire hazard, determining evacuation routes and capacities, arranging fire compartments and fire‑resistant elements, prescribing requirements for ventilation and smoke control in emergency conditions, and specifying requirements for fire‑fighting systems and materials. It was intended to replace earlier SNiP rules and to form an authoritative base for fire‑safety design across residential, public, industrial and special‑purpose buildings. (Applicability to new construction or redevelopment must be checked against later technical regulations and national rules.)

Key topics and requirements

• Functional classification of buildings and premises by fire danger and assignment of fire hazard classes.
• Requirements for means of egress: number, minimum widths, heights and permitted travel distances; calculation of evacuation capacities.
• Fire compartmentation and allowable sizes of fire compartments; rules for fire‑resistant partitions, floors and structural elements.
• Fire resistance ratings for structural and enclosing elements; methods for fire testing and classification of materials by combustibility and smoke/toxicity characteristics.
• Requirements for automatic fire detection, alarm and fire‑fighting systems, and provisions for smoke control and ventilation in evacuation routes.
• Special rules for industrial, storage, public assembly and high‑rise buildings (escape routes, shafts, firefighting access, and hazardous processes).
• Provisions for reconstruction and change of use: when functional designation of premises changes, the norms require application of current normative documents appropriate to the new use.

Key technical points and examples in the text were later referenced or harmonized with related SP/GOST documents and regulatory acts.

Typical use and users

Primary users include architects, building and fire‑safety engineers, design institutes, safety specialists, construction contractors, and regulatory inspectors. The document is used as a reference in design briefs, fire‑safety assessments, project documentation reviews, and in preparation of fire‑safety parts of technical specifications and permits (subject to the current regulatory status and any superseding technical regulations).

Related standards

Predecessor: СНиП 2.01.02-85* (fire safety norms). Consolidated/registered as: SP 112.13330.2011. Related and complementary documents include GOST fire‑safety standards and later SPs and technical regulations on fire safety (including rules on evacuation, fire‑fighting equipment, and methods for fire tests). Users should consult current SPs, GOSTs and the Technical Regulations on fire safety for the applicable binding requirements.

Keywords

fire safety; SNiP 21-01-97; пожарная безопасность; evacuation; fire resistance; compartmentation; smoke control; fire classification; SP 112.13330.2011; building codes.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: SNiP 21-01-97* is a Russian national construction standard titled "Пожарная безопасность зданий и сооружений" (Fire safety of buildings and structures) that established comprehensive fire‑safety rules for building design, construction and operation.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers classification of fire hazard, requirements for means of egress and evacuation capacity, fire compartmentation and allowable compartment sizes, fire resistance of structural and enclosing elements, requirements for fire‑detection and suppression systems, smoke control and other technical measures to protect life and property from fire.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Architects, structural and fire‑safety engineers, design organizations, building owners and contractors, and government/regulatory inspectors use the standard for project design, safety assessments and compliance checks (subject to the current national regulatory framework).

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Historically it was in force from introduction (effective 1 January 1998) and was later registered as SP 112.13330.2011. Regulatory reorganisation of fire safety rules resulted in a government list that took effect 1 January 2021 which shows SNiP 21-01-97* among documents removed from force; nevertheless, parts of the text may still be referenced where they do not conflict with later technical regulations and current SP/GOST requirements. Users must verify the applicable mandatory documents for any given project and date.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the SNiP series (Construction Norms and Rules) and was developed as the national fire‑safety SNiP replacing older СНиП 2.01.02-85*. Portions were later consolidated/registered as SP 112.13330.2011 and cross‑referenced with other SP and GOST documents.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Fire safety, evacuation, fire resistance, compartmentation, smoke control, fire classification, SNiP, SP 112.13330.2011.